Turn on Your Axis: From Pivot to Full-Turn Jump

A progression of turns around the vertical axis: pivot on one foot, half-turn jump and full-turn jump inside a hoop. It improves orientation and body control while turning.

How to play

1. Turns on the balls of both feet each way: quarter, half and full turn (4 min).
2. One-foot pivot with the other leg tucked and arms closing in as you turn (4 min).
3. Inside a hoop: half-turn jump landing inside the hoop (4 min).
4. Full-turn jump, landing facing the same way and inside the hoop (5 min).
5. Find your preferred turning side and try the other one (3 min).

Rules

• Spot a fixed point before and after turning.
• Hoops at least 2 m apart.
• If you feel dizzy, stop and look at a still point.
• Soft landing on both feet.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: wheelchair or seated torso turns following the cues.
• Deaf students: gestures and number of turns shown with fingers.
• Ankle injury: seated spins on the bottom with legs tucked.

Learning goals

• Control turns on the vertical axis.
• Use eyes and arms to turn.
• Land stable after the turn.

Equipment for a class of 25

• hoops: 15
• mats: 10

Teacher tip

Teach them to pull arms in to spin faster and open them to slow down. Typical mistake: leaning and landing out of the hoop; ask for a body "straight as a pole".

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