Acrosport in Groups of 4

Partner and group stunts (acrosport) in groups of 4: building simple human pyramids and balances with bases, flyers and spotters while following safety rules. Students develop strength, balance, cooperation and creativity by linking poses together.

How to play

1. Explain the rules: bases set up on a solid support, on hands and knees or kneeling; the flyer puts weight on shoulders and hips, never the middle of the back; call out when climbing on and off (3 min).
2. Partner warm-up: counterbalances and pushing contact to build trust (3 min).
3. Two-person poses: each pair tries three poses from a picture chart, with the base on hands and knees or lying down (5 min).
4. Form groups of 4 and build three- and four-person poses, with a spotter watching the flyer (6 min).
5. Each group creates a sequence of 3 poses with transitions, holding each one for 3 seconds (6 min).
6. Groups show their sequences to the class (2 min).

Rules

• Always on mats, and no hard-soled shoes on anyone's body.
• Build up and take down in reverse order, calling 'up' and 'down'.
• Place weight only on the base's shoulders and hips, never on the spine.
• A spotter always watches the flyer.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: seated base role, or designer who chooses and directs the group's poses.
• Fear of heights: base or spotter role, with no requirement to climb.
• Discomfort with touch or autism: low-contact poses such as hand-to-hand supports, and a group of friends.

Learning goals

• Build stunt poses while following safety rules.
• Cooperate by taking on different roles in the group.
• Create a sequence with transitions between poses.

Equipment for a class of 25

• mats: 14

Teacher tip

Post pose charts by difficulty level on the wall so groups can choose. Don't allow three-level pyramids, and review base position before each new pose.

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