Obstacle Course
Over, under, through, around. A course built from what you have, with a clear start and finish. Children can help build it, which is half the fun.
Overview
You need
Cones or markersHoopsRopesOptional: MatsOptional: Beanbags
Skills developed
- Locomotor: climbing, crawling, jumping, weaving
- Sequencing: remembering the order
- Problem-solving: how do I get past this?
NEL Framework: Motor Skills Development.
Set up
1Step 1
Build a loop: cones to weave, a rope to jump, hoops to jump in and out of, a mat to roll or crawl across, a rope on the floor to walk.
2Step 2
Children queue at the start. Coach walks the course once with them, naming each part.
ChildTagger / team BCoachHoopSpotConeBallBeanbagRope or lineMarked areaWhere they move
How to play
- Go one at a time, a few seconds apart.
- Get to the finish, walk back round the outside, queue again.
- Second round: reverse the course. Third: a child chooses one part to change.
Tips for explaining
"What comes next?" Ask them to say the order before they go.
"Wait for the space." Do not catch the person in front.
Make it easier / harder
EasierFewer parts. Walk it with the coach.
HarderCarry a beanbag the whole way. Time it.
Safety
Nothing to climb higher than knee height. Mats for anything on the floor. Coach stands by the hardest obstacle.
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Rather we ran it for you?
This is one of the games our coaches run in pre-schools every week, with our own equipment. Weekly enrichment, sports days, or a whole holiday programme for your centre, planned in one message.