As we all know, the best way to learn is by playing. This certainly applies to children. Playing is one of the pillars on which the sport is based and an important way of discovering what the body is capable of and where the physical and mental limits lie. Fortunately, Parkour and Freerunning have countless creative ways of giving a lesson a fun yet educational content. You can do this perfectly by offering parkour games. In this article, we give a number of examples of different parkour game forms that you can offer in your freerunning lessons.
Parkour games: Dice of Death
Equipment:
- 2 dice -
exercises sheet
Don't let the name put you off. With the dice of death, your pupils throw 2 dice into a tray or a basket. First with one and this die determines the number. Then with the other and this die determines the exercise. So make sure you have written 6 exercises on a sheet of paper, a whiteboard or something else where it is easy to read and that these exercises can be performed in your environment.
The pupil then has enough knowledge to start working on his/her exercise. When it is finished, they may come back for the next throw.
An example of exercises could be:
- Stick the amount of jumps of your own height
- Run course
- Monkeys over obstacle at hip height
- Catleap + climb up
- Dive rolls
- Burpees
Parkour games: Rock paper scissors
Ingredients:
- No
The pupils stand in a line and play stone, paper, scissors with each other. One game. A winner and a loser emerges. The winner is allowed to stand and has earned a point. The loser carries out an assignment. (5 bus legs, touching a wall on the other side, on all fours to a certain point). The winner picks another pupil for his next game and the loser performs his task and then also picks another pupil for his next game. This can continue until an x number of points has been reached.
Parkour games: Ninja
Supplies
- No
During a game of ninja, all children gather in a circle. The hands are clasped together and the arms are stretched straight out into the circle. Then the game leader shouts: 'NIIIIIINJAAAAA' and the participants shout along. After the cool ninja shout, the game starts and the pupils have to jump backwards to get into a cool ninja position. They hold this position until it is their turn.
The leader of the game appoints a student to start. In consecutive games, the winner of the previous game is the one who starts the next game.
When it is your turn, try to see if you can knock off another ninja by tapping his or her hand. Of course, this is done in one swift ninja movement.
Note: When it's your turn, you may only make one move and then it's the next person's turn. So, for example, extending your hand and taking it back are two movements and this is not allowed. This often requires some practice so it is advisable to keep mentioning this during the first round.
Then it is the next player's turn. The game moderator decides which direction you turn.
Thus, the one attacking may only make one move and then come to a standstill and remain in this position until his or her next turn. The one who is attacked may always make one defensive move by removing his or her hands. But this too can only be one movement.
A player must never put his or her hands in his or her trouser pockets or hide them behind the back. The hands must always be visible.
Parkour games: Chase Tag
Supplies
- A Setup with many options in a relatively small space
Chase Tag is actually a form of Parkour tag. In the basic form, there is a ticker and an avoider. The ticker always starts at the same place and the dodger starts where he or she wants. After the start signal the ticker starts chasing. He or she has 20 seconds to catch the avoider. He or she can use all his or her Parkour tricks and moves. If he or she succeeds, the scapegoat can stay on the field as a new scapegoat. If not, the dodger stays in the field as dodger and a new dodger enters the field. The most fun is to make 2 teams who each time send a new dodger into the field according to who has to go out.
Try these games, I would love to hear how they work for you and the students. If you have any questions, you can always find me!
Could you use some more ideas for games? Then join the Freerun Platform or spar with other Freerun teachers on our forum.
