6 Best Soccer Training Hurdles For Agility for Explosive Footwork

You watch your child on the soccer field, a blur of energy and enthusiasm. You see their potential, that flash of speed, but you also see them get tangled in their own feet when trying to change direction or get to the ball first. It’s a common hurdle—pun intended—for young players, where their mind is a step ahead of their body’s ability to coordinate. Investing in a simple piece of equipment like agility hurdles can be the key to unlocking the quick, controlled footwork that transforms their game.

Why Agility Hurdles Boost Soccer Footwork

It’s easy to look at agility hurdles and just see something to jump over, but their real value for a soccer player is much deeper. Think of them as a tool for reprogramming your child’s muscle memory. Every time they run a drill, their brain and feet are learning to communicate faster, building the neuromuscular pathways needed for explosive, split-second movements on the field.

These drills directly translate to game-day performance. The ability to quickly lift and plant their feet helps them accelerate into open space, make sharp cuts to evade a defender, and maintain balance while striking the ball. This is about developing proprioception—the body’s internal GPS system. Hurdles force a player to be aware of their limb position and movement, which is the foundation of all advanced athletic skill.

Furthermore, this isn’t just a soccer-specific investment. The agility, balance, and coordination developed through hurdle training are foundational for nearly every sport, from basketball to tennis. You’re not just buying soccer equipment; you’re investing in a well-rounded athletic base that will serve them for years, no matter which activities they pursue.

SKLZ 6X Hurdles for Durability and Visibility

You’re the parent who believes in buying something once and having it last. You’ve seen enough flimsy equipment snap after one accidental misstep, and you need gear that can stand up to a competitive kid and maybe their younger sibling, too. The SKLZ 6X Hurdles are built for exactly this reality.

Their main advantage is the durable, bounce-back construction. When a player inevitably clips or lands on one, it flexes and returns to shape instead of cracking. This makes them a fantastic choice for players aged 10 and up who are training with more intensity and frequency. The high-visibility yellow also means they stand out on the grass, which is crucial for safety and for those practice sessions that stretch into the evening.

Consider this set the long-term investment. While they might be overkill for a 6-year-old just exploring the sport, they are perfect for the dedicated player or for a family that anticipates years of use. Their resilience means they hold their value well and can easily be passed down or used for small group training with teammates.

QuickPlay PRO for Adjustable Height Training

What do you do when your 8-year-old needs to work on basic stride patterns, but your 12-year-old is ready for more explosive power drills? The QuickPlay PRO hurdles solve this common family dilemma with their standout feature: adjustable height. This is the ultimate "grow with your child" solution.

With simple adjustments, you can set the hurdles low (around 6 inches) for foundational agility work, perfect for younger kids or warm-ups. As your child’s skill and strength increase, you can raise the height to 9 or 12 inches to introduce plyometrics—drills focused on developing explosive power. This versatility extends the life of your investment significantly.

This is the ideal choice for a multi-child family or a player on a clear development path. Instead of buying new equipment as your child progresses from elementary to middle school soccer, this single set adapts to their changing needs. It bridges the gap between basic coordination and serious athletic training, offering outstanding value over time.

Ohuhu Hurdles: Lightweight and Ultra-Portable

Your family’s schedule is packed, and soccer practice happens wherever you can find a patch of grass. You need equipment that is as mobile as you are, easy to grab, set up, and pack away in minutes. The Ohuhu hurdles are designed for this grab-and-go reality.

These hurdles are known for being exceptionally lightweight and typically come with a convenient carrying bag and a strap. This makes them incredibly easy for even a child to carry from the car to the field. The focus here is on convenience and frequency of use; if equipment is easy to transport, it’s more likely to be used for those quick, 15-minute practice sessions at the park.

This set is a fantastic match for younger players, roughly in the 6-to-9-year-old range, where the goal is fun and fundamental movement. While they may not have the heavy-duty build for intense, competitive training, they are more than sufficient for introducing agility concepts and making practice feel like a game. For the busy family, ease of use is a feature that can’t be overstated.

