Individual: Mini modern pentathlon
Associated sport: Modern Pentathlon
Indoor-friendly: Yes
Pool-friendly: No
Game description
A player completes a course representative of the 5 elements of a modern pentathlon - fencing, swimming, show jumping, running and shooting.
What you need (setting up)
- 10 x cones or markers to define stations.
- 1 x fit ball or beach ball.
- 1 x foam pool noodle, hockey stick or rolled up newspaper.
- 3 - 4 x obstacles that are easy to jump over, e.g., mini hurdles
- 5 x throwing objects - rolled up newspaper secured with tape, bean bags, or a variety of balls.
- 5 x targets set up 10 metres away from the throwing objects - skittles, empty milk containers, trees marked with a cross or circle.
- Pool or safe open water - If a pool is accessible set the course up so the last element is a swim. If not, complete the swimming activity as an ‘Australian crawl’ simulation with player doing an army crawl at the last station.
- Optional: 1 x stop watch
What to do
- Holding an item as a sword the player begins the course:
-
- Station 1: Fencing - lunge at and strike a fit ball to the first set of cones. If a fit ball is not accessible, complete 5 lunges to the first set of cones.
- Station 2: Show jumping - with a foam pool noodle between the legs, player ‘rides their horse’ to the jump. Hold the noodle parallel with the ground in front of the body with both hands and make a two foot jump over the mini-hurdle. Drop the noodle and run to the next station.
- Station 3 and 4: Shooting and running - throw objects at 5 targets. Once they have been hit run to the next station and repeat the activity.
- Station 5: Swimming or army crawl - swim a small distance across a pool to complete the pentathlon or do an army crawl to the finish line.
Scoring
- Time each course. Player tries to beat each course time.
Change it
- Include more activities.
- Vary targets and throwing objects.
- Increase or decrease the distance between stations.
Safety
- Water depth should be suitable for the ability level of the participant especially if the swim is undertaken at the end of the course.
- Ensure supervision is provided if swimming is to be undertaken.
Ask the players
- What strategies could be used to finish the course in the fastest time?
