Bike Games

This lanyard has a range of games for teachers.

Games with the Safe Cycle emblem are part of the Safe Cycle Year 5 and 6 cycling education

unit but can be used independently.

They are designed to build bike handling confidence and skills through play. Most of these games are designed to develop cycling observation skills, a

crucial traffic defensive riding skill.

The Safe Cycle games in blue are best played on a basketball court or similar area using the design

over leaf. This course can be used for all of the blue games without needing to reset your activity area.

Use chalk or markers to set up the course. Change the size to suit number and size of riders. Green

games are best played on grass areas.

There are a couple of activities in grey for teachers that want to simulate real traffic conditions.

The games in orange are just for fun but will help build student confidence on a bike.

These games and others resources are available to download from paf.org.au

This lanyard has a range of games for teachers.

Games with the Safe Cycle emblem are part of the Safe Cycle Year 5 and 6 cycling education

unit but can be used independently.

They are designed to build bike handling confidence

App

rox

12 m

App

rox

20m

Games to 1 8 8

Skill level: Beginner

Skill level: Beginner

Bubble Pop

Set up: Large circle

Set up: Large circle

• Ridersridearoundthecircle.

• Astheypassthegamesassistant,theyhighorlowfiveeachother.

• Changedirectionsandgoagain.

• Blowbubblesacrosstheriderspath.

• Riderstrytopopasmanybubblesastheycan.

• Ridersmayrideintobubblesorpopthemwiththeirbike,handsorfeet.

Variation: Bubble Tag• Ridersneedtoavoidthebubbles.

• Iftheyaretaggedbyabubbletheyareout.

High Five1

2

Skill level: Moderate

Passing By

Set up: Basketball court

• Usetheoutersquareofabasketballcourt.

• Splittheclassintwo,halfontheinsideridinganti-clockwise,theothersoutsideridingclockwise.

• Dothreelapsthenswitchdirection.

4

Skill level: Beginner to moderate

Look Back

Set up: Large circles

• Ridersridearoundinacircle,aftertheypassthegameassistant,theylookbackandidentifyiftheassistanthastheirhandupordown.

3

Skill level: Moderate

Elimination Circle

Set up: Circles

• Riderscirclearoundonthelargercircleinthesamedirection.

• Asriderscircletheymustnottouchotherridersorputafootdownortheyareeliminated.

• Asridersareeliminatedmovetheremainingridersontothesmallercircles.

• Whenyouaredownto2riders,theymustkeepatleastonewheelintheinnercircle.

5 Elimination Circle

Skill level: Moderate

Catch the Ball

Set up: 3 circles

• Thegameassistantstandsinthecentrecircleandpassesatennisballorsimilartoridersastheyridearoundthem.

• Ridersaretocatchtheballwithonehandandpassitbacktothegameassistant.

• Ifariderdropstheball,theyareeliminated.

• Asridersareeliminated,moveremainingridersintosmallercircles.

• Thegamebecomesharderasridersmoveinandhavelesstimetoreactwhencatchingtheball.

Variation• Thedifficultylevelcanbevariedbyeither

throwingtheballtothesamespotsoridersknowwhenitwillbetheirturn,orbythrowingtoarandomrider.

6

Skill level: Moderate to advanced

Track-stand

Set up: Large square or circle

• Riderslineupfacinginwardswiththeirfrontwheelontheoutsidesquareorcircle.

• Ridersaretomaintaintheirbalanceforaslongastheycanwithoutputtingafootdown.

• Ridersarenottobounceorrollthebikesfurtherthanabout30cm.

• Asridersputtheirfootdowntheyareeliminated.

• Whenonlyafewridersareleftandtheyhavebeenbalancingwellforanextendedperiod,makeitharderbyaskingriderstoremoveonehandfromthehandlebars,thenonefootfromapedal.

7

Skill level: Advanced

Traffic (Balance and Baulk)

Set up: Large square

• Ridersstartfacinginwardswiththeirrearwheelonthesquareandbeginthegamebyridingintothesquareinrandomdirectionswhiletryingtogettheirfellowstudentseliminated.

• Ridersmustnotputafootdownormakecontactwithanotherriderortheyareout.

• Ridersmaystopanddoatrack-stand(staystillontheirbike),butonlyfor3seconds,theideaistokeepridersmoving.

• Asridersareeliminated,moveremainingridersintosmallercircles.

• Whenonly2ridersremain,addanextrachallengebygivingridersacount-downfrom5togetawheelwithintheinnermostcircle.

8 Traffic (Balance and Baulk)

Skill level: Advanced

Synchronised Riding

Set up: Circles (4 teams of 2 riders)

• Pairsstartsidebysideoneithersideoftheredcircleandstartridingaroundthecircletogetherinthesamedirection.

• Whentheypassthesmallbluecirclestheymusthigh-fiveeachother.Completeafewrevolutions.

