Hurdle Lead Leg and Trail Leg Drills

Side-of-the-hurdle drills isolate each leg's action before students clear the hurdles down the middle: first the lead leg, then the trail leg and finally the full stride. Students work on coordination, hip mobility and hurdling technique.

How to play

1. Set up 5 lanes with 4 low hurdles at 16 to 20 inches, about 2.5 m apart; groups of 5 per lane start one at a time once the student ahead clears the second hurdle (2 min).
2. Lead leg walk: walk along the side of the lane so only the lead leg goes over the hurdle; knee up first, extend without locking and bring the foot down actively close to the hurdle (3 min).
3. Trail leg walk: walk along the other side; the trail leg comes over opened out, knee at hip height and ankle flexed, then pulls through to the front (3 min).
4. Both drills at a jog with three steps between hurdles; the partner watches for "knee first" and "toe up" (4 min).
5. Full stride down the middle at a jog: lead, trail and active landing, keeping a three-step rhythm (4 min).
6. Each student tells their observer which leg is harder for them and gets one specific correction (2 min).

Rules

• Hurdles always face so their feet point toward the finish, so they tip over if hit.
• Start only when the student ahead has cleared the second hurdle.
• Walk back outside the lanes and never jump hurdles in the wrong direction.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: the student practices knee lifts seated on a bench and serves as observer for one lane.
• Autism: show the three-drill sequence with pictures and keep the student in the same lane throughout.
• Beginners or students afraid of the hurdle: start with side drills only and move to the middle when ready.

Learning goals

• Perform the lead leg action leading with the knee.
• Bring the trail leg over opened out and flexed without hitting the hurdle.
• Link lead, trail and landing while keeping the rhythm.

Equipment for a class of 25

• low hurdles: 20
• cones: 10

Teacher tip

The most common error is kicking up a straight lead leg from the hip, which turns the stride into a jump; keep cueing "knee first." Check that every hurdle faces the right way before starting.

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