Snowball Jog: The Line That Keeps Growing

A warm-up where a jogging line starts with two students and picks up someone at every cone until the whole class is running. It builds a gradual warm-up and a shared pace.

How to play

1. Set up a loop of about 60 m with 6 cones. The class spreads out around the outside, next to the cones (1 min).
2. Two volunteers start an easy jog. Each time they pass a cone with people, the leader high-fives someone, who joins the back of the line (3 min).
3. Once the line reaches eight, it splits into two lines that keep picking up classmates separately (3 min).
4. With the whole class moving, the leader of each line calls a movement (butt kicks, high knees, side shuffle) for half a lap, then drops to the back (3 min).

Rules

• Jog at talking pace: if someone can't talk, the line is going too fast.
• No passing inside the line; keep an arm's length apart.
• Pick someone who isn't running yet, not just your friends.
• If the line breaks, the last runner claps once and the leader slows down.

Variations

Adaptations

• Wheelchair users: run the loop on smooth ground and the line matches their speed.
• Visual impairment: runs in the line holding a guide partner's elbow.
• Ankle injury: acts as the starting cone, counts laps and joins at the end walking.

Learning goals

• Raise heart rate gradually.
• Keep a common pace as a group.
• Include everyone, not always the same friends.

Equipment for a class of 25

• cones: 6

Teacher tip

The usual mistake is the line speeding up as it grows: pause and remind them of talking pace. With more than 28 students, start with two lines from the beginning.

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