Hexagon Agility Hops

In pairs, on a chalk hexagon with 2-foot sides, one student hops from the center out over each side and back, going all the way around while always facing forward. It warms up the ankles and legs and works on agility, rhythm, and landing control.

How to play

1. Each pair draws a hexagon with 2-foot sides on the ground in chalk, with an arrow showing which way to face. One student jumps and the other counts and times.
2. Minutes 0-2: easy two-foot hops in place, forward-backward hops over a line, and ankle mobility.
3. Minutes 2-4: from the center, hop out over side 1 and back in, then side 2, and so on all the way around. Two slow laps, focusing on the landing.
4. Minutes 4-7: three laps in a row as fast as possible without touching the lines, timed by the partner; switch roles after each try. Two tries each.
5. Minutes 7-8: one lap in the opposite direction and one lap on one foot with soft landings.
6. Minutes 8-9: each student writes down their best time to compare in a later class.

Rules

• Always face the same direction without turning the body.
• Touching a line adds one second to the time.
• Land with bent knees on the balls of the feet.
• Hexagons are drawn at least 6 feet apart.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: the student traces the hexagon by tapping each side with a hand while seated, or steps instead of hopping.
• Hearing impairment: the partner signals the start with a finger countdown.
• Lower fitness or higher body weight: quick steps in and out instead of hops, with no timer.

Learning goals

• Warm up the ankles and legs with multidirectional hops.
• Improve agility and landing control.
• Record a personal score to track improvement.

Equipment for a class of 25

• chalk: 13
• stopwatch: 13

Teacher tip

This is a well-known agility test, so it works as both a warm-up and a progress check. If you don't have chalk, use painter's tape; make sure the floor isn't wet.

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