Foot-to-Foot Beanbag Pass Chain

In teams standing in a line, students pass beanbags from foot to foot while balancing on one leg, sliding them from one instep to the next, to move them from one hoop to another without using hands. The activity builds one-foot balance, foot control and teamwork.

How to play

1. Make 5 teams of 5 standing side by side in a line about half a meter (20 in) apart; next to the first student is a hoop with 5 beanbags and next to the last is an empty hoop (2 min).
2. Solo practice: standing on one foot with a beanbag on the other instep, lift it to knee height and lower it without dropping it (2 min).
3. Partner pass: both on one foot and holding hands, one student brings their instep next to the partner's and slides the beanbag over (3 min).
4. Chain: the first student scoops a beanbag out of the hoop with a foot, passes it to the second and so on down the line, and the last one drops it into the end hoop; the next beanbag starts right away (3 min).
5. If a beanbag falls, it goes back to whoever passed it; the team that gets all 5 to the end hoop earns a point, then the line order changes (3 min).
6. Final round without holding hands: each team tries to beat its previous time (2 min).

Rules

• Beanbags are touched only with feet; hands are used only to put them back in the starting hoop.
• A dropped beanbag goes back one spot, not to the start.
• Keep half a meter between teammates so legs don't collide.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: join the chain seated, passing the beanbag with a foot from the wheelchair or on the back of the hand.
• Autism: stand at the end of the line with the set job of receiving the beanbag and dropping it in the hoop, with a clear start signal.
• Low balance skills: make the passes with the back against a wall or with a partner's shoulder for support.

Learning goals

• Keep balance on one foot while handling an object with the other.
• Coordinate movement with a partner.
• Work as a team and accept mistakes without blaming anyone.

Equipment for a class of 25

• beanbags: 25
• hoops: 10

Teacher tip

Soft, flat beanbags work best. Make sure students hold hands instead of grabbing each other's shirts to stay up.

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