The Bucket Ballet
Practice coordination, speed, spatial orientation, and rapid changes of direction
- 11+ years
- Group size: 3+
- Duration: 30 min
- Alternative physical activities
- Competitive game
- Relay
- Gym / Sports hall
- Snow / ice
- Open space
- Buckets
- Bean bags
- Cones
- Hula hoop
Divide into teams of 3–5 people. The first person on each team runs to the center, picks up a beanbag from the hoop, and places it in any chosen bucket. Then, he/she runs back to the center, retrieves a new beanbag, and places it in the next bucket. This continues until all buckets have a beanbag. When the last bucket is filled, the participant runs back to the start and tags the next person.
The next person does the opposite: runs out to the buckets, retrieves the beanbags one by one, and places them back into the hoop in the center. Continue until everyone on the team has completed their turn, or agree in advance how many rounds each person should run.
Tips: Clear rules are important. Feel free to create rules such as:
- The participant must step on the hoop when placing the beanbag in the center.
- The participant must go to the bucket and touch it when placing the beanbag in.
- This prevents beanbags from being thrown from a distance, and you retain the exercise's objective: rhythm, change of direction, and acceleration.
Variation
- Perform the exercise with a ball, on skis, skates, or in water.
- Many participants per team result in higher speed and intensity.
- Fewer participants per team increases the individual participant's endurance challenge.