In this episode of The Hard Truth, Jeremy Fouts sits down with elite speed coach Zeke Smith to break down one of the most overlooked factors in youth sports: speed.

From baseball to football to basketball, speed is no longer optional it’s a defining metric that can determine playing time, recruiting opportunities, and overall athletic ceiling.

Jeremy and Zeke dive into the reality that most parents focus on strength and size… but completely miss the importance of proper running mechanics, explosiveness, and movement efficiency.

The hard truth?

If your athlete can’t move efficiently, they’re already behind—no matter how strong or skilled they are.

The good news?

Speed can be developed. With the right training, mechanics, and consistency, athletes can dramatically improve their performance and unlock their full potential.

Zeke shares:

• Why speed is becoming the #1 recruiting metric across all sports

• The difference between running fast and running correctly

• Common mistakes youth athletes make that kill speed

• How strength, mechanics, and explosiveness all work together

• Simple drills parents can use at home to start developing speed

• Why doing too much too early can actually hurt your athlete

They also cover the balance between genetics and training, the role of nutrition in performance, and how parents can support their athletes without burning them out.

From real athlete transformations to practical, actionable advice—this episode gives you a clear roadmap to help your athlete gain an edge.

Because speed isn’t just a skill… it’s a separator.

And if you ignore it, someone else won’t.

Follow Zeke:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zeke_s12/

Website: https://dsportcollective.com/

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