Making VBT Work in Class Settings: Devices, Logistics, and Coaching Cues
#55 - Strength & Speed Coaching - Pursuing Your Best ⚡️
Velocity-Based Training (VBT) sounds great… until you have 31 kids, limited space, and 42 minutes.
Then it becomes a question of logistics.
How do I rotate groups efficiently?
Do I need a device for every rack?
How do I keep intent high without making it too complex?
This week, we’re cutting through the chaos of implementing in class. Here’s exactly how we make VBT work in a school-based setting—and what we’ve learned to avoid along the way.
Let’s get to work.
The Devices We Use
We use Vitruve linear position transducers. They’re:
Simple to set up
Affordable compared to force plates or camera systems
Accurate enough for school settings
App-based and unit-based (so you can track sets and visualize bar speed instantly)
We use one on every rack. But that’s not necessary.
You could also just use one encoder per “main lift”—especially when you cycle kids through with a plan.
Group Rotation: How We Flow with 20–30 Kids
Here’s how we run it with 3–4 kids per rack:
Set the primary VBT station
One lift has the encoder (e.g. trap bar deadlift).Many hands make light work
One student sets up iPad, one sets up the encoder, others set up the weight and other exercises.Coach one group at a time
I float between racks, watching bar speed and giving feedback—but I don’t try to coach everyone on every rep.Super set
As they rotate, the encoder stays put and the lifters cycle through.
This keeps things moving and you can have a unit at each rack or you can use stations without needing more than 4 or 5 VBT devices.
Cueing Intent: Effort > Numbers
VBT is not about hitting a number—it’s about creating effort with purpose.
We reinforce that with clear, repeatable cues:
“Rattle the weights.”
“Fast bar. Every rep matters.”
“Explode up like you are dunking.”
Most of the time we also use velocity zones as targets, not mandates.
If kids are a little off? That’s okay. What we care about is how they’re moving, not whether they hit 1.00 exactly.
Coaching Setup: What I Watch and What I Don’t
My job isn’t to babysit the app. I actually despise account management, so I try to make things as seamless as possible.
My job is to:
Teach athletes how to read feedback and self-adjust
Watch for breakdowns in movement quality
Ask the right follow-up questions:
“What did you feel on that rep?”
“What did you focus on?”
“What’s your plan next set?”
The feedback loop is more powerful when it runs through the athlete.
Coach Vogel has a great way about talking about VBT. He said to me, “It should be like having another coach in the room and provide athletes with feedback and decision making.”
Common Mistakes to Avoid
❌ Over-Coaching
You don’t need a 3-minute breakdown on bar velocity between every set.
Set a clear expectation: “Hit the zone, move well, adjust if you’re off.”
Then step back and let them learn through reps.
❌ Over-Engineering the Setup
You don’t need a room full of encoders at first.
Start small. One device. One lift. One goal.
Build from there as you and your kids grow.
❌ Getting Lost in the Data
We don’t save every set or export every rep.
We use the real-time feedback to coach better movement—and that’s it.
If it’s slowing you down or stressing you out, it’s too much.
Keep it simple!
Final Thoughts
You don’t need a lab to run VBT.
You need:
A simple plan
Clear expectations
A system that fits your class flow
The goal isn’t just faster reps. It’s better coaching. More engaged athletes. Smarter training sessions.
Start small. Coach clearly. Build something that works in your weight room.
Next: How VBT can transform your culture—not just your output.
Until then—keep pursuing excellence.
— Preston ⚡️
P.S. If this issue helped you, would you mind giving it a like or sharing it with another coach?
It’s a small thing—but it helps more coaches find Pursuit PE and keeps the momentum going. Appreciate you. ⚡️
