Devil Stick: Tick-Tock From the Ground Up

Students learn the basic devil stick hit, the tick-tock, starting with the stick resting on the floor and finishing in the air. Working in pairs with short turns, each student goes for a personal record.

How to play

1. Stick standing upright on the floor: push it from one hand stick to the other, striking above the middle (7 min).
2. After three taps on the floor, lift the stick and give it two taps in the air before letting it drop (7 min).
3. The partner holds the stick at the middle with two fingers and lets go after two taps (6 min).
4. Count taps in a row and write down a personal record (6 min).
5. Tip round: each pair shares what worked (4 min).

Rules

• One-minute turns, then switch even if it's going well.
• Hand sticks touch only the devil stick, never people.
• Three meters between pairs.
• The partner watching stands to the side, not in front of the stick.

Variations

Adaptations

• Students with limited use of one hand: hold the stick for the partner to tap, then switch.
• Students with low vision: use a stick with colored tape at the ends.
• Wheelchair users: work over a table or with the stick resting on the lap.

Learning goals

• Learn the basic devil stick hit.
• Control the force and direction of each tap.
• Beat a personal record through persistence.

Equipment for a class of 25

• devil sticks with hand sticks: 15

Teacher tip

If you have no devil sticks, a dowel wrapped in rubber tape at the ends and two wooden sticks will do. Common mistake: hitting hard; the tap is a soft push that follows through.

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