Design Your Own Wrestling Game: Rules, Risks and Trial

In groups, students design their own wrestling or opposition game with a goal, rules, equipment and a risk check, and test it with another group. They apply what they learned in the unit about safety, consent and opposition.

How to play

1. Groups of five get the design sheet: goal, starting position, what can be gripped or pushed, how to win, and three risks with a rule for each (5 min).
2. Design and first test inside the group with the available gear (10 min).
3. Safety check: the teacher visits each group and approves or fixes the rules before the game is taught (5 min).
4. Each group teaches its game to another group and they play it together (10 min).
5. The guest group gives one improvement and one compliment; write them on the sheet (5 min).

Rules

• No game may include throws, strikes, or neck or head grips.
• Every game includes the class stop signal.
• No game sits anyone out for more than a minute.
• Only use gear the teacher has checked.

Variations

Adaptations

• Deaf or hard-of-hearing students: the design sheet has a box for the game's visual signals.
• Injured students: act as the group's safety officer and test the game in its adapted version.
• Students who struggle with writing: the group can present the sheet with drawings or an audio note.

Learning goals

• Create a safe opposition game.
• Identify risks and propose rules.
• Give and receive suggestions for improvement.

Equipment for a class of 25

• mats: 15
• judo belts: 15
• cushions: 10
• design sheets: 6

Teacher tip

Make the sheet with set boxes; a blank page wastes a lot of time. The usual mistake is games that reward the strongest: ask "How could a smaller student win?"

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