Sports Moves Dice Warm-Up

The teacher or a student rolls a giant die, and each number stands for a sports move the group shadows while moving around: layup, volleyball spike, soccer kick, tennis serve, sprint start, or rugby pass. It warms up the whole body and reviews technique.

How to play

1. Spread the group out in a 65 x 65-foot area marked with cones. Post the key on a sign: 1 layup, 2 volleyball spike, 3 soccer kick, 4 tennis serve, 5 sprint start, 6 rugby pass.
2. Minutes 0-2: easy jog around the area and head-to-toe joint mobility.
3. Minutes 2-7: roll the die every 40 seconds. The group shadows the move continuously around the space: for example, on a 2, three-step approach, jump, and swing at air, then back to jogging.
4. After each roll, a different student rolls the die and demonstrates the move before the group does it.
5. Minutes 7-8: double roll, combine two moves in a row (for example, a sprint start into a layup).
6. Minutes 8-9: ask which sport uses each move and which muscles worked the most.

Rules

• Moves are shadowed with no equipment, keeping at least 6 feet from everyone.
• The demonstrator goes slowly the first time so everyone can see.
• Intensity builds gradually: the first rolls are at 50 percent.
• Land jumps on both feet with bent knees.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: moves are adapted to the upper body (throw, spike, pass) from the wheelchair.
• Hearing impairment: the key stays visible and the number is shown by holding up the die.
• Lower fitness: the student walks the moves without jumping.

Learning goals

• Warm up the whole body with a variety of sport skills.
• Recognize signature moves from different sports.
• Demonstrate a skill clearly in front of the group.

Equipment for a class of 25

• giant die: 1
• cones: 4

Teacher tip

If you don't have a giant die, a regular die in a clear plastic box or a spinner on the whiteboard works. Tailor the key to the unit you're teaching.

More activities like this

More warm-ups for Middle School