River and Bank
With a rope on the floor separating the river from the bank, students jump to one side or the other depending on the word they hear, with a few trick calls. It is a gentle jumping warm-up that trains listening and reaction.
How to play
- Lay out 6 ropes straight on the floor. Put 4 or 5 students side by side along each rope, all on the bank side.
- On River!, everyone jumps with feet together to the other side; on Bank!, they jump back.
- If the teacher calls the side they are already on, they stay put. Play like this for 2 minutes, slowly at first and then faster.
- Add new calls: Bridge!, walk along the rope with arms out; Boat!, run to a wall and back.
- Anyone who makes a mistake runs one lap around their rope and keeps playing.
- To finish, one student from each rope becomes the captain and gives calls to their group for 1 minute.
Rules
- Always jump with feet together and land with knees slightly bent.
- No one is out: a mistake costs one lap around the rope.
- Keep an arm's length from the student next to you.
- On Boat!, run without crossing other groups.
Variations
Easier
Use only River and Bank, called slowly.
Standard
Four calls, a rising pace, and a rope lap for mistakes.
Harder
Add trick words like Riverboat or Bunk and make the jumps on one foot.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: a student using a wheelchair crosses the line by rolling forward or back, or points to the side with both arms.
- Hearing impairment: pair each call with a gesture: wavy arms for river and crossed arms for bank.
- Fitness level: a student who needs less impact steps across instead of jumping.
Learning goals
- Warm up ankles and legs with soft, controlled jumps.
- Respond quickly to verbal calls.
- Lead a small group by giving clear calls.
Equipment for a class of 25
- ropes: 6
Teacher tip
Check that ropes lie flat so no one trips. If you have no ropes, the painted lines on the court work fine.
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