Looking for a way to spice up your conditioning regime with a little fun?
Head to your nearest dollar store and pick up a simple puzzle. I prefer the kind with a built in frame so that storage is easier. On the back side of each puzzle piece, write a conditioning exercise that is appropriate to skill level of your group.
Here is a picture:
There are so many variations on how to use the puzzles, but here is the classic favourite we use most often:
- With 2+ puzzle sets, split your group into smaller teams.
- Place all the puzzle pieces at one end of the floor and the back board with the kids at the other end.
- Each team will send one person at a time to run and retrieve a puzzle piece.
- When the return to the group, everyone must complete the conditioning exercise and find it’s place on the puzzle board.
- The next person runs to get the next piece and repeat!
- The team that finishes their puzzle first, wins!
Other ideas/variations:
- Create an obstacle course to run through
- Mix multiple puzzles in one hula hoop, everyone goes at the same time to retrieve one piece at a time to work collaboratively to finish all the puzzles.
- Ignore the tasks on the back of each puzzle piece and the coach can hold challenges where teams can earn puzzle pieces. The first group to finish their puzzle wins!
- Use the puzzle as a behaviour management tool — a challenging group of kids can earn a puzzle piece for good-listening or learning new skills or good sportsmanship, etc. If they fill the puzzle before the end of class time, they earn 5 minutes of play in the foam pit!
