6 Best Hurdles For Beginner Track Athletes That Build Real Technique

Your child just joined the track team and comes home buzzing about the hurdles. You watch them in the backyard, leaping awkwardly over a lawn chair, and you see the spark. But how do you support this new interest without buying intimidating, professional-grade equipment that might end up collecting dust? Choosing the right training hurdle is less about the gear and more about nurturing that initial flame of excitement safely and effectively.

Why Training Hurdles Matter for Young Athletes

You might be tempted to set up some cones or a pool noodle balanced on buckets. While that creativity is fantastic, a proper training hurdle is designed to teach specific, crucial movements. It’s not just about jumping over something; it’s about learning the rhythm, the lead leg snap, and the trail leg pull-through that define good hurdling form. These are complex, coordinated actions that build incredible body awareness.

Using a purpose-built training hurdle provides the right visual and physical cue for a developing athlete. More importantly, it’s about safety. A good beginner hurdle is designed to tip over easily or be made of soft materials, removing the fear of a painful collision. When a child isn’t afraid of getting hurt, they can focus on the movement itself, allowing for the countless repetitions needed to build muscle memory. This is how you build a foundation of confidence right alongside technique.

Gill Athletics Smart Hurdle for Versatility

Think of this as the Swiss Army knife of beginner hurdles. Your 9-year-old needs to practice at 21 inches, but their 12-year-old sibling is working on 30-inch drills. The Gill Athletics Smart Hurdle adjusts easily to multiple heights, making it a brilliant investment for a family with multiple kids or for a single athlete you expect to grow over several seasons.

Its lightweight construction is key. A young athlete can set up their own drills without help, fostering a sense of ownership over their practice. When they inevitably clip the hurdle—and they will—it simply bounces back or tips over without a fuss. This immediate, low-stakes feedback loop is perfect for skill acquisition. It says, "That wasn’t quite right, try again," instead of, "Ouch, that hurt." This makes it a workhorse for building confidence from the very first practice session.

Stackhouse Foam Hurdle for Safe Repetitions

Does your child hesitate at the thought of hitting a solid barrier? For the youngest athletes (ages 6-9) or any beginner who is timid, the Stackhouse Foam Hurdle is the ultimate confidence builder. It’s essentially a sturdy, segmented foam block that looks and functions like a hurdle but has zero intimidation factor.

The goal here is to remove fear from the equation entirely. An athlete can focus purely on the mechanics of their leg movements—walking over it, then jogging over it—without flinching. They can knock it over a hundred times with no consequence, allowing them to drill the lead and trail leg motions until they become second nature. This is the perfect tool for introducing the absolute basics of hurdling in the safest, most encouraging way possible.

First Place Adjust-a-Hurdle for Growing Kids

You see the commitment in your child’s eyes, and you know this track thing isn’t just a two-week phase. You want to buy something that will last. The First Place Adjust-a-Hurdle is a fantastic option for families looking for longevity and a bridge from beginner to more serious training.

Its key feature is the wide range of height settings, often spanning from a low 6 inches for drills all the way up to a full 42 inches. This means the same piece of equipment can be used for a 10-year-old’s first walk-over drills and a 16-year-old’s competitive practice. While it’s a more substantial investment upfront, its durable, weighted construction means it can handle years of use and even be passed down to a younger sibling. This is the choice for the family that wants to buy it once and be done.

Champion Sports Rhino Flex Hurdle for Portability

Your family is always on the go, and practice happens wherever you can find space—the park, an empty schoolyard, or even a long driveway. The Champion Sports Rhino Flex Hurdle is designed for exactly this reality. These hurdles are incredibly lightweight, often collapsible or snapping together in seconds, and easy to toss in the trunk of a car.

This isn’t about being the sturdiest hurdle on the market; it’s about making practice accessible. Its "flex" design means it bounces back into shape when knocked, which is perfect for repetitive drills without constant resetting. If storage space is tight or you need a tool that can travel to grandma’s house for the weekend, this is your answer. It removes the excuse that you don’t have a dedicated track to get the work in.

SKLZ Speed Hurdles for Agility and Drill Work

Sometimes, the best way to learn a big skill is by mastering the small pieces first. SKLZ Speed Hurdles aren’t for learning to clear a 33-inch barrier. They are small, fixed-height hurdles (usually 6 or 12 inches) designed to perfect the footwork, cadence, and explosive power that happen between the big hurdles.

Think of these as a fundamental training tool for any young athlete, not just hurdlers. They are perfect for drills that teach quick feet, high knee drive, and rhythmic stride patterns. For a beginner hurdler, running drills through a set of these builds the essential coordination needed to approach a full-sized hurdle with confidence and speed. They are a relatively inexpensive, high-impact tool that improves overall athleticism that will benefit them in any sport they play.

Port-a-Pit Rocker Hurdle for Team Durability

Perhaps you’re helping outfit a small youth club, or you have several kids on the team who want to train together. The Port-a-Pit Rocker Hurdle is a step up in both function and durability, designed to teach a more advanced concept: attacking the hurdle. Its weighted, curved base allows it to rock forward when hit and then return to its upright position automatically.

This unique design provides immediate feedback. If an athlete is passive or "floats" over the hurdle, they won’t make clean contact. If they drive through aggressively with their lead leg, the hurdle responds as it should. It’s built to withstand the daily abuse of a team environment. While it might be overkill for a single, casual beginner, it’s an excellent investment for a small group or a dedicated athlete ready to focus on the finer points of technique.

Pairing Drills with the Right Training Hurdle

The magic isn’t in the hurdle itself, but in how you use it. The best equipment supports the specific drill your child is working on at their current stage of development. Don’t just set up a hurdle and tell them to jump over it; match the tool to the task to build skills progressively.

Start with the basics. Use a Stackhouse Foam Hurdle or a Gill Smart Hurdle on its lowest setting for simple walk-overs. The athlete just walks, focusing on lifting their lead leg straight up and pulling their trail leg through flat. Once that’s comfortable, they can progress to jogging over a series of three hurdles. For building speed and rhythm between the barriers, set up SKLZ Speed Hurdles to practice quick, high-knee steps. As they grow, the First Place Adjust-a-Hurdle can be raised incrementally to match their new height and confidence levels. The equipment should always serve the drill, not the other way around.

Ultimately, the goal is to foster your child’s love for the sport by giving them tools that build confidence, not fear. The best hurdle for your young athlete is the one that meets them where they are right now. Start small, focus on safe and fun repetition, and watch their skills—and their passion—grow one successful clearance at a time.