Hurdle Lanes Your Way: Find Your Rhythm

Four lanes of low hurdles made from poles resting on cones, each with different spacing, so every student can find where they get a steady rhythm between hurdles. It works on running rhythm and fearless hurdle clearance.

How to play

1. Hip warm-up: walk over the hurdles, facing forward and sideways (5 min).
2. Try all four lanes at a jog; spacing grows by half a meter from lane to lane (6 min).
3. Find the lane where you get three steps between hurdles, always leading with the same leg (8 min).
4. Reps in your chosen lane while a partner counts the steps out loud (7 min).
5. Share out: which lane and which rhythm did you find? (4 min).

Rules

• Hurdles are poles resting on cones: they fall if touched. No fixed hurdles.
• Low height, knee height at most.
• Start when the runner ahead has finished the lane.
• If a pole falls, walk over and reset it before the next runner goes.

Variations

Adaptations

• Students with visual impairments: a lane with poles on the ground and a partner clapping the rhythm.
• Students with limited mobility: a zigzag cone lane with the same number of pushes between cones.
• Students afraid of hurdles: start with poles on the ground and choose when to raise them.

Learning goals

• Find a steady rhythm between obstacles.
• Attack the hurdle without slowing down.
• Choose their own level of challenge safely.

Equipment for a class of 25

• cones with holes: 40
• poles: 20

Teacher tip

Start spacing at about 5 m and add half a meter per lane; adjust to your group. No cones with holes? Rest the pole across two regular cones turned upside down. Common mistake: stuttering before each hurdle; have them look ahead to the next one.

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