• Changetasktowhenriderspassthearrowstheymustswitchwhoisridingontheinsideandwhoisoutsidethecircle.Completeafewrevolutions.

• Combinebothtasks,ridersaretohighfiveandswitchastheypassthedifferentmarks.

• Ridersmustnotputafootdownormakecontactwithanotherriderortheirteamisout.

• Ifaridermissesataskthentheirteamisout.

9 Synchronised Riding

Rob the Nest Equipment:• 5hoops

• 20-25small/mediumballs

Game Set up• Largegrassarea

• Setup“nests”(hoops)approximately20mapartasabove

• Place“eggs”(balls)intheinner“nest”(hoop)

Approx 12 m

Approx 20m

10

The next games in green are best played on a large grassed area.

are best played on a large grassed area.

Skill level: Moderate

Rob the Nest

Set up: Large grass area (see diagram over leaf)

• Divideridersinto4equalgroups,standingbehindthe4outsidenestswiththeirbikes.

• Ongo,thefirstriderfromeachgroupridestothemiddlenestandcollectsanegg.

• Theyridebackandplacetheeggintototheirteams’nest.

• Groupscontinuetosendridersouttocollectoneeggatatimeuntilalleggsareremovedfromthemiddlenest.

• Teacheryells“robthenest”.

• Groupssendonerideratatimeto“rob”aneggfromanotherteam’snestandreturnittotheirhomenest.

• Gamecontinuesfor2mins(orotherpre-determinedamountoftime).

• Winningteamistheteamwiththemosteggsattheendofthegame.

Variation• Oncealleggshavebeenremovedfromthemiddle

nest,allmembersofeachgrouprideoffto“rob”othernests.Thisrequiresahigherridingskilllevelastheirwillbemanymorebikesridingaroundatonce.

10

Skill level: Moderate

Mountains and Valleys

Set up: Large grass area, approx. 30mx30mEquipment: 1 small soft dome cone per student

• Splitgroupintotwoeventeams–“mountains”and“valleys”.

• Giveeachstudentasmallsoftdomecone.

• Studentsspreadoutaroundareaontheirbikes.

• “Mountains”placetheirconerightsideupand“Valleys”placetheirconeupsidedown.

• Onteacher’sinstructionstudentsridearoundtheareaandstoptheirbikeattheotherteam’sconestoturnthemover(ie.MountainteamaimstoturnalltheconesrightsideupandValleysaimtoturnalltheconesupsidedown).

• Gamecontinuesforapre-determinedamountoftimeandthewinningteamistheteamwiththemost“mountain”or“valley”cones.

Variation • Studentscannotturnthe2ofthesamecoloured

conesoverinarow.

11 Mountains and Valleys

App

rox

12 m

App

rox

20m

Run the Gauntlet12

Skill level: Moderate

Run the Gauntlet

Set up: Large grass area (see diagram over leaf)

Equipment: 4 cones, medium sized soft balls for half of the students

• Putstudentsinpairs.

• Oneisthe“rider”,theotheristhe“roller”.

• Riderslineupatoneendoftheareawiththeirbike.

• Rollerssplitthemselvesevenlyoneithersideoftheareaoppositeanotherroller(seeXsindiagram).

• Rollersononesideoftheareagetaball.

• Onteacher’sinstruction,theridersrideslowlyfromoneendoftheareatotheotherwhiletherollersrolltheballacrosstheareatotheoppositeroller.

• Riderstrytododge,swerveandavoidhittingballs.

• Afterapre-determinednumberofpassesbetweenrollers,ridersandrollersswaproles.

Variation • Ifaridergetshitbyaballtheyhavetoridetheir

bikearoundapre-determinedpoint(eg.cone,tree)beforetheyre-jointhegame.

12

Giv

e w

ay li

ne

Cros

sing

Figure 8 Giving Way13

Skill level: Beginner to moderate

Figure 8 Giving Way

Set up: Basketball court or similar area. Draw crossing and intersection lines and set up cones (see diagram over leaf).

• Non-ridingparticipantswalkacrosscrossingatdifferenttimes.

• Ridersloopinthedirectionindicated,astheypassthecrossingortheintersectiontheywilleithergivewayorproceedwhensafe.

Extension • Riderstousehandsignalswhenstopping.

• Addextraintersectionsandpedestriancrossings.

13

Thisactivityisforteacherswhowouldliketosimulatearealtrafficenvironmentthatstudentsmayencounter.

T Intersection14

Give way line

Give way line

Skill level: Beginner to moderate

T Intersection

Set up: Basketball court or similar area. Draw intersection lines and set up cones (see diagram over leaf).

• RidersstartatTintersection,turnleftandfollowthearrows(seediagram).

Extension • Letstudentsselectwhentheyturnleftorgostraight

whentheyreturntotheTintersection.

• Ridersmaylooptheroundaboutasecondtime.

• Riderswillnotneedtogive-waywhenanotherriderhasrightofway.

• Addextraintersectionsandroundaboutstoallowmorevariationinfreeriding.

