Game version
Sleepy-animal starts: pretend to be a sleepy animal and spring up when your partner whispers “wake up”. Swap roles.
Wake-Up Starts
Start a short run from lying, sitting or kneeling, the way an animal jumps up when it wakes. Race only your own clock.
By Coach Evan Waechtler Youth coach (U11, Cache Valley, Utah) and founder of SSTracker Updated October 30, 2026
Set up
Set two markers about 10 big steps apart.
Core: Kneeling. Try a new one each round and keep each start smooth.
- Ages
- 6 to 10
- Time
- 8 min
- Players
- Just you
- Space
- Yard or field
- Bring
- Two cones or markers
- Level · skill
- Beginner · Base Running
The steps
How it works
- Set two markers about 10 big steps apart.
- Lie on your tummy, sit or kneel behind the first marker.
- On "go" get up as fast as you can and run past the second marker.
- Walk back slowly; do 6 to 8 starts, trying a new start position each time.
Coaching point
Pop up and push the ground away.
Safety: Run on flat, clear, non-slip ground with plenty of room to slow down. Stop if anything hurts.
Make it fun
Play it, don't drill it
Challenge
Pick a start: Less (sitting), Core (kneeling), More (lying down). Try a new one each round and keep each start smooth.
Story
You are a bear waking from winter sleep, ready to explore.
My best
Beat your own count
Try a new one each round and keep each start smooth. Only your own number counts: today against last time.
Practice makes progress
Print it now, or save it free
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