Gap Relay: Women-in-Sport Data Up for Debate
A team relay where each trip lets students pick up a card with a question about women in sport, such as federation memberships, media coverage or leadership roles. Teams estimate the figures, compare them with real data and debate causes and ideas they could apply at their own school.
How to play
- Form five teams of five behind a line; 20 m away, each team has a cone with eight face-down cards, each with a question and a blank for the estimate (3 min).
- Pick-up relay: each runner sprints out, grabs one card and returns to tag the next; the team keeps going until it has all eight (7 min).
- Each team estimates the answers on its cards and ranks them from largest to smallest gap (5 min).
- The teacher reveals the real figures; each estimate within the agreed margin earns a point (4 min).
- Final debate: which figure surprised them most, what causes it and one concrete idea to get more girls playing sports at school (6 min).
Rules
- Tag off with a high five behind the start line.
- Each runner takes only one card per trip and doesn't read it until back with the team.
- Running lanes are separated by cones at least 6 feet apart to prevent collisions.
- In the debate, all opinions are respected and arguments are backed by data.
Variations
Easier
Cards offer three answer choices instead of asking for an open estimate.
Standard
Pick-up relay of eight cards, estimates, comparison with real data and a debate.
Harder
Each team then creates an infographic with two of its figures for the school bulletin board.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: the student runs a shortened trip or is in charge of reading and writing down estimates.
- Visual impairment: cards use large print, and a partner runs alongside using a guide rope.
- Autism: the student learns the card topics in advance and can take part in the debate in writing.
Learning goals
- Learn real data on gender inequality in sports participation and leadership.
- Analyze why girls participate less in sports during adolescence.
- Propose measures to promote physical activity among girls at school.
Equipment for a class of 25
- cones: 15
- worksheets: 40
- pinnies: 25
Teacher tip
Take the figures from Spain's Higher Sports Council (CSD) sports statistics yearbook and recent surveys on sports habits, and cite the source on each card. Update the numbers every year.
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