5 Signs Your Child Needs a Running Coach | Melbourne Ages 8-16
Mick Breen
November 6, 2025
5 Signs Your Child Needs a Running Coach (Melbourne Parent's Guide)
As a parent watching your child play sport, you've probably noticed something.
Maybe they run differently than their teammates. Maybe they're getting injured more often. Maybe they're working twice as hard for half the results.
And you're wondering: "Does my child need a running coach?"
It's a good question. After all, kids are supposed to "just know" how to run, right?
Wrong.
Running is a skill - one that's almost never taught in schools, sports clubs, or PE classes. Kids are expected to figure it out on their own, and when they develop poor habits, those patterns become permanent.
I'm Mick, a Melbourne-based youth sports performance specialist working exclusively with young athletes ages 8-16. Over 18 years, I've helped hundreds of kids transform their running technique, prevent injuries, and build confidence in their movement.
Here are the 5 signs that tell me a child needs professional running coaching - and what you can do about it.
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Sign #1: Awkward, Inefficient Running Form
What You're Seeing:
Your child's running looks... off. You can't quite put your finger on it, but something doesn't look right:
- One arm swings differently than the other
- Heavy, loud footsteps
- Hunched posture or looking down while running
- Legs kicking out to the side instead of straight
- Arms crossing over their body
- Short, choppy steps or overly long strides
- Upper body rotating excessively
Their teammates seem to glide. Your child looks like they're working twice as hard.
Why This Matters:
Poor running form isn't just aesthetically awkward - it's biomechanically inefficient.
Every wasted movement costs energy. Every misaligned joint creates stress. Every compensatory pattern builds bad habits that become harder to break as your child gets older.
Between ages 8-16, movement patterns become permanent. What they learn now is what they'll carry into adulthood.
What You Can Do:
Quick Parent Assessment (5 minutes):
Have your child run for 20-30 seconds while you observe:
1. From the side: Are they landing heel-first (braking) or mid-foot?
2. From behind* Are their feet landing in a straight line or crossing over?
3. From the front: Are their arms swinging forward/back or crossing their body?
4. Listen: Are footsteps heavy and loud or light and quick?
If you notice multiple issues, professional coaching can correct these patterns before they become permanent.
Assess your child's technique with our Play Series programs
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Sign #2: Recurring Sports Injuries That Won't Go Away
What You're Seeing:
Your child keeps getting the same injury:
- Ankle sprains (multiple times per season)
- Shin splints that return every time they increase training
- Knee pain (Osgood-Schlatter's, runner's knee, patella tracking issues)
- Hip or IT band discomfort
- Lower back pain after running
- Hamstring or calf strains
You've done everything "right":
✓ Taken them to physio (multiple times)
✓ Rested when told to rest
✓ Strengthened the "weak" areas
✓ Tried different shoes, orthotics, braces
And yet... the injury comes back.
Why This Happens:
Recurring injuries aren't caused by bad luck or weak muscles.
They're caused by faulty movement patterns that create stress on tissues not designed to handle it.
Here's the cycle:
1. Poor running form creates abnormal stress on a specific area
2. That area gets injured
3. You rest, do physio, strengthen muscles
4. Your child returns to sport with THE SAME movement pattern
5. The stress returns to the same area
6. The injury returns
Physio treats the symptom (injured tissue). Running coaching fixes the cause (movement pattern).
What You Can Do:
If your child has had the same injury 2+ times in one season, it's not a tissue problem - it's a movement problem.
Ask yourself:
- Has anyone assessed their running form?
- Does their sport coach focus on running technique?
- Do they know HOW they should be running?
Most answers are: No, no, and no.
That's the gap professional running coaching fills.
Read: Why Your Child's Running Injuries Keep Coming Back
For athletes ages 12-16 dealing with recurring injuries:
Explore Play Stronger: Injury Prevention Program
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Sign #3: They're Slower Than Teammates Despite Equal (or More) Effort
What You're Seeing:
Your child trains hard. They're fit. They have good endurance. They're committed.
But when it comes to speed, they're consistently slower than teammates who seem to put in less effort.
On the footy field, they're second to the ball. In basketball, they struggle to beat defenders. In athletics, they're finishing middle-of-the-pack despite training more.
They're frustrated. You're frustrated. Their coaches keep saying "just run harder."
Why This Happens:
Speed isn't just about fitness - it's about efficiency.
Two athletes with identical fitness levels can have dramatically different speeds based solely on running technique.
Efficient runners:
- Generate force effectively with every step
- Minimize energy waste through proper arm action
- Position their bodies to maximize forward propulsion
- Use elastic recoil in tendons and ligaments
- Maintain relaxation at high speeds
Inefficient runners:
- Brake with every footstep (heel striking)
- Waste energy with excessive arm crossover
- Fight their own momentum with poor posture
- Miss out on free energy from elastic recoil
- Tense up when trying to run fast (making them slower)
Your child might be fit but slow because they're mechanically inefficient.
