Week 2 - Circus
Skill focus: Skipping and Hula Hoop
Session equipment:
Markers or cones
Long skipping ropes
10-15 x short skipping ropes
10-15 x hula hoops
Download Circus Skills - Week 2 activity card to support teaching before and during the sport session.
Fast start - Freeze
Equipment
8 markers to set out playing area
Activity set-up
Set out the playing area (25 students = approximately 25m x 25m).
How to play
Students run around the playing area until the teacher's first call is ‘freeze’.
When freeze is called students stop, the teacher then makes a second call giving instructions as to which static balance to perform (angry cat, tuck sit, side lunge, arabesque, walking on hands, v-sit and arch).
The teacher must give direction for a different static balance to be performed each round.
Select card to download.
Skill development games
Activity 1 - Skip to my Lou
Equipment: 1 x skipping rope per player
How to play: Players challenge themselves to skip within a time limit.
On your signal, players skip for 1 minute, doing a single two-footed jump.
Each time, players should be aiming to beat their last score.
Partner up – have participants pair up, with 1 player turning the rope while they both jump it.
Activity 2 - Walk Right Through
Equipment: 1 long (5 metre) rope per group
How to play: Two people turn the skipping rope, while the other players walk right through. (Play with 4–6).
Two players (the rope turners) hold an end of the rope each.
The rest of group stand in a line, facing the rope.
The rope is turned towards the group.
One by one the group walks through the turning rope.
One of the rope turners calls ’NOW!’ to signal to each player when to walk through.
The aim is to walk through without being tapped by the rope.
Move onto groups moving through.
Activity 3 - Coach Says
Equipment: 1 or 2 hula hoops per player
How to play: Using the rules of ’Simon says’, you (as ringmaster) call out commands for players to perform various fundamental motor skills and movement patterns.
Calls are to include different moves that can be performed with the hoop e.g. neck rolls, arm rolls, hip rolls, leg rolls, finger rolls, rolling along the ground.
A combination of locomotion movements should also be used.
Activity 4 - Hoop Races
Equipment: 1 x hoops per group
How to play: Players in groups race each other by passing a hoop up and down their line while making ‘up and down’ noises. (Play in groups of 6.)
In groups, players form a line, one behind the other approximately 1 metre apart.
The first player in the line steps into the hoop, takes it over their head and then passes it to the next person at head height.
The next player takes it over their head, lowers the hoop, steps through it and passes it to the next player.
This pattern continues until the hoop reaches the end of the line.
The end player runs to the beginning of the line and starts again.
Play until the original leader is back at the front of the line
Modified small-sided games
Teams work together to design and reheasrse a circus show.
The circus show will be held on the Circus gala day.
Dress Rehearsals
Equipment: All equipment from the lessons
How to play: Players prepare and rehearse for the final circus show. (Play in groups of 6–10.)
Players are split into groups of around 5–10 and asked to prepare a mini circus show to perform for the rest of the group.
The circus show must include a minimum of three acts, two of which must include two or more people. It must have a definite beginning (perhaps a ringmaster/mistress introducing the show) and a definite ending (e.g. a group bow)
Reflection
TAG
Ask students to form pairs with a student from their team.
Inform students they are going to give feedback to their partner using 'TAG'.
Tell your partner something they did well in today's session.
Ask your partner a question.
Give your partner some feedback on a skill or tactic they could focus on during next weeks session.
