Teen Strength Myths: Run to True or False

The teacher reads statements about strength training and students run to the True or False zone, then hear a short explanation and practice a related exercise. It breaks down common misconceptions about teen strength training.

How to play

1. Mark two zones with cones, True and False, 15 meters from a center line. Everyone waits on the line (2 min).
2. First statements: "Strength training with good form and supervision stunts your growth" (false) and "You can build strength with just your body weight" (true). After each, a 30-second explanation (6 min).
3. After every answer, the group does a short exercise that illustrates it: slow squats, incline push-ups or a plank (5 min).
4. More statements: "No pain, no gain" (false), "Girls who lift get huge without trying" (false), "Learning technique comes first" (true), "You shouldn't hold your breath when lifting" (true) (8 min).
5. In pairs, each student picks the myth they hear most often around them and explains it in their own words (4 min).

Rules

• Run to the zone without pushing and don't stop right on the line.
• Nobody is eliminated: everyone keeps playing.
• No one laughs at a wrong answer; mistakes are part of learning.
• Explanations talk about training, never about specific bodies.

Variations

Adaptations

• Deaf or hard-of-hearing students: show statements on large written cards.
• Students with limited mobility: answer by raising a green or red card and choose the exercise intensity.
• Students with reading difficulties: cards include an icon as well as text.

Learning goals

• Tell myths from evidence about teen strength training.
• Link each idea to a safe practice.
• Respect different opinions and correct mistakes without teasing.

Equipment for a class of 25

• cones: 10
• myth cards: 12
• mats: 15

Teacher tip

Make the cards on laminated paper. Stress that supervised strength training is safe and recommended at this age, and avoid any comment about anyone's body. The classic mistake is students following the fastest runners: have them decide before the start signal.

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