1. Drills
  2. Cross Country
  3. Pacing

Metronome Steps

Step in place to a steady beat for 2 minutes, then keep the same rhythm with the beat turned off. Even pacing starts here.

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

Set up

Set a steady beat that feels easy.

Core: 60. Beat your own steadiest pace.

Ages
7 and up
Time
8 min
Players
Just you
Space
Small room
Bring
Metronome or music with a steady beat
Level · skill
Beginner · Pacing

The steps

How it works

  1. Set a steady beat that feels easy.
  2. Step in place on the beat for 2 minutes.
  3. Turn the beat off and keep the rhythm for 1 minute.
  4. Turn it back on: were you still on the beat? Do 3 rounds.

Coaching point

Same rhythm, start to finish.

Safety: Clear a small space with nothing to trip on or knock over. Stop if anything hurts.

Make it fun

Play it, don't drill it

Game version

Pace-match pairs: run beside a partner and hold the same easy pace for a count of 60. Swap who sets the pace.

Challenge

Pick a level: Less (30 counts), Core (60), More (90). Beat your own steadiest pace.

Story

You are a metronome keeping a steady beat on the trail.

My best

Beat your own count

Beat your own steadiest pace. 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.

14 days free for a family, no card · Running a team is always free

Does your child's coach know about this?

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