RELAYING GOOD HEALTH FOR CHILDREN by Chris Chapan Chris Chapan with Kids Relays A relay can turn a sometimes tedious activity into a game. There are endless varieties of relays and they are just plain fun. Relays do not have to have a "winning team". Sometimes it's just fun to play and clap when everyone finishes. It's fun to be creative with relays and make up new variations. But before you do this, it's good to know the basics. KR has invited Chris Chapan to outline relays for us. Enjoy! In this graphic from Happy Feet, Healthy Food, Breakaway Books, children are using dog squeeze toys as batons, for a fun and safe variety. As the weather gets warmer children are ready for a change as you train them. Try the option of doing field days and relays with your kids . They are a great finale to your fitness training sessions. Relays and field day activities reinforce teaching direction, timing, agility, and coordination. They also teach the importance of cooperation, conforming to following rules, and winning and losing games graciously. Emphasis should be on improving skill; not to prove who is the best athlete in games. Group instructors can also individually time students and see their improvement in a skill by performing the relays at the beginning and ending of a training program. It is also a great way to test kids without having to buy special equipment. Relays can be easily done with cones, beanbags, ropes, balls and other ordinary gym equipment. Some relays do not need any equipment at all. Most relay and field days can be played inside or outside. Five basic types of relays follow. A variety of relays make great field days/ relay events. TRADITIONAL RELAYS Traditional relays consist of each person taking a turn and then sitting down after he has completed the event. In traditional relays students run from one area to another and back, often passing a baton or wrist band to the next runner. The winning group is the first team to complete the task. For a fun twist, on a hot day, use water instead of a baton. It can be transported with a bucket, bottle or sponge. MODIFIED RELAYS Modified relays are number, letter , or word-calling relays. They teach the kids to be alert to the task when called. An example of a modified relay would be "Stealing the Bacon". Players are divided into two teams. The teams face each other . Players are numbered in sequence. If there are eight players on each team, they will be numbered 1 through 8 . A "caller" puts the ball /object into the playing area and yells out a number. The two players with that number run to get the "bacon" (ball or object). The player not in possession of the object or ball may try to win the "bacon" by tagging the other player who is attempting to take the object. LOCOMOTOR RELAYS Locomotor relays teach locomotors skills and use controlled movements. They have a definite starting and ending point to distinctive parts of the room or area. An example of a locomotor relay would be balancing something on a personıs head or other body part to a beginning and end point of a race. STABILITY RELAYS Stability relays teach balance, movement, control ,and coordination of a teacher-selected object. An example of a stability relay would be taking a egg and balancing it in a spoon from the start of a line to the end of the relay. MANIPULATIVE RELAYS Manipulative relays are a great way to practice skills. Kids go from one place to another performing the relay, running and dribbling a ball or skipping, hopping, etc. A combination of these skills can also be implemented. When doing relays there are many basic guidelines that should be followed. Keep teams small. Teams of relays should not be more than 4-6 players long since kids spend a portion of their time waiting to perform the tasks. Make sure that teams are equal in number. If there's an unequal team have students take turns being the additional person for their team. Never do a relay more than twice during a game session unless kids are very motivated to try the game again. Teams should be frequently changed so less skilled participants can be moved to different teams discretely. Infractions of the rules should be discussed and emphasis on positive social learning should be addressed. Make sure that the area is safe and free from any obstructions. Modify your relays as needed. Have uncooperative kids sit out for one round, if infractions of rules are frequently ignored. There should be a definite starting, ending, and turning point in the relay. Have the children sit down and then make sure they are quiet and listening to instructions of the leader. Use a definite signal to start and end the relay. Cones, chairs, large water bottles are very effective for marking the key points of the course. Walls for turning or ending points in a race should not be used in a relay. They are dangerous and can cause accidents with overzealous players. A non-pointed or soft object that the child carries to another member of their team when they have finished the event is an effective way of having the children/ teacher know who is the active participant in the event. The group game leader should demonstrate and verbally explain how to do each part of the relay. Sitting down after the playerıs turn is a good signal that the child has finished the task. It also calms the runner down after he has completed the event. Kids often need a trial run and a chance to practice the relay in order to give them confidence to successfully do the event. It also helps the group fitness instructor discover which parts of the game should be explained again. Kids then can act as teachers and explain the relay in their own words to the other participants. Sometimes children can be the best teachers. Never be afraid to stop a relay and explain things again that are confusing . Never force a child to participate. Rather, have them act as your assistants, gofers, or monitors of the game if they would not like to participate. Frequently encourage them to join in. Here is a starting point for identifying great ideas to use in your next field day/ relay event. Field days and relays can be a fun part of your group instruction. What a great way to help children participate in fitness! RECOMMENDED LINKS Education World Relays Fun Attic Relays Making Field Day a blue ribbon memory for all Scouting Games Christina Chapan is an ACE certified personal trainer, fitness author, education conference speaker and elementary school teacher. Christina has a B.S. from North Central University in Elementary Education, an M.A. from Governors State University, and a C.P.T. from the American Council of Exercise. Christina teaches third grade, elementary science, the Character Educational Lunchtime Coordinator for lower and middle elementary at her school, works in the after-school care program and teaches fitness classes for children at her local recreational center and church. You can preview her "Fit 4 Fun" Worknotes at http://worknotes.com/IL/Chicago/Fit4FunKidsFitness/ goodrow@infionline.net