Event Group Sprints and Hurdles

Hurdles coaching

The Event Group programme, which offers specific Event Group Sprint & Hurdles coaching, has been designed to provide licensed athletics coaches with a greater understanding and awareness of the issues involved in coaching athletes at the Event Group Development stage of the athlete development model (typically 14-18 years).

  • Book your place on the Event Group Sprint & Hurdles course via Athletics Hub (new users will need to create a free login)

Coaches who undertake this course will develop their technical knowledge and expertise across the individual events that make up event areas. There are currently four Event Group areas available: Sprints and Hurdles, Jumps, Throws and Endurance.

It is important to note that candidates are not restricted to taking only one event group. We actively encourage candidates to get involved in coaching across event groups.

Our coaching journey is supported by British Athletics’ coaching qualifications.

Format: Online learning and single integration day

The Event Group Coach Award is made up of two component parts, an online learning component and a single integration day. Candidates embarking on this course must do so in the knowledge that the online learning component requires a significant time commitment.

The online learning component allows coaches to work through this sprinting and hurdles coaching programme at their own pace. A thorough understanding of the material is essential to be successful on this programme and so to ensure all material is understood candidates are required to take a short multiple-choice test at the end of each module. While the total number of modules varies among event groups there are roughly 25 in total. It is expected that the online learning component will take around 25-30 hours or 4-5 days of total study time to complete.

The single integration day allows coaches to come together to discuss how the information they have studied online can be integrated into a training plan for athletes at the event group stage of the athlete development pathway. There is no practical assessment as coaches are already qualified to coach unsupervised.

Topics covered within the Event Group Sprint and Hurdles Coaching online programme:

Training organisation and decision-making

  • Coaching Philosophy
  • Classifying training methods
  • Long term development of sprints and hurdles
  • Training organisation strategies
  • Designing training progressions
  • Organising training

Event Group Specific Content

  • Event Group specific concepts for sprints and hurdles
  • Understanding the performance profiles for sprints and hurdles
  • Event technical models for sprints and hurdles
  • Teaching progressions for sprints and hurdles
  • Specific training methods (Competitive Exercise and Specific Developmental Exercises) for sprints and hurdles

Physical Preparation

  • Warm up and cool down
  • General preparatory exercise training methods
  • Specific preparatory exercise training methods
  • Running drills
  • Introduction to weight training (please note, this does not insure you to deliver weight training sessions)

Fundamental underpinning science

  • Adaptation
  • The science of Strength and Conditioning

Integration Day

The one day Integration Day can only be booked, once the online content has been completed.

The main focus / structure for the day is to look at:

  • Technical analysis of specific events
  • Training organisation and planning considerations

The day is facilitated by providing opportunity to discuss and debate observations and ideas.

Candidates must engage in tasks and activities throughout the course and demonstrate improvement following any discussions with course staff. Candidates not engaging within all aspects of the course are at risk of not gaining the qualification at the end of the process.

Book now

Book your place on the Event Group Sprint and Hurdles course.