KS3 · Physical education · Year 7
Hurdles
Athletics: run, jump, throw and officiate
Learn it. Recall it. Make it stick.
IllumED Slides
IllumED · 1/10
Your learning goal
I can clear hurdles with control and fluency.
1 of 10
Hurdles: slides adapted from the imported teaching text; recall questions created from its keywords, learning points and common mistakes. Self-check practice, with no automatic grading or XP. Answers stay on this page and are cleared when you leave.
What you’ll learn
I can clear hurdles with control and fluency.
Key learning points
- Move: approaching a hurdle with controlled rhythm will support successful clearance.
- Move: lead legs glide over the hurdle with toes pointing up, while trail legs whip around sideways.
- Think: the stretching of hamstrings is essential to improve range of motion for hurdling.
- Feel: repeated practice of clearing the hurdles will build confidence and allow refinement in technique.
- Connect: being aware of the dangers involved in hurdling can help to identify and manage risk.
Words to know
- lead leg
- the leg that goes over the hurdle first
- trail leg
- the leg that follows the lead leg over the hurdle
- rhythm
- the consistent pattern of steps between and jumps over the hurdles
Common mistakes
Hurdles is daunting for many pupils who may fear hitting the hurdle, falling or getting hurt, which are justifiable concerns. This causes them to do things such as stutter their approach or even stop.
Be careful to provide hurdles which are achievable for all abilities and gradually allow pupils to build confidence and progress to higher hurdles when ready, rather than expect them to hurdle the full height.
For parents, carers and teachers
- If at all possible, have your hurdle distances/positions marked out before the lesson to save time in placing them properly during lesson time. Ensure the hurdles are placed the righ way round so if knocked, they can fall forward.