Coach ,

If you’ve been around track long enough you’ve noticed a disparity in the number of athletes interested in the short sprints versus athletes interested in the hurdle events. Why is that?

There's a number of considerations to factor when evaluating the small number of athletes lined up for hurdle practice each day. It may be an easier fix than it appears. Quite simply the number of hurdle coaches and sprint coaches are not the same. 

Coach Vince Anderson, a mainstay in the SEC for years, noted the inequity in adequate hurdle coaching and said, “There is no such thing as someone who coaches the sprints and doesn’t coach the hurdles. There is no such thing as someone who coaches the hurdles and doesn’t coach the sprints.  If you’re serious about either you have to go in-depth on both.” In the next clip Coach Anderson shares the requirements of hurdle coaches.

Link: Hurdle Coach Requirements

Once a coach has committed to the necessary requirements for coaching the hurdles it’s time to effectively teach the event to those potential athletes. During a recent youth track and field camp at Texas A&M University Coach Anderson filmed a variety of techniques to assist with the developmental hurdlers in attendance. There are two hurdle essentials that provide the foundation for all hurdlers. 

Link: Hurdle Essential #1

Hip clearance over the hurdle, trail leg rotation, and sequence of recovery of the trail leg are non-negotiable factors in teaching the event. Once the developing hurdler has learned to effectively rotate their hip they are ready for hurdle essential #2. 

Link: Hurdle Essential #2

The ability to teach rhythm and properly progress the athletes over the developing hurdle sequences is crucial. Teach your athletes to violently jump off the takeoff leg to clear the hurdles. Developing take-off leg awareness is the most important factor during this phase. Once all aspects of the second essential have been mastered you’re ready to take the athlete to the track! 

Link: Move to Track

Vince Anderson’s techniques for teaching a foundational hurdle approach have proven to be a simple and effective method that any coach can use to train a group of athletes. If you have a sprint coach who is unwilling to work with your hurdlers due to a lack of experience I hope you’ll share this with them. As previously mentioned, “If you’re serious about either you have to go in-depth on both.”

Always be growing,

Coach Rathke and the T&F Community of Coaches helping Coaches