Pass the Spinning Hoop: Arm to Arm
Each student spins a hoop on their arm and, without letting it stop, passes it onto a partner's arm, who keeps it spinning; first in pairs and then around a circle. Students practice arm spinning, accurate passing, and coordinating with others.
How to play
- Each student has a hoop: spin it on the forearm extended in front with small wrist circles; 20 seconds per arm (3 min).
- Switch arms on your own: with the hoop spinning on the right arm, touch the fingertips of both hands together and let it slide across to the left arm (4 min).
- In pairs, face to face: touch your fingertips to your partner's and the hoop slides from one arm to the other without stopping; pass it back and forth (5 min).
- In circles of 6 with one spinning hoop: pass it arm to arm around the circle and count full laps without a drop (5 min).
- Final challenge: two hoops at once in the same circle going in opposite directions (3 min).
Rules
- The receiving arm is at the same height and already making wrist circles.
- Touch fingertips to make a bridge for the hoop to cross.
- If the hoop drops, pick it up and restart from whoever had it.
- Circles stay spread out so a dropped hoop doesn't roll into another group.
Variations
Easier
Pass the hoop hand to hand without spinning, then with slow spins.
Standard
Arm-to-arm passes in pairs and in a circle of 6.
Harder
Pass the hoop from one student's waist to a partner's arm, or send two hoops around in opposite directions.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: join the circle seated; classmates match the student's arm height.
- Visual impairment: use hoops with a bell or bright tape and call out before each pass.
- Skill level: students who can't keep the hoop spinning on the arm practice with the forearm resting near the partner's.
Learning goals
- Keep a hoop spinning on the arm with wrist circles.
- Pass the hoop to another person without breaking the motion.
- Work as a group to keep a continuous chain of passes going.
Equipment for a class of 25
- hoops: 25
Teacher tip
The most common mistake is bringing the arm over after the hoop has already arrived; the receiver must be circling the wrist before the pass. Start with medium hoops, since very large ones are harder to control on the arm.
PatioLab has "Pass the Spinning Hoop: Arm to Arm" and 3999 more activities ready to drag into your lesson and run from your phone in the gym.
More activities like this
More main activities for Elementary
1-on-1 Mini Volleyball Up and Down the River
One-on-one mini volleyball duels on 3 x 3 m courts under a rope 2 m high, using a receive, self-set and send rule.
1-on-1 Side-Step Square Duels
In pairs, inside 5 x 5 m squares, an attacker holding a football tries to get from the starting side to the far side without the defender pulling a flag.
1v1 Four-Gate Soccer Duels
In a square with a gate on each side, two players go head to head and score by dribbling through any of the four gates.
2-on-2 Mini Volleyball with a Neutral Setter
Two-on-two mini volleyball with a neutral setter under the rope who always plays for the team with the ball.
2v1 Attack Waves to Mini Goals
Two attackers take on one defender and try to score on a small goal in under 10 seconds.
2v2 Alley Mini-Volleyball
A 2v2 mini-volleyball game on a very long, narrow court, about 33×10 feet, where the only way to win a point is by playing for depth: short near the net or deep to the…