Straight Arms: A Traverse Counting Bent-Elbow Seconds

In pairs, one climbs a traverse while the other times how long they spend with bent elbows. The number makes it obvious that hanging on straight arms and pushing with the legs saves energy.

How to play

1. Floor test: hang from a low rung 10 s with straight arms and 10 s with bent elbows, then compare how it feels (3 min).
2. First baseline traverse: the observer runs the stopwatch only while the elbows are bent (5 min).
3. Group technique cues: drop the hips, push with the legs and bend only to reach (3 min).
4. Second traverse using the cues; compare bent-elbow time with the first one (6 min).
5. Each pair works out their percent improvement and posts it on the whiteboard (3 min).

Rules

• Feet under 1 m off the floor.
• The observer stays quiet during the pass and gives feedback after.
• If your forearms are pumped, rest twice as long.
• Climb down to finish.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited use of one arm: work the idea in an assisted hang with feet on the floor and time someone else.
• Shoulder injury: be the timer and analyst for two pairs.
• Nervous students: traverse with feet on the lowest rung.

Learning goals

• Cut out unnecessary arm work.
• Use a simple number to measure technique.
• Calculate and share an improvement.

Equipment for a class of 25

• wall bars: 10
• gym mats: 8
• stopwatches: 14
• observation sheets: 14

Teacher tip

One stopwatch per pair is enough; phones in airplane mode work too. The observer usually stops the clock late: have them whisper "bent/straight" to keep track.

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