Let's get active and try Need For Speed!
With the Need For Speed activity you can develop the following skills:
- Speed and agility
- Coordination and fluency
- Focus and concentration
This resource is suitable for Physical Education and activity for P2, P3, P4, P5, P6 and P7 (First and Second Level Curriculum for Excellence).
Watch this
Learn how to take part in the Need For Speed activity with help from primary school teacher, Danny Denholm, and footballer and coach, Aminah Din.
DANNY: Hey, I'm Danny, and welcome to Let's do this. And today we will be getting active together.
This activity is called Need For Speed. This is a great activity for developing your speed and agility.
You will need an agility ladder, rope, paper or sticks.
I've got help from footballer and coach, Aminah today.
AMINAH: Hello!
DANNY: Step one, set out your agility ladder. This can be made from paper strips, sticks, rope, chalk or anything that you have that can make a ladder.
AMINAH: Step two, move along the ladder, placing one foot in each space.
DANNY: Step three, you can then move along the ladder placing both feet in the ladder.
AMINAH: Step four, complete the task as quickly as you can.
DANNY: Let's do this!
NARRATOR: Too tough?
DANNY: Too tough? Don't worry.
Try increasing the space between the strips, sticks or rope so that you don't have to concentrate so hard on where you are stepping.
You can slow the pace down to help you complete the task.
NARRATOR: Go up a notch?
DANNY: Want to develop your skills?
Decrease the space between the strips, sticks or rope. So that you have to concentrate harder on our steps.
You can even try moving through the course sideways or backwards.
AMINAH: You could add more challenge by shaping a number pattern or times table with each step.
DANNY: Two, four, six, eight, ten.
AMINAH: Two, four, six, eight, ten.
NARRATOR: Aminah's challenge.
AMINAH: Let's try the hopscotch challenge.
This is where you move through the ladder, hopping on one foot, then onto two feet in the next rung of your ladder.
Once able to do this, set yourself a time challenge. Get the timer out and try to set your personal best time for how quickly you can complete the course.
NARRATOR: Final thoughts.
DANNY: Well done, speedy superstars.
How did you feel after that? I'm pretty out of breath.
If you keep doing this activity, you'll get speedier and it will get easier.
NARRATOR: Let's do this!
What you need
| Equipment | Alternatives |
|---|---|
| Agility ladder | Rope, paper, sticks or chalk used to mark out a ladder |
Try it yourself
Follow these step-by-step instructions and give it a go!
Image caption, Set out your ladder
Set out your agility ladder. This can be made from paper strips, sticks, rope, chalk or anything you have that can make a ladder.
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Want to play with a friend?
- You can make this into a friendly competition too.
- Line up behind the ladder.
- Time yourselves each time you complete the activity.
- The person with the quickest time is the winner!
How was Need For Speed for you?
We are all unique and have different strengths and skills. Some of us may find some skills easier than others but we can all develop and improve.
You can adapt the Need For Speed activity to suit your needs. If we practise our skills regularly, we can improve and progress over time.
Too tough?
If you find the Need For Speed too challenging, don't worry!
Try these tips to make the activity a bit easier.
- Try increasing the size of each space of the ladder so there is more space to step in.
- Slow the pace down to help you get to the end of the ladder.
Go up a notch?
It's great to look at ways to develop our skills and we can do this by challenging ourselves.
If you enjoyed Need For Speed but are looking for a bigger challenge, try these tips to make it trickier.
- Decrease the size of each space of the ladder so you need to concentrate more on where you are stepping.
- Try completing the task sideways or backwards. Remember to look over your shoulder so you don't bump into anything!
- Use your numeracy skills and recite a number pattern as you move along the ladder.
Aminah's challenge
Try the hopscotch challenge.
Move through the ladder hopping on one foot then onto two feet in the next rung of your ladder.
Set yourself a time challenge by timing yourself each time you complete the task.
Time to reflect
Enjoyment
The most important part of physical activity and movement is that you enjoy it. We all need to stay active in our daily lives in order to stay healthy. It’s a lot easier if you’re having fun.
After you’ve taken part in this activity, take some time to think about what you enjoyed and how you might approach the activity differently next time.
- What did you enjoy about this activity? How could you do more of this?
- What did you dislike about this activity? What would make it better?
- What would you do differently next time?
Developing your skills
The skills you’ve worked on in this activity are useful in other parts of your daily life and in sport.
Can you think of any activities or sports where you might use these skills?
The skills you've developed in this activity could help with:
- sprinting in a race
- being agile in sports that require a lot of quick movement, like tennis
- jumping over hurdles
Physical activity skills. list
Learn more about the different skills you've developed in this activity and how we use them in daily life.
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