Parkour Precision Jumps onto a Low Bench at Your Distance

Two-foot jumps from the floor onto a gym bench or plinth top, from taped distances each student picks and gradually extends. It trains judging your own jump, the core of parkour safety.

How to play

1. Review the precision landing on the floor and explain the tape marks every 20 cm (4 min).
2. Jumps to the floor line by the bench: students pick a mark they can stick three times in a row (6 min).
3. Jumps onto a flipped low bench or a plinth top from the same distance, landing on the balls of the feet (8 min).
4. 'Three for three' test: before moving one mark back, a partner confirms three stuck, quiet landings (8 min).
5. Log it: everyone writes their best safe mark and where they missed, and says why (4 min).

Rules

• Move back one mark only after three stuck landings.
• Benches on dry floor, against a wall or held, with a mat behind the target.
• Always land on two feet; if you come up short, put a foot down instead of forcing it.
• One jumper per bench and the line well away from the path.

Variations

Adaptations

• Ankle or knee injury: jump only to floor lines and serve as the 'three for three' judge.
• Blind or low-vision students: the target is signaled with sound (a slap on the bench) and distances stay very short.
• Hesitant students: start with a step instead of a two-foot jump.

Learning goals

• Judge the distance you can jump with control.
• Land precisely on a low object.
• Make progression decisions based on your own data.

Equipment for a class of 25

• gym benches: 4
• plinth tops: 2
• masking tape: 1
• mats: 6

Teacher tip

If you go outside, check the ground isn't slippery and the benches don't wobble. The common mistake is looking at your feet: eyes should be on the landing spot before takeoff.

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