Spotter in Action: Safety Hands in Three-Person Figures

A session all about the spotter: where to stand, where to put the hands, and when to act during the climb, the hold and the dismount. The spotter in the pinnie is responsible for the group's safety.

How to play

1. Demo with one group: the spotter stands on the side the flyer could fall toward, one leg forward, knees bent, hands close to the flyer's hips or waist without grabbing unless needed (4 min).
2. Reaction practice: the flyer stands on a folded mat and leans gently off to one side; the spotter stops them at the hips. Five times each (6 min).
3. Three-person figure (flyer standing on the thighs of the squatting base): the spotter guides the climb with one hand on the hip and one on the wrist and gives the calls (7 min).
4. Protected dismount: the spotter holds the flyer's wrist as they step down forward and checks they land with bent knees. Rotate roles (6 min).
5. Each group says out loud its spotter's three golden rules (2 min).

Rules

• The spotter stays focused: eyes always on the flyer, never on the rest of the class.
• The spotter protects the head and hips; they don't act as a base.
• Practice falls are gentle, from a low height, and announced.
• No spotter pinnie on, no start.

Variations

Adaptations

• Back injury: spots with voice and wrist only, no catching falls.
• Visual impairment: as spotter, keeps one hand in constant contact with the flyer's hip to feel any wobble.
• Nervous students: in reaction practice, start by leaning only a few inches.

Learning goals

• Learn where the spotter stands during the climb, hold and dismount.
• React in time to a loss of balance.
• Take responsibility for the group's safety.

Equipment for a class of 25

• gym mats: 14
• pinnies: 10

Teacher tip

The pinnie makes the spotter visible and important: in later classes nobody will want to give it up. The usual mistake is a spotter with arms crossed; teach "hands a hand's width from the hips" as the ready position.

More main activities for Middle School