Feed the Cats: Sprint-Based Hurdling by Alec Holler

Description

“SPRINT BASED HURDLING” is course #11 of an ambitious Feed the Cats Certification Program created by Tony Holler.

Feed the Cats is a revolutionary way of training, coaching, and teaching that values specificity, essentialism, performance, and love. After gaining a world-wide following in Track & Field, FTC has now gained a strong foothold in American football.

“SPRINT BASED HURDLING” was created by my oldest son, Alec Holler. Alec was an all-state high school hurdler and is the best hurdle coach I’ve ever known. There must be something to this “Feed the Cats” approach to speed. Alec coached the all-time Illinois state record holder in the 110 High Hurdles (Travis Anderson, 13.59). I coached the all-time Illinois state record in the 100m Dash (Marcellus Moore, 10.31). The all-time Illinois state record in the 4x1 was coached by another Feed the Cats coach, Brian O’Donnell (Crete-Monee, 40.86).

One of the most important features of Feed the Cats is the world-wide network of coaches who have bought into the idea of prioritizing speed and explosiveness while de-empathizing conditioning, toughness, and high volume workouts. The focus on well-rested, happy, and healthy athletes is truly a departure from the grind of the traditional approach. Hurdlers may benefit from this approach more than any other subset of track athletes.

When hurdlers are removed from silly volumes, intensity and focus will skyrocket. When tired becomes the enemy and not the goal, hurdlers remain healthy.

More courses are on the way!

Follow Tony Holler on Twitter… @pntrack

Follow Alec Holler on Twitter… @a_hollerEHS

Check out the articles written by Alec Holler:

Finally

A Hurdle System for Cats

3 Reasons Why Your Hurdler Can’t 3 Step

The Forgotten Ingredient of Feed the Cats

Lessons

The Process

1 Tony Holler Introduces Alec Holler 5:44 2 Alec Holler’s Course Intro 0:34 3 How Did I Get Here 4:57 4 Feed the Cats 1:27 5 Feed the Cats Priorities 0:42 6 2017 Hurdlers 1:42 7 Travis Anderson 13.59 (State Record) 3:05 8 Matt Griebe 2:56

The Parameters

9 Your Role as a Hurdle Coach 5:50 10 Rules for FTC Hurdling (Overview) 2:46 11 The Two Hurdle Rule 3:20 12 The Ten Hurdle Rule 1:07 13 Discounting 3:03 14 Beginning Hurdler Progression 1:15 15 Long Hurdles 5:19 16 Scheduling 4:11 17 Daily Plan 2:53

Coaching Hurdlers

18 Low Impact Hurdle Drills 3:40 19 Video of Low Impact Hurdle Drills 4:43 20 Hurdle Technique 0:37 21 Start and Approach 2:28 22 Video of Approach 2:07 23 The “Cut Step” 3:05 24 Video of Cut Step 3:53 25 Takeoff 2:00 26 Videos of Takeoff 2:52 27 Lead Leg 3:40 28 Trail Leg 3:35 29 Arms 6:15 30 The Landing 2:57 31 The Confidence Drill 3:23

The Coach

Tony Holler

Head track coach at Plainfield North High School. 42 years experience coaching football, basketball, and track. Member of Illinois Track & Field Hall of Fame and Co-director of Track Football Consortium with Chris Korfist