Northwood Academy of Hurdles

The Northwood Academy of Hurdles was founded some 31 years ago by Graham Knight (Great Britain National Hurdles Coach and Technical Director of Sprints, Relays and Hurdles). In 2000 the increasing demands created by his role as the GB National Coach, inevitably resulted with a change of directorship at the Academy, and it was at this time that Ted Grey (UKA 3 Hurdles Coach) stepped up from his existing coaching position at the Academy to that of Director and Head Coach.

At the conclusion of the 2017 series, Ted Grey announced his intention to retire after 22years as the Coaching Director of the Academy to take a well-earned rest from the organisational demands of the post. However, despite the decision to relinquish this specific role has made clear his intention to continue in a coaching role at the academy, wherever possible, for the foreseeable future.

Steve Oldham (UKA 3 Hurdles Coach) who has coached at the Academy for over 24 years, under the direction of both Graham Knight and Ted Grey, has since taken up the position as Academy & Coaching Director, complimented by a regular team of time-honoured experienced hurdles coaches. Coach David Gough now co-directs the Academy and Academy Coach Charlotte Whitcombe is a First Aid Responder and Safeguarding Officer, who also assists with the organisational responsibilities of the academy.

The Northwood Academy of Hurdles is in its 30th year
The five sessions during the 2023/2024 series will be held at monthly intervals between September 2023 and January 2024, at the indoor sports-hall and on track at the Northwood Stadium, Stoke thanks to the co-operation of Stoke Athletic Club.
The Academy has two equal aims: to work with athletes to develop their hurdling skills, whilst simultaneously offering hands on opportunities for coaches to work with athletes and other coaches.
The series is open to all hurdlers of a reasonable club standard upward to national champions – sprint and long hurdles.
Ages catered for are U15, U17, U20, Seniors, male and female.
Athletes work in age groups with small teams of coaches under a lead coach.
The organisation is a non-profit making concern, courtesy of UKA qualified coaches who continue to support the series on a voluntary basis.
The Academy draws athletes from some 43 or more different clubs / schools, encompassing a catchment area, extending from as far North as Glasgow down through the North West, North East, West Midlands, as far down as Oxford and inclusive of all points in between.

Sprint Hurdles

Review of athletes' core stability and flexibility using hurdle walkovers
Review & development of technical model using established isolation drills
Guidance for development of starting techniques
Strength endurance specific to hurdles
Preparation for indoor competition
Video analysis of hurdle technique (when available)
Conversion to next age group specification where appropriate

Long Hurdles

Mobility assessment
Running gait assessment
Running and hurdle drills
Hurdle approach work, bilateral, dominant and non-dominant leg action
Technical endurance
Maximizing stride on and off hurdle
Hurdle starts and pace judgment
Stride pattern / change down work whilst maintaining speed
Video analysis of hurdle technique (when available)

Sessions provide the opportunity for coaches to work in small teams, enabling them to share ideas whilst working with athletes of their selected age group. Coaches will be encouraged to input their ideas and extend their experiences by planning sessions or parts of sessions

The emphasis is on the technical development of hurdlers but other aspects of athlete development e.g. strength and conditioning will also figure

Through the Academy, coaches will experience the progressive development, essential to hurdlers, from the winter, through competition preparation, for the indoor and outdoor seasons

Suitable for coaches of any level...

Northwood Academy of Hurdles

ώς τάχιστα

Sprint Hurdles

Long Hurdles

Further Information