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Single-Leg Hinge Reach

Hinge forward on one leg while the other reaches back. Builds hamstring and hip strength plus balance.

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

Set up

Stand on one leg with a soft knee.

Core: Free. Steady beats far.

Ages
13 and up
Time
10 min
Players
Just you
Space
Small room
Bring
Nothing to bring
Level · skill
Advanced · Hills & Terrain

The steps

How it works

  1. Stand on one leg with a soft knee.
  2. Hinge forward as the other leg reaches straight back, hips level.
  3. Reach down toward the shin, then return to standing.
  4. Do 3 sets of 6 each leg, slow and steady.

Coaching point

Hips square, long line.

Safety: Only with a coach or trained adult watching. Light load only, never a maximal lift. Stop the set when form slips.

Make it fun

Play it, don't drill it

Game version

Reach for the cone: a partner sets a cone out and you hinge to touch it on one leg. Swap.

Challenge

Choose a level: Less (a hand on the wall), Core (free), More (reach a little farther). Steady beats far.

Story

You are a swan stretching over the pond.

My best

Beat your own count

Steady beats far. Only your own number counts: today against last time.

Practice makes progress

Print it now, or save it free

Free for families and teams

Save this drill to your child or team, free

Sign up and the free cross country week for this age opens in your child's planner, kept to healthy limits. A coach can send this drill to the whole team as homework, and parents see every session logged.

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An email from you to the coach, with the words ready. Nothing is tracked and nobody is rewarded.