Designing rhythm, speed and adaptability through task manipulation

Hurdles present a unique coaching challenge.

The heights are fixed.
The distances are fixed.
The rhythm is unforgiving.

Unlike open-skill sports, athletes cannot modify the environment during competition. And yet, performance still depends on problem-solving under speed.

This is where Constraints-Led Training becomes so interesting.

Instead of prescribing exact technical positions, this approach manipulates the training environment so that effective solutions emerge naturally.

What Is Constraints-Led Training?

Constraints-Led Training is rooted in ecological dynamics and non-linear pedagogy.

The core idea is simple:

Athletes do not learn in isolation.
They adapt to constraints.

Constraints generally fall into three categories:

• Performer constraints – strength, height, mobility, perception, motivation

• Environmental constraints – wind, surface, noise, temperature

• Task constraints – spacing, hurd

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A New Edition in Bergamo, Italy

The wait is over.

After the success of last year’s edition, Speed Festival returns on October 18–19, 2025, and once again we’ll gather at the CUS Bergamo sports center, just a few minutes from the Milan-Bergamo Airport — in the heart of northern Italy, but with a truly international spirit.

Over the past months, we’ve listened, reflected and reimagined what Speed Festival could become.

And now, we’re ready to launch a new edition — bolder, deeper, and even more focused.

One Theme: Speed Development

This year, we’re diving into a single, powerful theme:

The development of speed in three key areas — sprinting, horizontal jumps and hurdles.

Because speed is not just an ability. It’s a skill. A system. A language. And we want to explore it from every angle: technical, biomechanical, neuromuscular and practical.

But don’t worry — while the theme evolves, the core remains the same.

Science Meets Practice

Speed Festival will continue to bring toget...