Elitetrack: Sport Training & Conditioning

Two things....

(1) Anyone deal with trying to improve a cut step? How does one evaluate one?

(2) If an athlete is not getting full extension off of the take off foot to delay the timing of the trail leg but to speed it up ala Boo.

What are some coaching concepts to ensure a full extension is used.

http://forums.athleticscoaching.ca/viewtopic.php?t=129

“ The trail leg should be quick, but late. When I am standing behind the hurdlers, I also look for some time delay between the execution of the lead leg and the trail leg. When the lead and trail leg are not separated by time, I know they are not displacing and are usually too close to the hurdle.”

The Winkler and Tellez interviews on that same site have some good biomechanical points and cues dealing with hurdle takeoff as the most crucial part of hurdle clearance (knowing you I imagine you’ve already listened to them).

Hardly anything revolutionary here but…
Both of my quality female hurdlers have the common pattern like Boo describes where they rush takeoff.  We’ve actually had some luck with doing some bent lead leg hurdling (more like drill work, but with a little heat so we’re not jumping at the hurdles).  The emphasis is on an active takeoff and driving the knee high while keeping the heel tucked up under the hamstring (it will open some as the thigh blocks; the hurdles are of course lowered).  We’ve used this as a lead leg only drill, alternating leads and trails, and as a part of a complete hurdle clearance sequence.  We’ll cue knee drive, tucking the heel, an active takeoff leg, and letting the stretch of the takeoff leg help bring it off the grond and eventually make a trail.

There’s a very successful hurdle coach out of Raleigh (Wayne Davis, Johny Dutch, etc..)and I spent a lot of time observing his athletes at indoor meets this year.  He has some good stuff on his site including the below article.

http://www.hurdlesfirst.com/tuckingtheheel.htm