Electric Hurdles
Hub / HURDLING / 3

The Cut Step

At hurdle speed there is no time for a full cycle. The cut step is an abbreviated, stiff strike from the hip.

Founder method
Teach this lesson T
01Teach from here

Abbreviated and Stiff

Swing from the hip. Dorsiflex immediately.A very slight knee bend. Brace the whole leg.Punch down hard through a stiff hip, knee and ankle.

Coach notes
  • At approach speed the athlete is too fast to complete a full sprint cycle as the last contact before clearance. In full front-side sprint mechanics the heel traces up near the opposite ankle, calf and knee in a bicycle-like cycle; the cut step instead swings more from the hip.
  • The founder estimates the cut step uses perhaps 25 percent of a full cycle and may take less than half the time. Those are estimates, not verified thresholds.
SourcesKU-015K; GLOSS
02Teach from here

The Last Step Shortens

The final step into the hurdle normally shortens compared with the step before it.The illustration: steps grow from about 3 feet to about 6.5 feet, then the cut step comes back to about 6 feet.

Coach notes
  • Even when the last two steps are equal, more approach speed forces the cut step to cycle faster. Shortening is a useful indicator, not the only criterion.
  • In the pop-through drill the cut step is set about 4 feet from the hurdle.
SourcesKU-015K
03Teach from here

Stick the Cut Step Back

Installed without a hurdle: jog, stiff trail leg whacks back, lead leg comes up but stays light.Installed over a hurdle: the pop-through, cut step punched back from about 4 feet.

Coach notes
  • See Practice, No-Hurdle Drills and 7-14-21.
SourcesWALK · b6; WALK · b9

Related

  • INTENT and the Named Steps -- Through, Punch, Getaway, Sprint. Each step is named for what it must do, and each one sets up the next hurdle.
  • No-Hurdle Drills -- Hurdle drills without hurdles, for foot feel. Then the lane line drill, for quick hands.
  • What Kills Speed -- Pole Vault, the Braking Step, back kick, Upward Jumping, swirling. Each one adds time.

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