May 18, 2026 //
Rob Anderson //
Gym News //
5 min read
This summer, something is happening at The Athlete Academy that we do only once per year! We are bringing in one of the most decorated speed coaches in the UK to work directly with your child at our Summer Speed School.
His name is Jared Deacon. He is a 400m Olympian. He has stood on the podium at the Commonwealth Games, the European Championships and the World Indoor Championships. And this July, he is coming to The Athlete Academy to coach your child.
This is not a normal holiday camp. This is a week that could change the way your child moves for the rest of their athletic career.
Who Is Jared Deacon?
Jared Deacon competed at the highest level of international athletics for over a decade. His career included:
Olympic Games: Sydney 2000
World Indoor Championships: Birmingham 2003 (Silver Medal)
European Championships: Munich 2002 (Gold Medal)
Commonwealth Games: Manchester 2002 (Gold Medal) and Kuala Lumpur 1998 (Silver Medal)
He also competed at the World Junior Championships, the World University Games, the European Indoor Cup and the World Cup!
Since retiring from competition, Jared has worked with UK Athletics, the English Institute of Sport, Scottish Rugby Academy and the United Kingdom Strength and Conditioning Association. He leads coaching courses for UKSCA, UK Athletics and World Rugby.
He has coached international sprinters and hurdlers to European, World and Olympic medals. He has coached players within the Scottish Rugby Academy system to Professional contracts, and International and British Lions Honours.
When Jared Deacon teaches speed, your child is learning from someone who has lived it at the very highest level.
What Is The Summer Speed School?
The Summer Speed School is a five-day intensive programme designed for young athletes aged 10 to 18 who want to increase their speed for football, rugby or other team sports
Summer Speed School runs 12pm to 3pm daily, Monday 6th July to Friday 10th July 2026 at The Athlete Academy, Engage Sports Centre, Edinburgh Napier University, Sighthill Campus, EH11 4BN.
Each day your child will work on the physical qualities that make the biggest difference on the pitch.
Speed: technique, acceleration, maximum speed and deceleration. Your child will be tested at the start and the end of the week so you can see exactly how much they have improved.
Strength: lower body and upper body strength, unilateral training, jumping and landing mechanics, and core stability. The foundation of every fast athlete.
Performance Lifestyle: the habits that separate good athletes from great ones. Sleep, nutrition, hydration and recovery. Your child will leave this week with habits that will serve them for years.
Most young athletes spend their summers doing nothing structured, even if they do a sport specific camp – it’s really just glorified babysitting. Or they do generic fitness sessions that have no connection to what they actually need on the pitch.
Speed is one of the most trainable physical qualities in youth sport. Research shows that the years between 10 and 16 are a critical window for developing speed, strength and movement quality. Miss this window and it becomes significantly harder to develop these qualities later.
Your child does not need to be the fastest kid in their team right now. But they do need to be developing in the right direction.
A week with Jared Deacon and the Athlete Academy team at our Summer Speed School will give them the tools, the technique and the confidence to do exactly that.
What Parents Are Saying
Parents who have brought their children to The Athlete Academy say it best.
“Rob & his team at AA have been monumental to my son’s development. As an active boy – the understanding of exercising outside his football, building on his strengthening and conditioning as well as looking after his body & overall health has been a massive benefit and mindset change for him. Thank you.“
-Joanne Senussi
“Thanks so much to Rob and the whole team – we love the Athlete Academy and feel grateful to have found a place where young people can fulfil their sporting potential and learn how to exercise and train safely. Thanks so much!“
-Anna Borthwick
“My son joined Athlete Academy in Edinburgh a month ago, and we’re already seeing such a positive change. The coaches give every child real individual attention, and my son feels supported and motivated at every session. His confidence has grown and we can already see physical results — he’s getting stronger and building muscle. He absolutely loves going to training, and we’re very happy we chose this academy.“
This is not a large group session. The Summer Speed School is intentionally kept limited to 12 athletes so that every athlete gets proper attention and real coaching.
Once the places are gone, they are gone.
We are not running a waiting list. We are not adding extra sessions. When it is full, it is full.
If your child is serious about their sport this summer, this is the week to invest in.
The Athlete Academy is an evidence-based youth athletic development programme for youth athletes aged 10 to 18, based at Edinburgh Napier University, Sighthill Campus, Edinburgh.
