Equestrian - Gymnastics on Horseback Quick Introduction These Are Simple Competitions That Are Easy to Do in School Without a Horse

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Secondary intra-school/Level 1 Resource equestrian - Gymnastics on horseback Quick introduction These are simple competitions that are easy to do in school without a horse. Ideas for routines can be found at www.vaulting.org.uk/schoolgames The competition is based on the first two stages of training for Equestrian vaulting; and involves putting together a routine of vaulting moves to music. They require strength, core stability, co-ordination, suppleness and balance.

Getting started ■■ Use a sports hall, gymnasium, dance studio or safe area with mats. ■■ Work in pairs or threes. ■■ Routines should be one minute 30 seconds in length and a minimum of seven moves must be performed in any sequence. ■■ Moves can be performed either on the floor or on a vaulting box. ■■ Routines should be performed to a minimum of two judges. ■■ Static moves must be held for a count of three. Safety ■■ Always ensure area is matted and ■■ Higher marks are obtained by: use appropriate spotters. Think tactics ■■ linking skills together with dance moves ■■ Wear close fitting clothing, not too ■■ Choose moves that you do ■■ showing musical expression tight, and bare feet or plimsoles or well to perform to the judges, and keep practising more ■■ varying the heights and directions of the vaulters trampoline type shoes. difficult ones for future routines. in the routine. ■■ Long hair should be tied back and Mounted vaulting. no jewellery worn. equestrian - Gymnastics on horseback

Organising the game ■■ Performance judge looks at: Make it easier ■■ A music system is required. ■■ musical artistry and style ■■ Perform moves only on ■■ If there is sufficient room and equipment, more than ■■ interesting and varied linking skills changes in the floor mats. one pair or three can be working at a time. levels (high/low, backwards/forward facing). ■■ Lower height of ■■ Always warm up thoroughly before practising skills or all judges can judge the routine from all aspects. vaulting box. ■ and performing. ■■ See more images of moves, watch videos of ■ Develop shorter competitions with fewer moves in the ■■ Always practise moves on the floor before you do vaulting, and download resources at routines. them on the vaulting box. www.vaulting.org.uk/schoolgames: Think inclusively ■■ Develop the competition: ■■ how to become a “vaulting activator” to run your ■■ Let SEN/disabled athletes use alternative vaulting ■■ Pairs and threes can be combined to make up school club equipment, e.g. a chair or bench. teams of six for a longer routine, e.g. four minutes, ■■ judging tips and score sheets ■■ If appropriate allow SEN/disabled athletes to work in minimum 20 moves. ■■ how to score and understand the difference larger teams. Officiating between easy, medium and hard moves ■■ If beneficial provide SEN/disabled athletes with more ■■ A minimum of two judges to assess each ■■ how to use our award scheme to add new spotters. performance. competitions. ■■ Consider increasing the time or reducing the number of moves performed by SEN/disabled athletes. ■■ Each judge marks out of 10. Keep it enjoyable ■■ Judging can be split into two areas: ■■ Vary the type of music you choose to change the Spirit of the Games: ■■ Technical judge looks at: theme of your routines. Excellence through Competition ■ ■■ Record your routines. ■ completion of moves Be determined to keep trying and develop your ■ ■■ holding for a count of three ■ Invite your friends to watch and cheer. skills until you and your team succeed. ■ ■■ good posture and amplitude (really stretching in ■ Learn more moves and build your repertoire by visiting every movement). the School Games page on the vaulting website. ■■ Look for a vaulting group near you.

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Getting started Polocrosse ■■ The aim of the games is to pass a ball between four team members and to score a goal in a 10-minute period or chukka. Quick introduction ■■ These are two fast-moving tactical team ■■ The game starts at the centre line, with the ball being horse riding competitions, done on foot thrown in above head height between two players from Horseball. so that schools can access them. They opposing sides (like a rugby lineout). All other players involve passing and shooting at a goal and must stand 5m away. encourage good hand-to-eye ■■ At least four passes must be made between all four co-ordination and team spirit. players before a team can score between two cones ■■ Horseball is usually played with a ball with placed 1m apart at each end of the pitch. handles on but any ball will do, such as a ■■ The player in possession of the ball may only hold it for handball or size 4 football. six seconds. ■■ Polocrosse is played with a small soft ■■ Tackling is allowed but there must be no body hits. rubber ball and stick with a net on, like a Penalties lacrosse racket. Horseball: ■■ Young people can continue to play within Pony Club, riding clubs and UK ■■ The defending team gains possession by touching the Polocrosse Association and horseball ball; when they touch the ball they are awarded a penalty. clubs. There are a range of levels for ■■ If the ball touches the floor, or goes outside the playing different ability players. area, it is a penalty against the team that was in For further information please see possession. http://horseballuk.co.uk/schoolgames ■■ The penalty is taken from the point it touched the ground. http://polocrosse.org.uk/schoolgames Opposing team moves 5m back before one player restarts game. Polocrosse: ■■ The defending team gains possession by tackling an opponent’s stick and dislodging the ball, intercepting the Think tactics ball or retrieving the ball from the ground first. As a team discuss your Polocrosse. ■■ Any unsafe tackles are penalised by the ball being passing strategies. passed to the opposing team. equestrian - Horseball and Polocrosse

