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Workouts for Group RunningBy Dick Moss One of the common problems when conducting group runs in physical education class is that there is always a large difference in ability levels among the students. The usual scenario is that your faster runners complete the run well ahead of their less-fleet classmates, then stand around waiting for everyone else to catch up. Your slower runners straggle in behind their peers, feeling humiliated and de-motivated because it is a public display of their inadequacy. However their are ways you can make accommodations for this difference in running ability and fitness. Here are several techniques that will allow you to challenge your faster students while preventing your slower runners from becoming discouraged. 1. TURNAROUNDS Turnarounds are good when running laps of a track, field or gym. Have your students run in the same direction around the course. After several minutes, blow your whistle, which signals everyone to turn and run back along the same course they've just run, but in the opposite directions. At the time of the turnaround, this automatically puts the slowest runners in the front and the fastest runners in the rear, reducing the advantage of the faster runners' speed. You can repeat these turnarounds as many times as you need during a run. 2. PARLAUFFS Parlaufs, otherwise known as continuous relays, are great equalizers when running laps. Pair up your students and have one member of each pair run while their partner walks or slowly jogs in the same direction. When runners catch up to their walking partners, they exchange roles. Continue for a predetermined amount of time instead of a set distance. In this way, everyone finishes simultaneously. It's also best if you can pair fast runners with a slower partner. 3. PREDICTION RUNS Before running a certain distance, have every student record the time they think it will take them to finish. The winners are those runners who finish closest to their predicted time, not those who have run the fastest. This gives every student an equal chance to win, regardless of their ability. 4. MOST IMPROVED On your first group run, record every students' time over a pre-determined course. Later in this season, time your students over the same route. The student who improves the most is declared the winner, and can be given special recognition or a small prize. This provides two other advantages: * It helps you monitor the improvement in fitness levels among the students in your class. * It develops the attitude that individual improvement is more important than being first to the finish line. About the author Dick Moss is the publisher of PE Update.com - a website that keeps physical educators up-to-date on 40 physical education topics. The website also provides a free newsletter, blog and sample articles. Check it out at: www.peUpdate.com |
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