Acrosport Frieze: Linked Pairs in a Line
Pairs build acrosport stunts side by side and connect them with a hand or foot touching the neighboring pair, forming a frieze in a line. Students work on cooperation, shared balance and group composition with a domino effect.
How to play
- Lay out a long row of mats. Groups of 6, or three pairs; each pair picks a low or mid-height stunt they know well, such as a hand counterbalance or a flyer kneeling on the base's hips.
- Pair rehearsal (4 minutes): build the stunt and find a free arm or leg that can touch the next pair without losing stability.
- Group frieze (5 minutes): the three pairs build in order, one after another, with 4 beats of music between each; once complete, all pairs connect and hold 5 seconds.
- Domino effect (4 minutes): break down in reverse order, starting with the last pair, keeping contact until it is your turn.
- Class frieze (5 minutes): all groups line up and link to each other; the stunt builds from left to right with the music.
- Two-minute wrap-up: each group shares which pair-to-pair contact was most stable.
Rules
- Frieze stunts are low or mid-height, never standing on shoulders.
- Contact with the next pair is a light touch, not a pull or a push.
- If a pair loses balance, it lets go of the contact so it does not drag the others.
- Each pair uses its own mount and dismount calls.
Variations
Easier
Build the frieze with individual balances and simple counterbalance pairs.
Standard
Build the frieze with three different pair stunts and a domino build.
Harder
Alternate pair and trio stunts and run the class frieze as a wave there and back.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: be the end of the frieze with a seated balance that starts and ends the wave.
- Hearing impairment: replace the music beats with a classmate giving a hand signal.
- Lower fitness: pick stunts with floor support and hold 3 seconds.
Learning goals
- Cooperate with other pairs to create a group composition.
- Keep a stunt stable while making contact with others.
- Sequence the build and breakdown in an orderly way.
Equipment for a class of 25
- mats: 14
- music: 1
Teacher tip
Put the most stable pairs in the middle of the frieze, where a wobble matters most. A photo of the final frieze is very motivating and useful for assessment.
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