Understanding VALD

Why We Measure Performance — and Why It Matters for Your Athlete

If your son or daughter receives a report card in school, you understand why assessment matters.

We test to understand.
We measure to improve.
We reassess to confirm progress.

Athletic development should be no different.

At PowerSource Performance Fitness, we use VALD performance technology to remove guesswork from training and give athletes — and parents — objective clarity.

 

The Simple Explanation

VALD is like a “radar gun” for the entire body.

A radar gun doesn’t teach a pitcher how to throw.
It measures velocity so coaches know what to improve.

VALD works the same way.

It measures:

• How much force an athlete produces
• How explosive they are
• How balanced their left and right sides are
• Where hidden weaknesses may exist
• How progress changes over time

Instead of relying on how something “looks,” we measure what is actually happening.

 

Why Guesswork Isn’t Enough Anymore

For decades, strength training was based mostly on observation:

• “He looks stronger.”
• “Her jump seems better.”
• “That side looks weaker.”

But high-level sports performance — from professional teams to Division I programs — now relies on objective data.

Why?

Because small imbalances or force deficits that can’t be seen by the eye often show up later as:

• Performance plateaus
• Decreased explosiveness
• Increased injury risk

VALD allows us to detect those patterns early and design training that directly addresses them.

 

Think of It Like a School Semester

Step 1: Baseline Assessment

At the start of a program, we measure your athlete’s current abilities.
This is their diagnostic test.

Step 2: Targeted Training

We build training around what the data shows — not assumptions.

Step 3: Retesting

We reassess on a structured schedule to confirm improvement.

Just like academics, progress should be measurable — not guessed.

 

What We Actually Measure (In Plain English)

Explosive Power

How quickly and effectively your athlete can produce force.
This impacts sprinting, jumping, change of direction, and sport performance.

Strength Around Key Joints

We test how strong the muscles are around the knees, hips, and other critical areas — especially important for growing athletes.

Left vs. Right Balance

Small imbalances between sides are common in youth athletes.
If left unaddressed, they can affect mechanics and durability.

Rate of Force Development

Not just how strong someone is — but how quickly they can access that strength.

Speed in sports comes from force applied quickly.

Why Parents Appreciate This Approach

Parents often ask:

“How do I know the program is working?”

With VALD, you don’t have to rely on opinion.

You receive:

• Clear baseline metrics
• Periodic progress reports
• Objective comparisons over time
• Data that informs smarter training decisions

It provides confidence that your athlete’s development is structured and intentional.

 

Does This Replace Coaching?

No.

Technology does not replace coaching — it strengthens it.

VALD gives coaches better information.
Coaches use that information to design better training.

The combination of objective data and experienced coaching is what drives real development.

 

Is This Only for Elite Athletes?

Not at all.

In fact, youth athletes benefit the most from early measurement because:

• They are still developing
• Growth changes movement patterns
• Small imbalances can compound over time

Understanding where they are now helps guide where they should go next.

 

The Bigger Picture

It is common to measure:

• Heart rate for conditioning
• GPA for academics
• Blood pressure for health
• Speed with a stopwatch

But Modern athletic development deserves the same clarity.

A stopwatch tells you how fast someone finishes.

SmartSpeed tells us how they accelerated, how they slowed down, and how efficiently they changed direction.

That difference is enormous.

Two athletes may both run a 5.0 second sprint.
But one may:

• Accelerate poorly
• Brake inefficiently
• Lose time during direction changes

The gates allow us to isolate where time is gained or lost — so training becomes targeted, not generic.

Training without measurement is like studying without exams.
You may be working hard — but you don’t truly know what’s improving.

 

What Your Athlete Experiences

Testing is:

• Safe
• Supervised
• Structured
• Age-appropriate

Athletes typically enjoy the process because they can see and track their progress over time.

It creates ownership and motivation.

 

Why This Matters for the Long Term

High school sports are competitive.

Objective measurement helps:

• Identify strengths
• Address weaknesses
• Reduce unnecessary training volume
• Support safer progression
• Provide tangible proof of development

Whether an athlete’s goal is varsity contribution, collegiate recruitment, or simply long-term health and durability — structured measurement provides clarity.

 

Our Philosophy

At PowerSource Performance Fitness, we believe:

Clarity builds confidence.
Measurement drives improvement.
Data supports better decisions.

VALD is simply the tool that allows us to operate with precision rather than assumption.

 

Ready to Learn More?

If you’d like to understand how testing integrates into our High School Performance Programs, visit our Testing & Reporting page or schedule a consultation to see how structured performance measurement can support your athlete’s development.

 

Every level of athlete benefits—because every level needs clarity

VALD isn’t “only for elite athletes.” It’s for anyone who wants their training to be more targeted, more effective, and easier to track.

Developing athletes (youth → high school → college-bound)

• Build a true baseline and train with purpose (not just effort)
• Identify left/right imbalances and weak links early
• Track progress through growth spurts and sport seasons
• Reduce the “I’m working hard but not improving” problem

High performers (college → pro → highly competitive)

• Small improvements matter; testing helps you decide what to push vs protect
• Monitor key qualities during heavy training/competition blocks
• Add objective checkpoints that support performance and readiness

If you can measure it, you can manage it—strength, power, and symmetry included.

Recommended assessment options

Most people start with a baseline. Competitive athletes often add follow-ups during the season.

Option A: Baseline (best first step)

• ForceDecks + ForceFrame essentials
• Coach review + priorities
• Retest recommendation

Option B: Performance Builder (more complete)

• Expanded testing + deeper symmetry review
• Priorities mapped to training focus
• Best for serious HS athletes and adults who want a clearer plan

Option C: Return-to-Play / Return-to-Performance

• Baseline + checkpoints over time
• Designed to support a smarter ramp-up process
• Great for athletes who want objective milestones



FAQs

Coming next: sport-specific testing guidance

Over time we’ll publish “By Sport” pages that explain what we prioritize for different athletes (baseball/softball, soccer, football, volleyball, etc.)—so parents and athletes can quickly see what matters for their sport and season.

Ready to train with clarity?

If you want progress you can measure—start with a baseline. We’ll help you understand what the numbers mean and how to turn them into better training decisions.