What You Can Do:
If your child is:
- Training as much as teammates but consistently slower
- Getting frustrated with their speed plateau
- Being told to "just try harder"
...they likely don't need more fitness work. They need technique work.
Running coaching can unlock 5-15% speed improvements without changing fitness - just by improving mechanics.
For speed development in ages 10-16:
Explore Play Faster: Speed & Performance Program
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Sign #4: Lack of Confidence in Their Movement
What You're Seeing:
Your child hesitates in game situations:
- Slows down before changing direction (afraid they'll fall or get hurt)
- Avoids explosive movements or quick accelerations
- Looks uncertain when running at full speed
- Holds back in practice or games
- Makes comments like "I'm just not fast" or "I'm not good at running"
They're tentative. Cautious. Not trusting their body to do what they're asking it to do.
This isn't just about speed - it's about confidence.
Why This Happens:
Kids develop movement confidence when they:
1. Understand what their body is doing
2. Feel in control of their movement
3. Experience success with proper technique
4. Build trust in their mechanics
When kids never receive running instruction, they develop movement through trial and error. Some figure it out naturally. Many don't.
Those who don't develop learned uncertainty - they don't trust their body because they've never been taught HOW to move it properly.
What You Can Do:
Confidence comes from competence.
When kids learn proper running mechanics:
- They understand what their body is doing
- They feel more in control
- They move with less fear
- They trust their technique
I've seen this transformation hundreds of times: A tentative, uncertain 10-year-old becomes confident and explosive within weeks of learning proper technique.
Not because they got fitter or stronger.
Because they finally understood how to run.
For building movement confidence in ages 8-12:
Explore Play Easier: Foundation & Confidence Program
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Sign #5: Their Sport Coaches Don't Teach Running Technique
What You're Seeing:
Your child plays football, basketball, netball, athletics, soccer, or any sport that involves running.
Their coaches teach:
✓ Sport-specific skills (kicking, shooting, dribbling)
✓ Tactics and game strategy
✓ Fitness and conditioning
✓ Team play and positioning
But they DON'T teach:
✗ How to run properly
✗ Proper acceleration mechanics
✗ Change of direction technique
✗ Footwork fundamentals
✗ Injury-resistant running form
Running is assumed. Running is never taught.
Why This Is a Problem:
Every sport your child plays requires running:
- Football (AFL): Running 10-15km per game with constant acceleration/deceleration
- Soccer: 8-12km per match with frequent sprinting
- Basketball: 4-5km with explosive starts/stops and jumping
- Netball: Constant court coverage with quick direction changes
- Athletics: Obviously running-focused
- Touch/Tag Rugby: Speed and agility dependent
Running is the foundation of athletic performance in every sport.
Yet it's the most overlooked skill in youth sports education.
What You Can Do:
Ask your child's coach:
- "Do you teach running technique?"
- "When do athletes learn proper running mechanics?"
- "How do you address poor running form?"
Most answers will be: "No," "We don't," and "We focus on the sport."
That's not their fault - sport coaches are specialists in their sport, not biomechanics experts.
That's where running coaching comes in.
We fill the gap between sport-specific coaching and the fundamental movement skill (running) that underpins all sports.
Learn how running technique improves every sport
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What To Do If You See These Signs
If you recognized 1-2 of these signs in your child, they could benefit from running coaching.
If you recognized 3+ signs, your child needs running coaching.
Here are your options:
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Option 1: Professional Online Coaching (Best Value)
The Play Series - Comprehensive online programs for ages 8-16:
Play Easier (Ages 8-12)- $199
- Foundation movement patterns
- Confidence building
- Injury prevention basics
- Parent coaching guides
- Lifetime access
Play Faster (Ages 10-16)- $299
- Speed development
- Acceleration mechanics
- Power and agility
- Performance optimization
- Sport-specific application
Play Stronger (Ages 12-16) - $399
- Injury prevention protocols
- Movement pattern correction
- Strength and resilience
- Load management
- Recovery strategies
Complete Bundle- $599 (Save $298)
- All three programs
- Comprehensive development (ages 8-16)
- Multiple children supported
- Payment plan available
Each program includes:
✓ Video coaching modules
✓ Progressive training plans
✓ Parent coaching guides
✓ Private community access
✓ Direct coaching support
✓ Lifetime access + updates
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Option 2: In-Person 1-on-1 Coaching (Melbourne Locals)
For hands-on, personalized coaching in Melbourne:
- Single Session: $150 (60-min initial assessment)
- 4-Session Package: $500 (includes lifetime access to one Play Series program)
- 8-Session Package: $900 (includes lifetime access to all three Play Series programs)
Perfect for:
- Detailed movement assessment
- Complex injury patterns
- Athletes needing hands-on correction
- Parents wanting in-person guidance
Book 1-on-1 Coaching in Melbourne
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Option 3: School or Club Workshop
Bring professional running coaching to your entire team or school:
We deliver running technique workshops for Melbourne schools and sports clubs. One session transforms how your athletes move, perform, and prevent injuries.
