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Hurdle Step Practice

Practice the skip-step hurdle that starts a round-off, without the round-off.

By Coach Evan Waechtler Youth coach (U11, Cache Valley, Utah) and founder of SSTracker Updated October 30, 2026

Set up

Take two walking steps on the line.

Core: Your usual skill. Move up only with your coach’s OK.

Ages
11 and up
Time
8 min
Players
Just you
Space
Gym or court
Bring
Floor, tape line
Level · skill
Developing · Tumbling

The steps

How it works

  1. Take two walking steps on the line.
  2. Skip onto your front foot with arms reaching up.
  3. Step into a long lunge with arms by your ears.
  4. Do 12 hurdles, then try them faster.

Coaching point

Skip, reach, lunge.

Make it fun

Play it, don't drill it

Game version

Skill-card game: pick a card with a skill you already know and show it with your coach nearby. The pair collects five clean skills together.

Challenge

Pick a level: Less (a shape or roll), Core (your usual skill), More (a clean skill with a stuck landing). Move up only with your coach’s OK.

Story

You are a circus star performing your favorite act.

My best

Beat your own count

Move up only with your coach’s OK. Only your own number counts: today against last time.

Practice makes progress

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