Back Slap Race
Skills:
Physical: agility, balance, lower extremity coordination
Cognitive: visual processing, selective attention, sustained attention, divided attention
Social: teamwork
Number of participants:
three or more
Equipment:
masking tape (or other means) to mark a square perimeter on the floor, a few metres apart
Description:
- runners position themselves in opposite corners of the marked course
- coach signals children to start running
- first child to tap another child on the back is declared the winner
- repeat
History:
A traditional Indigenous game of the Dene people. They would play this game to test their endurance, speed, and agility as it was essential for hunters.
Wheelchair friendly?
Yes, children using wheelchairs can wheel, other children can tap their shoulder
Modifications to make the activity easier:
Change the equipment: use bright tape, cones or other raised surface to mark the square to decrease cognitive demand
Change the environment: decrease perimeter of the activity area to decrease physical demand
Change the task: decrease time of performing the activity to decrease physical demand
Modifications to make the activity harder:
Change the environment: add obstacles to increase physical and cognitive demand
Change the equipment: increase the perimeter of the activity area to increase physical demand
Change the task: have children hop on one foot or two feet when tagging someone to increase physical demand
Goal examples:
- child displays good sportsmanship once tagged (e.g., does not get upset if they do not win), 4 out of 5 times
- I can follow the rules of the game and have fun with my friends