Frog Stand and Tripod Balance

Students learn the frog stand, balancing on the hands with knees resting on the elbows, and the tripod, with hands and forehead forming a triangle. They work on arm and shoulder strength, controlling the center of gravity, and preparing for upside-down balances.

How to play

1. In pairs with one mat for every two, warm up wrists and shoulders with circles and holds on hands and knees (3 min).
2. Frog stand: squat, place hands flat and shoulder-width apart with fingers spread, rest the knees on the outside of the elbows, and lean forward until the feet lift off. Hold 3 seconds (5 min).
3. The partner counts out loud and warns if the head gets too close to the mat; take turns of 3 attempts (2 min).
4. Tripod: kneeling, make a triangle with the hands and the top of the forehead, walk the feet in to raise the hips, and rest the knees on the elbows (5 min).
5. Final challenge: each student picks frog or tripod and goes for a personal best in seconds; the partner records it and they try once more to beat it (3 min).

Rules

• If you tip forward, tuck your chin and roll out with a soft forward roll.
• In the tripod most of the weight is on the hands; the head only touches and never holds the whole body.
• Straighten the legs in the tripod only with teacher permission and next to the wall.
• Always work in the middle of the mat, away from other students.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: practice pushing up on the wheelchair armrests to lift the body for a few seconds, or seated arm balances on the mat.
• Visual impairment: describe and gently guide the knee-on-elbow position by hand before the student tries it.
• Fitness level: students with less strength stay with the one-foot frog; strong students try lowering and lifting without touching down.

Learning goals

• Hold the frog stand with weight on the hands and feet off the floor.
• Form the tripod triangle with correct hand and head placement.
• Control a forward fall with a safe roll-out.

Equipment for a class of 25

• mats: 13

Teacher tip

Teach the roll-out well before the tripod, since it builds confidence. Make sure nobody balances on the very top of the head or loads the neck; support comes from the upper forehead and the hands.

More activities like this

More main activities for Elementary