Junior Firefighter Training Circuit
A story-based circuit where students train like firefighters: they army-crawl under smoke, jump puddles, crawl through a tunnel and carry water to the fire. It links several fundamental movement skills in a course they repeat and improve.
How to play
- Set up 5 stations in a U: ropes between cones about 16 inches high (army crawl), 4 hoops (jump), mats in a row (crawl), a cone zigzag (run) and one big hoop per group as the fire.
- Tell the story (2 min): the alarm rings, and everyone must cross the building without touching the smoke and bring water to the fire.
- Make 4 groups of 6; each group starts at a different station and students go one at a time once the person ahead reaches the halfway point.
- At the end, each firefighter grabs a beanbag (water), jogs back along the side lane and drops it in the group's fire.
- After 8 minutes, stop, ask which station is hardest and change how to pass (crawl on the back, hop on one foot); go again for 8 minutes until all four fires have 10 beanbags each.
Rules
- Army-crawl flat under the ropes; if you touch one, redo that part.
- Start only when the person ahead is past the middle of the circuit so nobody collides.
- Place beanbags in the hoop by hand; never throw them.
- Always return along the side lane, never across the circuit.
Variations
Easier
Raise the ropes to about 24 inches so students can crawl on hands and knees instead of army-crawling.
Standard
Five-station course with an army crawl under ropes at 16 inches and two-foot jumps through hoops.
Harder
Students carry the beanbag through the whole course without dropping it, and the hoops are spaced farther apart.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: a parallel route without low ropes, with cones to weave around and large hoops to drop the beanbag into.
- Autism or shy students: post picture cards at each station and let them do the first lap with a buddy.
- Fitness level: strong movers make two trips per lap; tired students may walk the zigzag.
Learning goals
- Link army crawling, crawling, jumping and running in one continuous course.
- Adjust body height to pass under obstacles without touching them.
- Work with the group to reach a shared goal.
Equipment for a class of 25
- mats: 4
- ropes: 4
- cones: 16
- hoops: 20
- beanbags: 40
Teacher tip
The typical mistake is lifting the hips while crawling: describe it as a snake glued to the floor. Push mats tightly together so there are no gaps.
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