Motor Chess Warm-up
Strategic warm-up on a cone grid where students move like chess pieces.
How to play
- A 6×6 cone grid.
- Each student gets a card with a piece (rook, bishop, knight).
- On the signal, they move according to their piece.
- Goal: reach the opposite side without landing on an occupied square.
Rules
- Follow your piece's movement.
- One person per square.
Variations
Easier
Rooks and bishops only.
Standard
All pieces.
Harder
Two teams that capture each other.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: a piece with short moves.
- Comprehension difficulties: picture card.
Learning goals
- Warm up body and mind.
- Practice strategy.
PatioLab has "Motor Chess Warm-up" and 599 more activities ready to drag into your lesson and run from your phone in the gym.
More warm-ups for Middle School
4v1 Warm-up Rondo
4v1 rondo: four players keep possession inside a square while one player tries to win the ball.
5v2 Technical Warm-up Rondo
5v2 rondo to warm up with the ball: five keep possession while two try to win it.
Activation Ball Relays
Ball relays in which each runner completes a course dribbling with the hand, dribbling with the feet or passing, depending on the round.
Activation with Agility Ladder
Agility ladder warm-up: footwork patterns of increasing difficulty to coordinate and activate.
Active Chain Stretching
Linked active stretches from feet to head, holding each position for just a few seconds with smooth movement.
Active Corners
Active corners: each corner of the area has an exercise; students run to the corner called and do that exercise.