No-Labels Sports Stations
Coed groups rotate through five stations featuring sports often labeled as "for boys" or "for girls": jump rope, rhythmic gymnastics, football, soccer, and dance. Students practice a variety of skills and challenge gender stereotypes in sports.
How to play
- Before starting (2 min), ask for a show of hands on which sports are "for boys" and which are "for girls," without judging.
- Make five coed groups of 5 and set up stations 10 yards apart: jump rope, ribbons, foam football passing, soccer dribbling and shooting, and dance to music.
- Each station has a group goal: 100 jumps total, a ribbon figure eight, 20 backward passes with no drops, 10 goals between two cones, and an 8-count routine.
- Groups spend 4 minutes at each station and rotate clockwise on the signal (20 min total).
- Nobody may say "this isn't for me": everyone tries everything and cheers on whoever is struggling.
- Wrap-up (3 min): ask the opening question again. Did anyone change their answer? Which station surprised you?
Rules
- Everyone tries every station.
- No laughing at how a classmate does something.
- At the football station, passes go to the chest and there is no tackling.
Variations
Easier
Cut each group goal in half and demonstrate at every station.
Standard
Five 4-minute stations with a group goal at each one.
Harder
Each group invents a harder version of the goal and leaves it written for the next group.
Adaptations
- A student with limited mobility can do the ribbons and passing seated and lead the group's dance.
- Let shy students watch for 30 seconds at each station before joining in.
- For more skilled students, add an individual bonus at each station, such as criss-cross jumps or a ribbon spiral.
Learning goals
- Practice motor skills from a variety of sports.
- Challenge the idea of sports for boys and sports for girls.
- Encourage and respect all classmates regardless of gender.
Equipment for a class of 25
- individual jump ropes: 6
- rhythmic gymnastics ribbons: 6
- foam footballs: 3
- soccer balls: 3
- cones: 14
- music player: 1
Teacher tip
Skip the lecture: attitudes change when students find out they enjoy every station. If possible, post a photo of a male and a female athlete from each sport at the station.
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