If Something Goes Wrong: Acrosport Fall Drill

A guided drill on what to do if a flyer falls or someone gets hurt during a figure: stop, protect, alert and help. Students rehearse the protocol through acted-out scenarios, with no real falls.

How to play

1. Explain the four-step protocol: 1) "Stop!" and every group takes its figure down in order; 2) don't move someone who complains of neck or back pain; 3) alert the teacher; 4) only do what you know how to do (ice, rest, reassurance) (5 min).
2. Emergency teardown: groups build a figure and, on "Stop!", everyone comes down in reverse order in under 5 seconds. Three reps (6 min).
3. Groups of five get a scenario card (sprained wrist, bump to the head, dizzy flyer, base with lower back pain…). They act it out with no real falls and apply the protocol (8 min).
4. Swap cards and act out a second scenario with new roles (4 min).
5. Final review: each group says what you should never do in its scenario (2 min).

Rules

• In the role-play nobody actually falls: the "injured" student lies down calmly on the mat.
• For a head, neck or back injury: don't move the person and alert an adult.
• Ice always wrapped in cloth, never directly on the skin.
• Take the drill seriously: anyone joking around becomes an observer.

Variations

Adaptations

• Hearing impairment: "Stop!" also comes with a whistle and arms crossed overhead.
• Anxiety about injuries: chooses the role of alerting the teacher or observing with the step checklist.
• Limited mobility: acts as coordinator who assigns the protocol tasks.

Learning goals

• Know the steps to take after an acrosport accident.
• Take figures down quickly and safely on a signal.
• Recognize when an injured person should not be moved.

Equipment for a class of 25

• gym mats: 10
• scenario cards: 6
• instant ice packs: 2

Teacher tip

Repeat the emergency teardown at the start of later classes: one minute is enough. If you don't have instant ice packs, a bag of frozen peas from the cafeteria works for the demo.

More activities like this

More main activities for Middle School