Description Of Idea:
Create
stations by posting the task cards on the gymnasium walls with masking
tape. Distribute the balls equally among the stations. For example, if
you have 30 students and five stations, place 6 balls at each station for
the individual warm-up or place 3 balls at each station for the partner
warm-up.
On the
teacher's "GO" signal, have each student or partner group find a ball at
a station and begin to perform the activity described on the task card
for 30-45 seconds. On the teacher's "STOP" signal, the students take their
ball, go to the next station, and begin to perform the next activity described
on the task card for 30-45 seconds. Continue to rotate stations until all
students have gone to each station once. Descriptions of the individual
and partner ball warm-ups are listed below.
Individual Ball Warm-Ups:
Hamstring-Tricep
Extensions: Stand up and hold the ball with both hands. Bending at the
waist, hold the ball between your feet and hold this position for 3 counts.
Then extend both arms straight overhead and hold this position for 3 counts.
Repeat this movement sequence until you hear the teacher's "STOP" signal.
Remember, keep your knees slightly bent and perform the sequence in a slow
fluid motion.
Sit-Ups:
Get into the sit-up position and hold the ball against your chest with
both hands. Perform sit-ups and see how close or how many times you can
get the ball to your knees.
Ball Push-Ups: Get into the
push-up or modified push-up position. Place the ball so each time you go
down during a push-up, your chest touches the ball. See how close or how
many times you can touch the ball.
Ball Taps:
Get into the push-up or modified push-up position, but use only one arm
to support your upper body. With the free hand, dribble (tap) the ball
while in this position. See how long you can dribble the ball without stopping.
Try alternating hands.
Ball Straddle
Stretch: Sit down on the floor in a straddle position (legs spread apart
in a "V" formation). With both hands, roll the ball around each foot, along
the outer side of your leg, behind the back, along the other leg, and back
around the feet. Remember, keep your knees slightly bent, perform the sequence
in a slow fluid motion, and change directions.
Partner Ball Warm-Ups:
Partner
Sit-Ups: Get into the sit-up position facing your partner and toes touching.
One student holds the ball against his/her chest with both hands and then
both students perform sit-ups at the same time. When the students are in
the "UP" position of the sit-up, the student with the ball extends both
arms toward his/her partner, while the partner also extends both arms to
grab hold of the ball. Repeat this movement sequence, handing off the ball
each time.
Partner Straddle Stretch:
Sit down on the floor in a straddle position (legs spread apart in a "V"
formation) facing your partner and touching toes. With both hands, the
student with the ball rolls the ball behind the back, along the outside
leg, and up to the feet. The other partner then rolls the ball along the
outer side of his/her leg, behind the back, along the other leg, and back
to the feet where the other partner then continues to roll the ball. Remember,
keep your knees slightly bent, perform the sequence in a slow fluid motion,
and change directions.
Back-to-Back
Figure 8: Stand back to back with your partner and then each of you take
a half step forward. Have one student hold the ball with both hands. At
the same time both students will twist their waists to the left. The student
with the ball will hand it off to his/her partner. Both students will then
twist their waists to the right and then hand of the ball again. Repeat
this movement sequence, handing off the ball each time. Remember, keep
your knees slightly bent, perform the sequence in a slow fluid motion,
and change directions.
Over and
Under: Stand back to back with your partner. The student holding the ball
extends both arms straight overhead while the other student extends both
arms straight overhead to grab hold of the ball. The student who has the
ball now, bends at the waist and extends both arms between his/her legs
while the other student extends both arms to grab hold of the ball. Repeat
this movement sequence. Remember, keep your knees slightly bent, perform
the sequence in a slow fluid motion, and change directions.
Partner
Ball Taps: Facing your partner, get into the push-up or modified push-up
position, but use only one arm to support your upper body. With the free
hand, dribble (tap) the ball while in this position. See how long you and
your partner can dribble the ball back and forth without stopping. Try
alternating hands.