Game version
Landing zone: set a landing zone and take your approach to it, landing softly. The pair cheers each soft landing.
Jump the River
A play jump: hop over a pretend river that gets a little wider each round.
By Coach Evan Waechtler Youth coach (U11, Cache Valley, Utah) and founder of SSTracker Updated October 30, 2026
Set up
Lay two lines a small step apart as the river.
Core: Usual. Beat your own softest landing.
- Ages
- 7 and up
- Time
- 8 min
- Players
- Just you
- Space
- Yard or field
- Bring
- Two ropes or chalk lines
- Level · skill
- Beginner · Jumps
The steps
How it works
- Lay two lines a small step apart as the river.
- Run in 3 steps and jump across off one foot.
- Land on two feet and freeze.
- Widen the river a little each time you land safely; do 10 jumps.
Coaching point
One foot off, two feet down.
Safety: Warm up first. Land softly on a non-slip surface or soft sand and stop if your knees or ankles hurt.
Make it fun
Play it, don't drill it
Challenge
Pick a level: Less (a short approach), Core (usual), More (your full approach with your coach watching). Beat your own softest landing.
Story
You are a kangaroo hopping across the plain.
My best
Beat your own count
Beat your own softest landing. Only your own number counts: today against last time.
Practice makes progress
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