PatioLab
Home › Activity library › Warm-ups for High School › Dynamic Upper Body Stretching

Dynamic Upper Body Stretching

Dynamic upper-body stretches to prepare the shoulders, chest and back.

PhaseWarm-up
Duration6 min
Ages16–18
SpaceAny space
EquipmentNo equipment
IntensityLow

How to play

  1. Arm circles that start small and get bigger, forward and back.
  2. Chest openers: hug yourself, then open the arms wide.
  3. Trunk rotations with relaxed arms.
  4. Arm crosses in front and behind, alternating top and bottom.

Rules

Variations

Easier

Small range.

Standard

Full sequence.

Harder

Greater range and speed.

Adaptations

Learning goals

Add this activity to your lesson

PatioLab has "Dynamic Upper Body Stretching" and 599 more activities ready to drag into your lesson and run from your phone in the gym.

More warm-ups for High School

4v1 Warm-up Rondo

⏱ 10 min👥 Ages 13–16📍 Field
Equipment: ball, cones

4v1 rondo: four players keep possession inside a square while one player tries to win the ball.

Coordination Moderate intensity

5v2 Technical Warm-up Rondo

⏱ 10 min👥 Ages 13–16📍 Field
Equipment: ball, cones

5v2 rondo to warm up with the ball: five keep possession while two try to win it.

Coordination Moderate intensity

Activation Ball Relays

⏱ 9 min👥 Ages 12–16📍 Field
Equipment: ball, cones

Ball relays in which each runner completes a course dribbling with the hand, dribbling with the feet or passing, depending on the round.

Speed Moderate intensity

Activation Circuit (4 Stations, 30 s)

⏱ 10 min👥 Ages 16–18📍 Outdoor yard
Equipment: cones, hoops

Four-station, 30-second warm-up circuit to start the lesson with the whole body.

Strength Moderate intensity

Activation with Agility Ladder

⏱ 9 min👥 Ages 12–16📍 Outdoor yard
Equipment: Agility ladder

Agility ladder warm-up: footwork patterns of increasing difficulty to coordinate and activate.

Coordination Moderate intensity

Activation with Basic Plyometric Exercises

⏱ 8 min👥 Ages 16–18📍 Field
Equipment: No equipment

Warm-up with basic plyometric exercises and controlled landings.

Power Moderate intensity