Week 3 - Athletics 

Activity set-up

• Set out the playing area (25m x 25m)

How to play

• Students begin by moving around the playing area in any direction. 

• When the teacher calls out a range of ‘ship commands’, students perform the action for 5-10 seconds. 

• Once complete, students resume jogging until the next command is called. 

• Ship commands 

  • Bow - students run to the front of the area and perform a static balance. 

  • Stern - run to the back and perform a static balance. 

  • Port - run to the left and perform a static balance. 

  • Starboard - run to the right and perform a static balance. • 

  • Climb the rigging - action of climbing the rigging. 

  • Scrub the deck - down on one knee and scrub the floor.

  • Captain’s coming - stand to attention and salute. 

Long jump - Jump the river

Skill focus: Speed, acceleration, jumping off one foot and landing on two

Equipment: Long jump pit, soft landing area, markers for 'river'

How to play: Markers are placed 1m apart to define the 'river' full of crocodiles. Players need to jump over the river to avoid being 'eaten by the crocodiles'. 

• Set up 10 markers to define the river (see diagram for set up)

• Place another marker 10 - 15 away from the river.

• Players take it in turn to run towards the river, and jump off one foot over the river and landing on two feet on the other side.

CHANGE IT!!

• Increase or decrease the distance needed to jump over the river. 

Shot Put - Point score

**This station must have a teacher supervising. 

Skill focus: One-hand delivery, standing shot put throw 

Equipment: 3 hoops per 3-4 students, shot puts or objects to throw.

How to play: Hoops are set up away from a throwing line. Players score points by putting a shot put or other object into hoops. 

• Players throw their object to land in hoops spaced 2m, 3m and 5m apart.

•  Players stand side on, feet shoulder width apart and use the non throwing hand to aim. Sit the object to be thrown in the curve of the neck just behind or on the upper part of the jaw (not on the cheek or ear). Players should keep their elbow up as they 'put' the object.

• Each player has a set number of throws, e.g. 3. 

• Only one player is to throw at a time. 

• When scoring, consider awarding points if a put lands beside a hoop. Alternatively, set a target, e.g. 15. The team with the smallest number of throws or the most points in a set time (e.g. 1 minute) wins. 

CHANGE IT!

• Vary the distance of the targets from the throwing line. 

Discus - Discus quoits 

Skill focus: Discus throw 

Equipment: Equipment: 8 markers set up as shown in picture, 1 quoit or similar per player.

How to play: Players throw quoits as far as they can within the boundary lines using the discus throwing technique. 

(Teachers should read and use the instructions below for a standing disucs throw. The throw should be explained and modelled to students prior to activity)

• Players take it in turns to throw the quoit as far as they can using the standing discus throw technique. 

• All players have a turn before collecting their quoit.

• Repeat for a given number of throws, e.g. 5 throws for each player.. 

• Points are scored depending on where the ball stops in the target area.  

• Players note whether their score improves from round to round. 

Relay game 1 - Curve running 

Skill focus: Speed, acceleration, running a curve, agility and coordination

Equipment: Marker cones, whistle 

How to play: Players run curves around various markers from the starting point, following the directions that are called by the coach. 

• Play in pairs. 

• The first player runs straight towards the markers and as they do their partner calls out a number, e.g. 1, 2, 3 or 4. 

• The running player turns to round the marker that is called, and runs back to the start line. 

• Swap over. 

Relay game 2 - Noughts and crosses 

Skill focus: Speed, acceleration, running

Equipment: Chalk to draw noughts and crosses grid, 4 green bean bags

How to play: Pairs race another pair in a relay game of noughts and crosses. First team to place 3 bean bags in a row horizontally, vertically or diagonally win.

• Draw noughts and crosses grids with chalk - 1 grid per 4 students.

• Mark a straight line 30 metres from each grid and place a marker to indicate the starting point. 

• Assign 2 pairs to a playing grid. Give each pair 3 bean bags, ensuring opposing pairs have different coloured bean bags.

• On signal, first player from each pair, sprints and places their bean bag in one of their grid spaces, sprints back and tags their partner who then has a turn.

• First team to place 3 bean bags in a row horizontally, vertically or diagonally wins.

• If all bean bags have been played and there is no result, the next student can pick up an already played bean bag and move it in their grid.