Equipment Set-Up
Skill Development Equipment/Set-up
  • Color cone to represent each team.
  • Five 4-6″ foam balls
  • Five bowling pins
  • Upbeat music
  • Music delivery system
  • Place team color cones approx. 5 ft apart on designated start line. Place equipment for the first challenge next to the team’s starting color cone, place equipment for the second challenge on the center line in the center of the activity area (1 for each team). Place equipment for the third challenge on the opposite endline from the start area (1 for each team). Students line up in team order behind their team color cone.

Team Relay with Fundamental Skill Focus

This skill development allows students to explore appropriate fundamentals of locomotors, balance, and object control while they work together and use cooperation in a relay race format. It allows them the opportunity to practice using constructive competition to motivate them to perform with their best effort.

Prepare:

  • Ask students to recall how their team worked together in the prior week’s PE classes to use cooperation. (Call on students to share)
  • Remind students that they completed a race in which they took turns trying different skills in different ways and that type of race is called a relay race.
  • Share that they are going to try that type of racing today, together as a team, to cooperate while moving and trying some skills.

Explain/Demonstrate: Team- 3 Challenge- Relay

  • Direct students to move safely to their team color cone and line up in team order behind it.
  • Direct students to face forward, stay in personal space within their team line, and show a standing listen/learn position.
  • Remind students that their team will be working together to complete a team race/challenge. Ask them to call aloud what the name of a team race that you take turns in, is called (Relay Run)
  • Remind students that for their team to complete the challenge with their best effort, they will need to use some of their previously learned skills.
  • Review ready position
    • Body facing forward
    • Eyes focused on the teammate in front of you
    • Favorite foot is slightly in front
  • Share that this readiness position shows focus with the body and brain and makes it easier for the team to do their best because the teammates are not distracting each other.
  • Ask students to show the ready position.
  • Explain that today they will show their team cooperation by trying three different challenges within their relay run.
  • Share/show that best effort should be shown by:
    • Using skills to complete the first challenge.
    • Then running to the center line to complete the second challenge.
    • Then continue running towards the end line for the third challenge.
    • At the end line, complete the challenge, then turn safely using body control, run back to the starting position, while staying in their team’s running lane, and do a cooperative high five to the next teammate.

Practice: Slow Speed- Team – Two Challenge Relay

  • Remind students that to help each teammate understand how to complete the relay, their first practice will be done at a slower speed.
  • Explain that in this practice they will speed walk when it is their turn and demonstrate that they understand what they need to do when it is their turn in the relay.
  • Remind them that it is okay to make mistakes and encourage them to use teamwork with each other by helping each teammate to remember what they need to do when it is their turn.
  • Ask all teammates to show readiness with the ready position.
  • Cue practice aloud with the starting signal: Team’s ready, set, go!
  • Use cue word coaching to help students to remember various elements of the relay run.
  • Once each student has completed their turn, ask teams to show listening skills.
  • Give corrective feedback if needed.

Practice: Full Speed- Team- Two Challenge Relay

  • Share with students that now they will try the relay using their fastest speed and best effort.
  • Ask them to recall what they need to do to show best effort.
    • Readiness
    • Best body form running
    • Agility
    • Stay in the team lane
    • Right side return
    • Cooperative high five
    • Back of team line when turn is completed, etc.
  • Review with students that in this type of team challenge they will be competing with the other teams to determine the winning team.
  • Review the concept of constructive competition. (Competition with other’s that helps to motivate us to perform using our best effort and provides motivation for improvement of skills)
  • Remind students that to help the competition to be constructive/positive each person will need to use their self-control skills and respect for others.
  • Ask all teammates to show their starting-ready position.
  • Once all look ready, cue practice aloud with the starting signal: Team’s ready, set, go!
  • Repeat practice relay 3 times to encourage confidence/competence in each team’s ability and allow students the opportunity to improve their performance.

Review:

  • Ask students to recall some of the skills used in the relay.
  • Ask them to think about what their team did well together.
  • Ask them to think about any improvements that their team could make to perform better.

Transition:

Ask students to sit down in their team line and show a sitting listen and learn body form.

Variations This team relay should include three age-appropriate challenges (One at the start line, one at the centerline and one at the endline) that are focused on manipulative skills with hands. For example, the students sideways slide to the centerline, then dribble a ball 10 times with good control at the center line, then run to the endline and overhand throw a ball to a wall target, then run to the next teammate and cooperate by high-fiving the next teammate. Teachers should choose challenges that fit the best with their students/space/equipment.