Bench Ramps: Crawl Up to the Wall Bars

Gym benches are hooked onto a low rung to form ramps that students climb with hands and feet. It warms up the whole body and prepares the four-limb coordination of climbing.

How to play

1. Setup in groups: hook each bench onto the third or fourth rung with mats underneath; the teacher checks every hook (3 min).
2. Crawl up the ramp on all fours, touch the top rung and climb down the wall bars sideways, one foot at a time (3 min).
3. Go up lying face down on the bench, pulling on the edges with your hands (3 min).
4. Crawl up looking at a target (a piece of tape) and come back down crawling backward, slowly (3 min).

Rules

• Nobody goes on a ramp until the teacher has checked the hook.
• One student per ramp; the next one waits until the previous one is back on the floor.
• No walking upright or running on the bench.
• At the top, nobody climbs higher than the hooked rung.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: move along a bench on the floor while seated, pushing with the hands.
• Students afraid of heights: use the lowest ramp and decide when to go.
• Wrist injury: lean on closed fists or do only the sideways climb down.

Learning goals

• Coordinate hands and feet on a slope.
• Warm up arms, core and legs before climbing.
• Set up equipment safely.

Equipment for a class of 25

• gym benches: 4
• wall bars: 4
• mats: 8

Teacher tip

If your benches have no hooks, rest one end on two stacked mats instead of the wall bars. Common mistake: hooking the bench crooked; always check it yourself before starting.

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