Blindfolded Obstacle Course

Skill: Balance, Jump, Kick
Time Required: 20
Activity Type: Physical, Wellness
Group Size: Large Group, Medium Group, Small Group
Age Group: 6 - 9yrs, 9 - 12yrs, 13+ yrs
Play area: Gymnasium (large indoor space), Outdoor - Field
Safety Considerations: Remove any safety hazards and obstacles from the activity area.
Remind participants to hold the hoop around the middle participant's torso.
If more than one group is going through the obstacle course, make sure they leave space between them and the other groups.
Make sure groups are walking between the stations.
Equipment: Cones
Hoops
Rope
Beanbags
Soccer balls/foam balls/ tennis balls
Blindfolds
Objective:
Groups will go through the obstacle course, with one participant blindfolded and standing in the middle of a hoop that the other participants are holding.
Other Skills:
Coordination
Set up:
Divide participants into groups of 3 participants.
Each group will have a hoop and a blindfold.
Set up the obstacle course. Please see the attached document for an example of stations in the obstacle course. Feel free to add stations, change stations, and use the equipment and space available.
Stations included in document attached: weaving around pylons, jumping over a rope, going around a pylon, walking over a line of beanbags and kicking a soccer ball.
Step by Step:
1. Each group will select one participant to start blindfolded.
2. This participant will put on the blindfold and stand in the middle of their group's hoop. The other two participants will hold the sides of the hoop around the blindfolded participant.
3. The two participants holding the hoop will communicate with each other and the middle participant to guide them through the obstacle course.
4. They have to try and hold the hoop so it is around the middle participant's torso.
5. Please see the attached document for an example of stations and what has to be done at each station.
6. They will instruct the participant in the middle on when to walk to the right, left, jump, turns, walk in a straight line, kick the soccer ball, and any other stations that are set up.
7. Optional additional rules and instructions:
- If the hoop touches the middle participant at all, they all have to do 5 heel raises.
- If the hoop goes above the middle participant's neck or below their hips, all participants jump in the air 3 times.
- If the middle participant touches any of the cones, rope, and any other piece of equipment set up, they all have to do 4 squats.
- If the middle participant falls off the beanbags, they have to start again.
- If the middle participant misses the net with the soccer ball, they have to try again.
8. Depending on the space and equipment; set up 2 or more obstacles and have groups race against each other.
9. After the group goes through it once, switch the participant in the middle.
10. Allow participants to go through it once without the blindfold.
Variations:
Set up more obstacles, or less obstacles and/or different obstacles. Have the middle participant pick up a tennis ball and then drop it in a bucket, have the participant jump in hoops, have them step over tall pylons, have them walk in between two rows of cones that are in a winding path.
Have the participant in the middle walk backwards to do the stations.
Don't use a hoop, and have one participant guiding the blindfolded participant.
Sources: Developed for the Leisure Information Network.
Attachments: Download