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Hurdle Knee Drive Hops

Build the strong knee lift and two-foot landing of the hurdle with small hops on the floor.

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

Set up

Stand on one foot with your arms down.

Core: As written. Aim for smooth form and compare only with your own last time.

Ages
11 and up
Time
10 min
Space
Pool
Bring
Mat or grass
Level · skill
Developing · Approach & Start

The steps

How it works

  1. Stand on one foot with your arms down.
  2. Drive the other knee up and swing your arms up as you hop.
  3. Land on two feet together with soft knees.
  4. Do 3 sets of 8, switching the knee only if your coach says so.

Coaching point

Knee up, arms up, land quiet.

Safety: Land on two feet with soft knees on a non-slip surface. Stop if your knees or ankles hurt.

Make it fun

Play it, don't drill it

Game version

Deck follow-the-leader: one person leads a dryland movement and the group copies. Swap the leader each time.

Challenge

Pick a level: Less (slower or smaller), Core (as written), More (one extra twist). Aim for smooth form and compare only with your own last time.

Story

You are an explorer crossing the pool deck like a jungle.

My best

Beat your own count

Aim for smooth form and compare only with your own last time. Only your own number counts: today against last time.

Practice makes progress

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