17

Lead up skills 8. Competitive element: challenge pupils to get lead leg on the ground
on the far side of the hurdle within 3 seconds of the start (or within an
1. Students run over the hurdles to establish which leg they prefer to achievable time limit so that everyone is successful).
cross the hurdle first (3-4 runs).
9. Starts over 2 and 3 hurdles against a time challenge, e.g. 5, 6 or 7
Establish this as the Lead Leg. seconds.
2. Lead leg action: the leg must be picked up fast, and bent at the knee; Development:
then the heel is driven across the hurdle (3-4 trials).
1. Isolate the lead leg action. If leading leg is the left one, run down the
3. Trail leg action: as the lead leg returns to the ground the TRAIL LEG right hand side of the hurdle. As each hurdle is approached, the action
swings out to the side of the body flexed at the knee and the knee of the lead leg can be examined carefully.
pulls the foot through, (3-4 trials).
Observe fast lead leg action with knee coming up in line with the
4. Arm action: synchronised with the legs during barrier clearance and body, i.e. picked up directly in front of the runner.
running action.
2. Isolate trail leg action by running down the other side of the hurdle.
5. Fast hurdling: the lead leg is important here; once the heel is over the Encourage pupils to bring knee through high and fast to the next full
hurdle, snap the leg down fast to the ground. Fast leg up, faster leg stride.
down (3-4 trials).
6. Also encourage a leaning drive at the hurdle, leaning from the waist,
not the shoulders (3-4 trials).
7. Starting: most athletes take 8 strides to the first hurdle; therefore trail
leg up to the start line with lead leg to the rear. Practise 8 stride
approach to first hurdle with clearance (3-4 trials).

ACTIVITIES
1. Over hurdles, around
cone and sprint back to
next runner. (see Figure
5.5)

XX
XX
Figure 5.5

2. Over hurdles going down,

around cone and over
hurdles on the way back.
(See Figure 5.6)

XX
XX
Figure 5.6

3. As 2 but there is a group XX

at the far end. (See Figure XX
5.7)

XX
XX
Figure 5.7
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Figure 5.8 below illustrates a suggested layout for class teaching. Figure 5.8

Hurdles in lanes A–E spaced at progressively smaller distances.

First hurdle all on the same line.

Longer striding boys in lane ‘A’.
Shorter striding boys in lane ‘E’.
All return to start down right side of hurdles.

A B C D E
Basic
• •
Start • •
• •
Line • • • •
• • •
• •
• • •
•
•

Alternative Start Lines

SAFETY
Hurdling is dangerous on wet grass or on uneven surfaces. Wrong
The hurdle should be free to fall if struck, and athletes
should approach with the feet of the hurdle pointing
towards the hurdler.
Never let pupils run over hurdles from the opposite
direction. (See Figure 5.9) Figure 5.9
Right