Learn About School & Club Workshops
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DIY Assessment Checklist:
Watch your child run and note:
1. Heel strike vs. midfoot landing
2. Arm swing (forward/back vs. crossing)
3. Posture (upright vs. hunched)
4. Foot placement (straight vs. crossing over)
5. Stride length (too long vs. appropriate)
6. Sound (heavy vs. light footsteps)
If you notice 3+ issues, professional coaching is recommended.
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Common Parent Questions
"Isn't running just... natural? Don't kids figure it out?"
Some do. Most don't.
Just like we teach kids to swim, ride a bike, or kick a ball properly, running is a skill that benefits from instruction.
The difference? Swimming and bike riding are obviously taught. Running is assumed to be "natural."
But watch a playground full of 8-year-olds run. You'll see 30 different running styles, most of them inefficient and some injury-causing.
Natural doesn't mean optimal.
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"My child is only [8/10/12] - aren't they too young for coaching?"
Ages 8-16 is the IDEAL time for running coaching.
This is when movement patterns are developing and still adaptable. What they learn now becomes permanent.
Wait until ages 16-18+, and you're trying to BREAK bad habits that have been reinforced for years. Much harder.
Our youngest clients (ages 8-10) often make the fastest progress because they haven't built years of compensation patterns.
*he earlier you address it, the easier it is to fix.
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"Won't they just grow out of it?"
Unfortunately, no.
Kids don't "grow out of" poor running form. They grow INTO it - meaning it becomes more ingrained and harder to change.
Poor patterns learned at age 10 become permanent patterns by age 16.
Injuries caused by poor form at age 12 become chronic issues by age 20.
Early intervention prevents long-term problems.
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"Shouldn't their sport coach be teaching this?"
Ideally, yes. Realistically, no.
Sport coaches are experts in their sport - tactics, skills, game strategy. Most aren't biomechanics specialists.
They teach your child to kick a footy, shoot a basket, or pass accurately.
They assume your child knows how to run properly already.
Running coaching fills the gap sport coaching doesn't cover.
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"How long does it take to see improvements?"
Depends on the athlete and the issue:
Immediate (1-2 sessions):
- Awareness of what they're doing wrong
- Understanding of what proper form feels like
- Basic cue implementation
Short-term (4-6 weeks):
- Visible form improvements
- Reduced injury risk
- Increased confidence
- Better performance in training
Long-term (3-6 months):
- Permanent pattern changes
- Consistent efficient form
- Significant performance gains
- Injury-free seasons
The key: Consistency and practice. Just like any skill.
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"Is online coaching as effective as in-person?"
For most kids, yes.
Online coaching works exceptionally well for:
- Form analysis and correction
- Drill progression and practice
- Parent education and support
- Ongoing accountability
In-person coaching is better for:
- Complex movement issues
- Athletes needing hands-on cues
- Initial assessments (though video works too)
We've worked with hundreds of athletes online across Australia with excellent results.
The Play Series programs are designed for effective online delivery* with parent support.
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"What if my child plays multiple sports?"
Even better!
Running technique improvements transfer to EVERY sport:
- Football: Faster to the ball, better endurance
- Basketball: Quicker first step, better court coverage
- Netball: Explosive starts, efficient movement
- Soccer: Speed and stamina improvements
- Athletics: Obviously direct benefits
Proper running form is the foundation of multi-sport athleticism.
We have many clients who play 2-3 sports and see improvements across all of them. ---
The Bottom Line: When Should You Act?
If your child shows 1-2 signs from this list: → Consider professional coaching within the next 3-6 months
If your child shows 3+ signs: → Professional coaching recommended now
If your child shows all 5 signs: → Professional coaching urgently needed
Why urgency matters: Between ages 8-16, movement patterns are still developing.
This is your window.
By ages 16-18, patterns are largely set. You're no longer building good habits - you're trying to break bad ones. Much harder.
The best time to address running form was when they started playing sport.
The second-best time is now.
Ready to Help Your Child?
1. Explore Programs:
- Play Series Bundle (Best Value)
2. Book In-Person (Melbourne):
3. School/Club Inquiry:
4. Free Resources:
- [Blog: Complete Running Form Guide]
- [Blog: Injury Prevention Article]
Questions?
Not sure which program fits your child?
Want to discuss your child's specific situation?
Need guidance on where to start?
Email: mick@naturalbornrunning.com
Phone: +61439202659
I personally respond to every inquiry, usually within 24 hours.
About the Author
I'm Mick, a Melbourne-based youth sports performance specialist working exclusively with young athletes ages 8-16. Over 18 years, I've helped hundreds of kids transform their running technique, prevent injuries, and build confidence in their movement. I built the Play Series because I was frustrated watching talented kids get injured or plateaued due to poor running form - a problem that's almost never addressed in youth sports. Every child deserves to move efficiently, confidently, and injury-free. That's what we do.