14

Thisactivityisforteacherswhowouldliketosimulatearealtrafficenvironmentthatstudentsmayencounter.

Skill level: Beginner

Whistle Stop

Set up: Basketball court

• Studentsrideinonedirectionaroundthearea.

• Teacherblowswhistleandstartscounting.

• Ridersmuststopsafelyandremainstationarybeforethecountof3.

• Ifriderfailstodothis,theymustremainstationaryforthenext“whistlestop”beforere-enteringthegame.

15

This next section contains games that are “just for fun”. They are based on games that students

may have played in other settings.

The more you can get students on bikes the more confident they will become.

The more fun they have the more likely they are to want to ride their bikes regularly.

Skill level: Beginner

Stuck in the Mud

Set up: Large grassed area or basketball court

• Participantsfreeridearoundarea.

• Teacherwalksaroundtheareataggingriderswith“taggingstick”egfeatherduster.

• Whentagged,ridersmuststopandremainstationaryuntil‘released’byanotherridercomingpastandgivingthema‘High5’.

• Makegamemoredifficultbyaddingmoretaggers.

16

Skill level: Beginner

Treasure Hunt

Set up: Basketball court or similar area. Draw Bags of money, snakes, sharks and other dangerous animals.

• Studentsfreeridewithinthedesignatedareainanydirection.

• Theycollect“treasure”byrunningoverthem.

• Iftheyrunoveradangerousanimalorhitanotherridertheyareout.

17

Skill level: Beginner

Bike Limbo

Set up: Large grassed area or basketball court Equipment: Pool noodle or rope

• Identifyagamehelpertoholdpoolnoodleor2peopleifusingarope.

• Insinglefile,riderstaketurnsandridingunderthepoolnoodleorrope.

• Astheypasstheyneedtoduckbelowthepoolnoodle.

Extension • Thepoolnoodleisslowlyraisedandloweredas

aboom-gate.

• Ridersneedtotimetheirapproachtopass.

• Ridersmaybeallowedtostopandplacetheirfootdown,ortheymustlookaheadandadjusttheirspeedtotimetheirpassingtotheboom-gateopening.

18

Skill level: Beginner to moderate

Bicycle Snakes (Follow the Leader)

Set up: Large grassed area or basketball court

• Identifyaleader.

• Theleaderfreeriders,withotherstudentsfollowinginsinglefile.

• Whentheleaderdoublebacks,orcrossesovertheirownlineriderswillneedtonegotiatelettingeachotherpast.

Variation • Thiscanalsobeplayedwithmultiplesmallgroups.

19

Skill level: Beginner to moderate

Scatter

Set up: Large grassed area or basketball court Equipment: Bucket/bin, tennis balls (same amount as number of people in each team), 3 teams of riders

• Numberteams1,2and3.

• Teachercallsoutanumberandthrowstennisballsinrandomdirectionsanddistances.

• Riderswiththatspecificnumberridebikesouttocollectaballandreturntoplaceitinthebucket.

• Eliminate1tennisballatatime,theplayerwhodoesn’tgettoatennisballleavesthegameandridesaroundtheperimeterpractisingskillslearntuntilthegamefinishes.

20

Skill level: Moderate

Musical Bikes

Set up: Large area (grass or basketball court) Equipment: 1 marker per student, portable music system

• Placeonemarkerperparticipantrandomlywithinthearea.

• Beginplayingmusic,participantsridebetweenmarkersbeingcarefulnottotouchotherparticipantsormarkers.

• Whenmusicstops,participantsstopandputtheirfootonamarker.

• Reducethenumberofmarkersasthegamecontinuesuntilthereisonly1riderleft.

• Eliminatedparticipantsmovetothesideandridearoundtheperimeterpractisingskillslearntwhilethegamecontinues.

21

Skill level: Moderate

Paper Round

Set up: Basketball court or large grassed area. Equipment: 40 rolled up newspapers, 4 bins (2 empty bins and 2 holding bins with 20 papers in each)

• Place4binsaroundoutsideofarea.

• Participantsridetoaholdingbinandcollectanewspaper.

• Theythenridepastanemptybinandthrowthepaperaimingtohitthebin.

• Haveastudentcollectingpapersandreturningthemtotheholdingbin.

• Winneristhestudentwhohitsthemostbinsinpre-determinedamountoftime.

22

Skill level: Moderate

Marble Drop

Set up: Basketball court or large grassed area, put students in pairs

Equipment: One small tin/container per pair, bag of 10 marbles or small balls per pair

• Placetinsinalineinthecentreofthearea.

• Ridersandpartnerslineupononeside.

• Ridertakestwomarblesfromtheirpartnerandridespastthetinattemptingtodropitin.

• Theythenridetootherside,turnaroundandridepasttinagainattemptingtodropthesecondmarbleintothetin.

• Continueuntiltheyrunoutofmarbles.

• Partnersthenswaproles.

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