Practices at times should be serious when getting ready to prep for a big meet. However kids are working hard and doing the assignement that the coaches gives them. In most cases these hard working kids should be awarded for it. In most studies, kids stay in sports becuase it is fun. Fun should always be part of the equation in youth sports. Fun also keeps their minds off of those hard practices.
My team kids are always working hard and its important to me that the kids know that I do appreciate their hard work. On occasions we play a few games. Games are often played during the off season, pre-season, holiday season, and after championships.
Here are some games ideas:
1. Candy Land: Candy Land is a classic childhood game of learning colors. I bring this game to life. Each color represent either an event, conditioning, skills, or drills. The activity should be ability and age appropriate. So for example, if you land on red they do 5 backward rolls. If they land on green, they do 5 forward rolls, etc. If they land on the cupcake, lollipop, cinnamon bun, ice cream, gummy candy, ice pop, and the gingerbread man they choose what they like to do. If they land on the licorice, then it's the coaches choice (yes, coaches have fun too).
2. Chutes and Ladders: Chutes and Ladders is another childhood classic game. This game is about numbers. Numbers can represent an activity they have to do. You can break the numbers down between odd and even numbers or you can split the numbers 1-10, 11-20, 21-30, etc. Make sure the activity is age and ability appropriate. I made conditioning cards using index cards. If they slide down the slide they pick a conditioning card from the pile.
3. Gym Pong: Ok, its like beer pong but this version appropriate for kids. This game is set up the same way as beer pong. You can use plastic cups or brown paper bags. Take each index cards and cut in half. Write an activity (age and ability appropriate) on each of the index cards and place them in the cup or bag. The opposing team will try to get the ping pong ball into the cup or bag. If the ball lands inside, then the other team must to the activity.
4. Stick it: Stick it is a fun game and its played in so many ways. My favorite one doesn't require elimination. I make a list of skills (age and ability appropriate) and they have to go through the list. If they stick it then they can move to the next skill. I usually have 10 skills list. You keep playing until you get through the entire list. If you don't stick it then you stay at that skill until you stick it. If you fall down on any part of your body, you must start all over again at the top of the list.
5. Trampoline add on: Add on is one of our favorite game. To play add on, the first person does a trick. The second person does the first person's trick and add on of their own trick. Its best to play with at least 3-5 students. This is a great game and practice to pay attention and remembering the order. Each students will have three tries. If they used all three tries then they are out.
6. Doing the trampoline routine backwards: This is my personal favorite. The students will do their routine backwards. It's great to learn how to work into and out of skills by doing the routine backwards. Make sure they go back and do their normal routine so they don't get confused. I haven't had that happened yet. The students have a blast trying their routine backwards. The level 6 trampoline routine is quite challenging doing it backwards!
Have fun!
