So if a youngster (11yr old) is hurdling pretty good, but using 4 steps, is it good to try to have them change their stride to achieve 3 steps?

Alternative would be to work on strength/speed until the 3 steps come naturally through maturation. I think with such a young person, that is probably the answer, but I was wondering if working on a stride change might increase risk of injury or otherwise throw them off.

any have experience with this?

Good question. I am a former hurdler and have been around track my whole life (my Dad still coaches at the high school level). At that age, almost everyone is a 4-stepper. In order to 3-step, he/she would probably have to "lope" dramatically which is unnatural and hinders acceleration.

I would work on being efficient with both right and left lead/trail legs. If kid is a good hurdler and has good speed, they will probably find themselves running the 300m hurdles at some point and will benefit greatly from being able to attack the hurdle with either leg (chopping is a killer in the 300/400m hurdles). It may be awkward at first (like throwing with opposite hand), but with repetition and training, should become efficient. Won't need to be perfect, but effective in order to keep acceleration and momentum moving down the track.

Depending on height and ability, it may not be till 7-8th grade to even Junior year until a 3-step is attained. There usually is a transition year where a 4-step causes significant chopping and 3-step causes a little overstride. That year, you would have him/her 3-step as many as possible and convert to 4-step when momentum is hindered. Eventually, they will 3-step all 10 hurdles.

My 2-cents...hope it helps...good luck!

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I would work on being efficient with both right and left lead/trail legs

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This. This. And a little more of this.

The steps will come later. Learning to lead with both legs will result in a more controlled, a fundamentally stronger, and a more confident hurdler.

The mention of the 300m is another good point. Like most things in life, learning to lead with a particular leg is easier learned at a younger age.

I would mix in 3 stepping every now and then. If the kid can make it through 100 meters without too terribly much trouble or awkwardness, then start to push 3 stepping. Until then, focus on 4 steps.

How big is this 11 year old?

If you want to show and practice the theory just fix the distance between hurdles so the kid can 3 step and do so naturally. At that age I'd take on all advice given. It's all correct. You'll have a bunch of different things to do to keep them interested.

Thanks! Yes, I agree about the 300m and she has pretty good form with both left and right. She actually couldnt do right lead, then all of a sudden it came and now is her preferred leg.

I had her run the 300m one time just to see, and she went the whole route with not one studder- it was pretty awesome, though she does not have the strength/speed for this (her time was 73seconds.

She is only 4'11"/90lbs, but I ask because there are some girls not much taller who are running 3 steps. This is 80m hurdles at 7.5m. In middle school, they will be 100m/8.5m, but she has almost two years before that.