ProsourceFit Set for Team or Backyard Drills

Your child is the one who always has friends over for a pickup game, or perhaps you’ve found yourself as the unofficial assistant coach for their team. In these situations, a standard pack of six hurdles just doesn’t cut it. The ProsourceFit sets often come in larger quantities, like a pack of 12, providing a fantastic value for group training.

Having more hurdles allows you to create longer, more complex drill sequences that keep multiple kids moving and engaged. You can set up different stations—one for straight-line sprints, another for lateral shuffles—preventing boredom and maximizing practice time. This is essential for managing a group and simulating the continuous movement of a real game.

This option is perfectly suited for the parent-coach, the player who hosts team practices in their backyard, or anyone looking to get the most equipment for their dollar. It allows for a more robust and varied training environment without the high cost typically associated with buying multiple smaller sets.

GoSports Hurdles: A Complete Agility Kit

You want to support your child’s training, but you’re not sure where to begin. Do you need hurdles? Cones? Both? The GoSports agility kits take the guesswork out of the equation by bundling everything you need to get started in one package.

These kits typically include a set of hurdles, a number of disc cones, and a carry bag. This all-in-one approach is brilliant because hurdles and cones work together seamlessly in soccer training. You can use cones to mark the start and end of a drill, create a dribbling slalom that finishes with a hurdle sequence, or set up passing gates.

This is an excellent starting point for parents of players in the 8-to-13-year-old range who are beginning to structure their practice time more seriously. It provides all the tools needed for a wide variety of drills, making it a great value and a perfect gift for a young player looking to take their skills to the next level.

Bluedot Trading Hurdles for a Simple Start

Your 6-year-old has just signed up for their first season of soccer, and their enthusiasm is sky-high. You want to encourage them, but you’re also keenly aware that their interest might shift to baseball or dance by next year. This is where a simple, no-frills option like the Bluedot Trading hurdles shines.

These hurdles are typically fixed-height, straightforward, and very budget-friendly. They do the fundamental job of getting your child’s feet moving without requiring a significant financial commitment. For the youngest players (ages 5-8), the primary goal is developing basic motor skills and having fun, and this type of hurdle is perfectly adequate for that stage.

Think of this as your exploratory option. It’s a low-risk way to introduce agility training. If your child’s passion for soccer deepens and their skills advance, you can always upgrade to a more durable or adjustable set in a few years. For now, this is a smart, practical choice that supports their current interest without over-investing.

Integrating Hurdles into Soccer Practice

Simply owning the hurdles is only the first step; incorporating them into practice effectively is what builds skill. The key is to match the drills to your child’s developmental stage, always prioritizing quality of movement over speed.

• For the Youngest Players (5-8): Keep it fun and simple. Set the hurdles up and play "follow the leader" with two-foot hops. Have them walk over them like a high-step march to work on balance. The goal is simply body awareness and coordination, not performance.
• For Developing Players (9-12): Start introducing more soccer-specific movements. Drills like forward-facing runs with high knees, lateral (sideways) shuffles over the hurdles, and combining the two are excellent. You can add a ball at the end of the sequence—for example, run through four hurdles, then receive a pass and shoot.
• For More Serious Players (13+): The focus shifts to power and speed. Introduce single-leg hops to build ankle stability and explosive strength. Create drills that mimic game situations, like shuffling laterally through hurdles before sprinting to a cone. At this stage, drills should be short, intense, and focused on perfect form.

A little goes a long way. Just 10-15 minutes of focused hurdle work, two or three times a week, will yield significant improvements in your child’s footwork and confidence on the field.

Ultimately, the best hurdles aren’t the most expensive or the most complex—they’re the ones that get used. By matching your choice to your child’s age, commitment level, and your family’s lifestyle, you’re giving them a powerful tool for growth. You’re not just helping them become a better soccer player; you’re helping them build the athletic confidence that will serve them for a lifetime.