Having Fun With Running Games Mark Stanbrough Bill Stinson Emporia State University

Why Run? Born to run Physical and mental benefits Inactivity Running is fun Positive Conditioning

NASPE Standards NASPE Standards Standard 3: participate regularly in physical activity Standard 4: achieving and maintaining a health-enhancing level of physical fitness Standard 6: values physical activity for health, enjoyment, challenge, self- expression, and/or social interaction

National Standard for Sport Coaches Domain 3, Physical Conditioning: The coach is responsible for implementing developmentally appropriate drills and games. The coach should encourage healthful decisions by the athlete to promote healthy lifestyles. Domain 4, Growth and Development: The coach should be able to recognize the need to modify practice and competitive strategies to accommodate age, skill and fitness levels. Domain 5, Teaching and Communication: The coach must plan and implement organized practices to insure that athletes have a positive learning experiences. Domain 6, Sport Skills and Tactics: The art and science of coaching includes developing skills of all athletes.

Parking Lot Forming groups

Creating Games The successful teacher/coach adapts each part of the lesson/workout according to the characteristics and needs of the group, conditioning of group, time of season, etc.

General Considerations for Game Selection Safety Physical Skills needed Mental/Emotional make-up of group Social ramifications of activity - team or cut-throat Maximizing the involvement of everyone Fun and Enjoyment

Running Games are influenced by: a. increasing or decreasing the boundaries can: - affect running endurance - dictate stopping/starting abilities, quickness - cause a variety of pace speeds b. creates an awareness of personal and group space so: - individuals get used to moving in traffic (necessary for actual sport movement) - allows members to develop perception of where other teammates may be positioned - boundary parameters become almost subconscious in moving about

Team Building Team building activities are designed to foster interaction among classmates or team members. They can provide vital energy to class or a practice. They serve a dual purpose of a warm-up and group interaction.

Inner- Outer High Five Team Half of group runs a lap in a clockwise direction in the outer lane Half of group runs counterclockwise in the inner lane 1 st time when you meet a runner, high five and say your name 2 nd time when you meet a runner, high five and say their name 3rd time, high five and say something motivating

Scream Team 3-5 runners in a group Line up in single file 1 st runner run and yells as loud as can Rest of group runs behind 1 st runner When 1 st runner can no longer yell they drop to the back of the group and 2 nd runner starts yelling Continue until everyone yells Start over

Synchronized Running Groups of 5-6 runners Line up side by side in straight line across Attempt to synchronize arms and legs while running Start slow at first Go down, stop and come back Curve 180 degree turn

Warm-up and Cool Down Improves performance Physiological Supplies muscles with blood and oxygen Increase temperature Enzymatic activity Cool down- Keeps blood flowing

Giants, Wizards and Elves Three characters all vying for power! Giants- stand tall and growl Wizards-point and say Abracabra Elves- wriggling antennas hypnotize Two single file lines facing each other Sprint to middle, give a high five, turn around and walk 3 steps, and imitate character of choice Giants stomp Wizards, Wizards stun Elves, Eves hypnotize Giants

Fun-Relays, Tag, Games Relays ◦ Competitive or non-competitive ◦ Change baton ◦ Change number of people ◦ Traditional or active – everyone involved Tag ◦ Elimination or Active ◦ Something to do or place to go ◦ Opportunity to get back in

Skin The Snake Groups of 4-6 Scatter more hoops than teams Run in area, come to a hoop, pick it up, join hands in a circle Move hoop around circle without letting go of hands See how many snakes you can skin

Scoring Tag 3-4 groups of 4-12 run 1 group of taggers start at mid-field Other groups start at one gola line Attempt to run to opposite goal line w/o being tagged If tagged, exit left boundary and jog back to go again If score, go down right boundary and jog back to go again Each individual keep their pts/Total team points

Card War Two groups in single file, facing each other Sprint to middle and draw a card Show each other cards Higher card is winner and takes both cards Tie- keep card Run to end of line Multiple decks of playing cards

Run and Throw Biathlon 3 to a group Loop course Set-up two throwing stations ◦ Throwing line, short target, longer target Penalty station- down and back Run to throwing stations ◦ Prone position- short target ◦ Upright position- long target Teammates retrieve For each shot missed, penalty run 2 hoops- team the target

Digital Scavenger Hunt

Specific workouts- Fartlek What does the activity call for? Fartlek-Swedish word- speed play Variety of speeds Experienced runners can change speeds Beginning runners may not have ability to change pace

Speed Trap Designed fartlek course School zone: 20 mph = walk Downtown: 20 mph = walk Residential area: 30 mph = slow jog Rural highway: 55 mph = jog Freeway: 70 mph = very fast Unlimited speed= sprint Police station at beginning of speed zone Who can police pass?

R-U-N Running version of HORSE 3-4 people in a group Establish order Runner 1 states something they will do For example: I will run 100 meters between seconds If runner 1 achieves it, other runners must match- IF NOT, they get an R If runner 1 doesn’t achieve, next runner can do what they choose.

Running Tournament-Track Madness Set up a tournament bracket Draw to see where runners go Advance and retreat bracket Determine pace to hit Runner who comes closes to pace advances Determine recovery interval

Modifying Rules - No game is sacred Change at any time before or during the game When to change - when safety of students is a concern - when game is not accomplishing its purpose - comments of students - mood of group - activity level wanes

One approach to making changes - ask how can we make this game more fun? - what’s one change we can make to make it faster, run longer, etc? - can we drop/add a rule, score differently, etc?

Mark Stanbrough ◦ Bill Stinson