Playground traverse, body close
Ready when: Silent feet and floor-is-lava (b1) started.
What you are learning
Moving sideways along a low frame (a traverse) with three points of contact at all times, the belly close to the wall and the weight over the feet. It is the safest way to start climbing, low over soft ground.
Words on this card Hold, Traverse, Three points of contact
- Hold
- Something on the wall to grip or stand on.
- Traverse
- Climbing sideways along a wall, low down.
- Three points of contact
- Always having three of hands and feet on holds, moving only one at a time.
Set up
A ribbon or string tied along the frame at belly height; feet at knee height only.
Weather: dry ground
Show it first for the one teaching
- Stand on the frame with both feet and both hands on, belly close to the ribbon.
- Move one hand or one foot at a time, so three stay on.
- Place the foot once, move the weight over it, straighten the leg, then take the next hold.
Your part while they practise
Spot with hands near the child's back; stay on the soft side.
Step by step
- Traverse slowly with three points of contact at all times.
- Place the foot once and move the weight over it.
- Straighten the leg, then take the next hold.
- Keep the belly close to the ribbon.
How much: 4 traverses 10 min a session 2 days a week
Say one thing Pick one line from "What you will see" for today and say only that.
The game: Freeze check
You call "stop"; the child freezes and you check two things: belly close, weight over the foot.
Who plays: the child; you call and check.
How to play, turn by turn
- Turns
- The child traverses slowly
- Call "stop" at any moment
- Check the belly and the feet
- 5 freezes on each traverse
- Fair play
- A grown-up does it with one hand behind the back on a low bar.
- Points
- 1 point for belly close; 1 point for weight over the foot, at each freeze.
- Fouls
- No points for that freeze
- A foot or hand touches the ground
- Only two points on the frame when frozen
- Climbing above the ribbon height
- Winning
- Beat your best from 5 freezes.
- 5 points for 1 star
- 8 points for 2 stars
- 10 points for 3 stars
Easier or harder
Big rungs.
Only hold the bars from below.
What you will see, and what to say
- the hips sag out
Belly to the wall
Close, like a hug. - the feet shuffle
Place the foot once
Set it, stand on it.
Self-check
A full traverse without touching the ground and 3 good freezes.
Stop and get a coach when
Fear of height; stay low.
Fitness for this
Warm up first: how to warm up, at workonfitness.com. For strength and stretching, its exercise library shows each exercise step by step, with an easier version.
This card trains three points, body close to the wall.
awiseathlete.com/sports/sport-climbing/sport-climbing-b2