Ringo Circle: Keep the Ring Flying

A warm-up in circles passing a rubber ring with one hand, the way it's done in ringo. It wakes up shoulders, wrists, and focus.

How to play

1. Make circles of 6 or 7 students, about 4 meters across. Show the one-hand grip and a flat throw with a flick of the wrist (2 min).
2. Pass the ring to anyone in the circle, saying their name before throwing; catch it with one hand (2 min).
3. After throwing, jog around the outside of the circle and take an open spot (2 min).
4. Add a second ring to each circle: one is thrown right-handed, the other left-handed (2 min).
5. Final challenge: twenty passes in a row without a drop; each circle tries to beat its own record (2 min).

Rules

• Only throw when the receiver is looking: name first, then the ring.
• The ring travels flat at chest height, never toward the face.
• Catch with one hand; if it drops, pick it up and keep going, no blaming.
• When changing spots, run around the outside of the circle, never through the middle.

Variations

Adaptations

• Students with visual impairments: the ring is rolled on the floor, and the thrower calls their name and claps first.
• Students with limited mobility: keep a fixed spot in the circle and don't move; others pass at a comfortable height.
• Students who are nervous about catching: may use two hands and ask for shorter passes without it counting as a drop.

Learning goals

• Warm up the shoulders and wrists before throwing work.
• Improve one-hand catching, including with the non-dominant hand.
• Stay focused and communicate as a group.

Equipment for a class of 25

• ringo rings: 8

Teacher tip

Many students throw the ring on edge and it wobbles: cue a flat wrist and a spinning release. If you don't have ringo rings, rubber pool rings or foam rings about 6–8 inches across work fine.

More activities like this

More warm-ups for Middle School