Tips From The Coach

A simple and effective trick to correct your hurdlers’ form while easing any fear of crashing:

I recently did a small Hurdle Clinic in Honolulu for beginners and second year hurdlers. Unfortunately for the kids in the clinic, their school's equipment wasn't quite up-to-speed and the Athletes were forced to use hurdles with broken hurdle gates which can not only be potentially dangerous, it doesn't allow for very good training. So naturally, there was an even greater fear of injury for these young Athletes. My solution was simple and easy to follow, and all you'll need are a few foam noodles (the kind children use for floating in the pool)…

1. Start by removing the hurdle gates (whether broken or not).
2. Next, bring out the foam noodles and place them where the wood hurdle gates normally would be.
3. Have your hurdlers continue their jumps with the foam noodles in place.
4. As you continue, stand to the side of the hurdle with another foam noodle in your hand and extend it out over the hurdle and about 2" higher than the athlete's head.
5. Have them run at the hurdle for their normal jump, and when they go over, have them duck their head so as not to hit the foam noodle.

With 2 simple steps (and 2 inexpensive training aids), you'll now have their fears eased and their forms corrected! The coaches watching me run this drill were amazed, within minutes I had their young athletes looking and performing like seasoned veterans. As several of the Coaches told me "they look like they've been hurdling for years."

The brain is an amazing instrument, trust me, it'll tell you to duck so you won’t hit your head!