Takeoff too close
Most common cause for HS athletes. Standard 110m hurdles takeoff is 7 feet from the barrier; 100m hurdles is 6.5 feet. Close takeoff forces the lead leg to come up and over instead of forward and through.
Hitting hurdles is not a courage problem. It is a mechanics problem. Five things cause it: takeoff too close, takeoff too far, lead leg too low, trail leg dropping early, or stride pattern off. Below: how to tell which one is yours, the drill that fixes it, and how to verify the fix on video.
Most common cause for HS athletes. Standard 110m hurdles takeoff is 7 feet from the barrier; 100m hurdles is 6.5 feet. Close takeoff forces the lead leg to come up and over instead of forward and through.
Lead leg knee should clear the bar by 2-4 inches, no more. Below the bar, you hit. Higher than 4 inches and you lose forward speed. Drill: lead-leg wall snaps.
Trail leg knee should stay tucked horizontal across the bar. If it drops vertically before clearing, you bring the foot down on the bar. Drill: stationary trail-leg snaps off the wall.
Hitting hurdles is the most diagnosable problem in track. Film one rep over a hurdle, side-on, 15 feet away. AI grades takeoff distance, lead-leg height, trail-leg position, and body angle at clearance. The frame where you hit tells you exactly which one is the cause.
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