Team High Jump Meet: Three Attempts Rule

Teams compete in the high jump with basic meet rules: a chosen opening height, three attempts per height and the option to pass. Students work on decision-making, jumping over an elastic cord and modified rules.

How to play

1. Set up two jumping areas with a landing mat, standards and an elastic cord; 5 teams of 5, each with a scorecard. Explain the rules: three attempts per height, and three misses in a row ends that jumper's competition (3 min).
2. Event warm-up: each student takes 3 practice jumps at 28 inches with their technique, scissor kick or flop (4 min).
3. Each student picks an opening height of 28, 32 or 36 inches and writes it down; the team discusses whether to play it safe or take a risk (2 min).
4. Competition: the cord goes up 2 inches at a time; at each height, the jumpers still in go in order, and a jumper may pass a height and try the next one (12 min).
5. Students whose competition has ended hold standards, keep score or judge misses, so nobody stands around (during the competition).
6. Scoring: each height cleared earns 1 point for every 2 inches above 26 inches, and team points are added up; ties go to the team with fewer misses (4 min).

Rules

• Always use an elastic cord, never a rigid crossbar.
• A jump is a miss if the jumper takes off from two feet, knocks the cord down or runs under it.
• Only one jumper per area, and nobody sits on the mat while jumps are happening.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: the student is head judge and keeps the official scorecard that decides the team result.
• Shyness: the student may jump in the area with fewer onlookers and decides whether to announce their height out loud.
• Beginners: start at 20 inches and earn points for improving on their opening height.

Learning goals

• Apply the basic rules of a high jump competition.
• Decide on an opening height and when to pass.
• Act as judge and scorekeeper fairly.

Equipment for a class of 25

• high jump landing mats: 2
• high jump standards: 4
• elastic cords: 2
• scorecards: 5
• pens: 5

Teacher tip

Use an example to show how passing a height can be a smart or risky move; that is what hooks students most.

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