Splitting 400 Reps: Team Strategy

Each team of five must complete 400 reps across four exercises (100 of each) as fast as possible, with only one person working on each exercise at a time. Before starting, the team plans the split based on each member's strengths and afterward analyzes whether the strategy worked.

How to play

1. Present the challenge: 100 squats, 100 push-ups, 100 medicine ball throws against the wall or floor and 100 mountain climbers (counting each leg). Only one team member per exercise at a time, and they can swap whenever they like (3 min).
2. Planning: each team tries 15 seconds of each exercise, notes who does best at which and decides on a split and swap order. They write it on the sheet (6 min).
3. Run the challenge with a team counter tracking reps out loud and on the sheet; 15-minute time cap (15 min).
4. Analysis: compare the planned split with the actual one, who tired first and what they would change. Each team shares one takeaway (6 min).

Rules

• Reps can be split freely, but no one does more than 40 of the same exercise.
• A bad rep doesn't count; the counter calls it and it is repeated.
• The medicine ball is thrown only at the wall or floor inside the marked area, never at another person.
• The team cheers with positive messages; nobody criticizes whoever is slower.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: handles seated medicine ball throws and part of the counting, with an agreed number of reps.
• Intellectual disability: has a fixed role on one exercise and a reference partner who signals when to swap.
• Wrist injury: does push-ups on the forearms or specializes in squats and fist-supported mountain climbers.

Learning goals

• Plan how the team splits the workload based on individual abilities.
• Perform muscular endurance work while keeping good form.
• Critically analyze how effective a group strategy was.

Equipment for a class of 25

• log sheets: 6
• timer: 1
• mats: 12
• medicine balls: 6
• cones: 12

Teacher tip

The 40-rep cap per person per exercise keeps the team from leaning on its strongest member. The final analysis is the key part, so protect that time even if the challenge runs long.

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