Cones Up, Cones Down: A Flipping Warm-Up Game

Two teams share a space with 30 cones: one flips them right side up and the other upside down in short rounds. It warms up with direction changes, leg bends and lots of participation.

How to play

1. Cones spread over half a court, half up and half down. Jog between cones without touching them, plus ankle and knee mobility (2 min).
2. Round 1, 45 seconds: the pinnie team flips cones up, the other team flips them down, right hand only. Count the result (2 min).
3. Round 2: to touch a cone you must squat down with a straight back (2 min).
4. Round 3: non-dominant hand only, and side shuffles between cones (2 min).
5. Final count and cleanup in pairs, each pair stacking ten cones (2 min).

Rules

• One cone at a time; no guarding a cone with your body.
• Flip it, don't throw or kick it.
• Head up while moving: look before you bend.
• 30 seconds of rest between rounds.

Variations

Adaptations

• Wheelchair users: flip cones in a nearby zone with a stick.
• Students with visual impairments: play with a partner guide and cones with a ball on top or a sound marker.
• Students with a back injury: flip only cones placed on benches or boxes.

Learning goals

• Warm up with changes of direction and pace.
• Activate the legs with a proper squat.
• Work as a team toward a shared goal.

Equipment for a class of 25

• cones: 30
• pinnies: 15

Teacher tip

Use disc or dome cones, which flip easily. Students often bend from the back: correct it in round 2 and award a bonus point to the team doing it best.

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