Organising the game ■■ Ensure that the teams are equal in ability: handicap ■■ A rectangular area ‘the pitch’ is required indoors or any skilled players by making them play using the ■■ If including visually impaired outdoors with safe surface, e.g. netball court. opposite hand. athletes consider using a Two goals marked with cones at each end – ■■ Players should practise the passing skills first. colour contrasting ball or one metre apart. ■■ For more resources and to see how the games are a jingle ball (the jingle ball ■■ The ball can be passed forward or backwards. played, see: http://horseballuk.co.uk/ must be rolled along the floor not thrown). ■■ Polocrosse - use a soft bouncing ball which is passed http://www.polocrosse.org.uk/ ■■ All other rules apply. with the use of a stick with a net, e.g. lacrosse sticks. Make it easier The ball can be thrown overarm or underarm and also ■■ Limit the size of the pitch for younger players. Safety bounced to a team member. ■ ■■ Allow two substitutes per team. ■ These games can be played in any ■■ Horseball can be played with a handball or junior size space but grass must be dry. 4 football. ■■ Use a softer ball for Horseball or a lighter/smaller racket for Polocrosse. ■■ In Polocrosse, tackling by hitting an opponent’s stick Officiating to dislodge the ball can take place, but this must ■■ The game could be officiated by other young people. Think inclusively always be in an upward hit. ■■ Create Zone horseball/Polocrosse using cones or ■■ Teams may by agreement, and as long as it is safe, Spirit of the Games: spots to mark out three zones. vary the rules. Excellence through Competition ■■ The zone games should be played on a hard surface. ■■ Players must: ■■ Each team is made up of two SEN/disabled and two Help each other to succeed and encourage ■■ admit when the ball has been touched or hit non-SEN/disabled players. everyone in the team to try their best. the ground ■■ Two SEN/disabled players play in the middle zone and ■■ move back 5m at penalties. the one non SEN/disabled player plays in each of the Keep it enjoyable outside zones. ■■ All players should motivate and encourage each other. ■■ Players in each zone should be of similar ability. ■■ Ensure all teams play to the rules and respect others. ■■ Players must remain in their zone during play. ■■ Consider using lower or larger balls if beneficial for SEN/disabled players. www.youRschoolgames.com www.youRschoolgames.com

Horseball. Polocrosse.

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Getting started Quick introduction ■■ A course (8-10 elements) of jumps and physical exercises This jumping competition is for is designed and built using normal gym equipment. individuals and teams and can take ■■ A sample course and score sheet is available to place indoors in a gym or sports hall, download at www.nsea.co.uk without a horse. It involves designing and completing a course with fences ■■ The competition is either for individuals or teams of three (made of gym equipment), similar to a or four with the best three scores to count. showjumping and cross country event. ■■ The jumps need to be a variety of types to replicate: This competition involves learning about ■■ a cross pole (use skipping ropes or canes) the techniques of jumping a course ■■ a spread (use benches, hurdles floor lines or drop while enhancing your fitness and agility down markers in an equestrian event. ■■ double (two in a row using benches, hurdles or Throughout the country schools box tops) compete against each other as teams and individuals in these disciplines. ■■ an upright (using beams or hurdles) (look atwww.nsea.co.uk). ■■ a wide fence at ground level (water jump using gym mats). ■■ Be as creative as you like to make this seem like a jumping event. Think tactics ■■ Between each fence there will be a physical challenge Encourage your team members that is required for equestrian fitness that must be to try their best and improve their completed before moving on to the next jump. stamina. Learn the correct course For example: and perform the jumps and exercises ■■ 10 step-ups, sit-ups, hopping, star jumps, press-ups, efficiently. Try to improve each round skipping, balancing for 10 seconds. by working on your technique and setting personal goals. ■■ The aim of this game is to get around the course as quickly as possible, jumping the fences clear; without knocking any over or touching them. ■■ Each team is timed over the course and four time faults are incurred if you touch or knock the fence over or if the jumper refuses. equestrian - jumping

Organising the game Make it easier Spirit of the Games: ■■ Organise your teams and changeover efficiently. ■■ Lower the height of the jumps. Excellence through ■■ Make sure that all competitors are aware of layout and ■■ Develop shorter courses with fewer elements. Competition order of the course. ■■ Keep the physical challenge to low impact and less Through competition ■■ Ensure that times are collated, faults are added up challenging. respect, understand correctly and fair play encouraged. Think inclusively and admire all the Officiating people and animals ■■ Allow visually impaired athletes to work with a guide around you. ■■ Involve young people in officiating roles such as: and allow them to walk the course to familiarise ■■ Designating captains who decide the order in which themselves before competing. the team members compete. ■■ If beneficial create a shorter or simpler course within or ■■ Judging, scoring and timekeeping throughout alongside the regular course. the game. ■■ For wheelchair users design a range of ‘jumps’ that ■■ Encourage children to design a variety of courses and involve negotiating around obstacles, under barriers or think of different challenges to enhance the game. moving through gates. ■■ Create a range of physical challenges that can be Horse jumping. Keep it enjoyable performed seated. Consider using small weights or ■■ Vary the standard of the fences so all levels can exercise bands. compete. ■■ If beneficial allow SEN/disabled pupils to work in larger ■■ Ensure that teams competing against each other are teams. fairly chosen. Safety ■■ Allow players to have input into how they want to run the competition. ■■ This game can be played in any space, but the surface must not be slippery. ■■ Ensure pupils can take off and land safely. ■■ Use safe landing areas for all obstacles. www.youRschoolgames.com www.youRschoolgames.com