Keep It Spinning: Diabolo Relay

Teams of four walk a cone course with a spinning diabolo and pass it string to string without letting it stop. Teams compete not on speed but on how many handoffs they complete.

How to play

1. Walk in a straight line while keeping the diabolo spinning fast (5 min).
2. In pairs, standing still: pass the diabolo from one string to the other by lowering yours and letting your partner scoop it from below (6 min).
3. Team relay: walk out through the cones and hand off the diabolo to the next person at the end (8 min).
4. Zigzag course with a full turn in place; each team counts handoffs without a drop (6 min).

Rules

• Always walk: running makes the diabolo tip over.
• Do the string-to-string pass standing still.
• Each team has its own lane and doesn't cross others.
• If it drops, restart from that spot with no penalty.

Variations

Adaptations

• Wheelchair users: travel the lane with a partner pushing if needed, or act as a fixed handoff point.
• Students with low vision: replace the cones with a line of colored tape on the floor.
• Students who can't keep the diabolo spinning yet: take part with a spinning plate.

Learning goals

• Keep a diabolo spinning while moving.
• Coordinate with a partner when passing an object.
• Add up achievements as a team.

Equipment for a class of 25

• diabolos with hand sticks: 14
• cones: 16

Teacher tip

Fourteen diabolos give seven teams of four with two diabolos each. The handoff is the hardest part, so practice it standing still before adding the relay.

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