Active vs. passive recovery experiment
Students run a small experiment: two identical sprint sets, one with passive rest and one with walking recovery, comparing heart rate and times. Using their own data, they discover how the type of recovery affects performance.
How to play
- Pose the question and have each pair write a hypothesis: which recovery will drop heart rate faster and keep times steady? (3 min).
- Cone off 40-meter lanes; in pairs, one sprints while the other times and checks heart rate (2 min).
- Set A: 4 × 40 m sprints with 45 seconds of standing rest; record each sprint time and heart rate after the last one (5 min).
- Walk for 4 minutes and switch roles so the partner completes set A (5 min).
- Set B: the same sprints with walking recovery back to the start; both partners take turns (9 min).
- Each pair compares data, accepts or rejects their hypothesis and shares one conclusion with the class (4 min).
Rules
- Every sprint is all-out so the comparison is fair.
- Stay in your lane and slow down gradually after the finish.
- The timer always starts the runner the same way: "Ready, go."
- If muscle pain appears, stop and skip the rest of the set.
Variations
Easier
Sprint 25 m with only three reps per set.
Standard
Two sets of four 40-meter sprints with passive and active recovery.
Harder
Add a third condition with 20 seconds of rest and graph the data.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: sprint in a wheelchair or on a stationary bike if available.
- Autism: provide a worksheet with the data table ready and a clear task order.
- Asthma or low fitness level: sprint at 80% with longer rest in both sets.
Learning goals
- Form and test a hypothesis about recovery between efforts.
- Record and interpret time and heart rate data.
- Apply the conclusions to designing interval workouts.
Equipment for a class of 25
- cones: 24
- stopwatch: 13
- heart rate monitors: 8
- worksheets: 25
- pens: 13
Teacher tip
Run a solid running warm-up first. For a fair experiment, insist on all-out effort in both sets.
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