Raft Rescue: Haul Your Team on a Mat

Teams of five pull a rope tied to a mat to move a teammate sitting on it like a raft. It works on proper pulling technique and on cooperating so the whole team completes the rescue.

How to play

1. Pulling technique: knees bent, back straight, pull with the legs and go hand over hand; try it with an empty mat (3 min).
2. Four pull while one rides seated on the mat 15 meters to the cone; take turns until two have ridden (5 min).
3. Rescue relay: every team member rides once and the team times the total, no racing other teams (6 min).
4. Final challenge: the team, seated on the floor, hauls the rope hand over hand to bring the raft in (4 min).
5. Coil the ropes and put the mats away (2 min).

Rules

• Tie the rope to the mat's handles, never to a person.
• Riders sit, hold the edges and keep their hands inside.
• Brisk walking pace, no running.
• On arrival, ease off the tension gradually to stop.

Variations

Adaptations

• Wheelchair users: pull from the braked chair in the final challenge or steer the team by voice.
• Back injury: ride the raft or give directions, no pulling.
• Students who don't want to ride: may skip their turn and run the stopwatch.

Learning goals

• Pull with the legs and a straight back.
• Share the effort within the team.
• Take care of the teammate riding.

Equipment for a class of 25

• mats: 5
• ropes: 5
• cones: 10

Teacher tip

You need a smooth gym floor; outdoors the mats get ruined. If mats have no handles, loop the rope underneath and tie it in a ring. The usual mistake is jerky pulling: ask for a steady rhythm with someone counting out loud.

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