Balance and kicking games

Setup

1. Set six cones in a big circle. Each child stands just inside a cone, facing outwards, so every kick goes into empty space and away from the group.
2. Space the cones so two children with arms stretched out can't touch. For a bigger class, add cones or run two circles with a helper.
3. The sabeom stands in the middle where everyone can see and hear.

How it runs

1. Flamingo: on 'flamingo!' children lift one knee into a front-kick chamber and hold while the class counts together in Korean: hana, dul, set, net, daseot. If a foot touches down, pick it up again and carry on. Switch legs.
2. Kick and freeze: the sabeom claps a slow beat and children do a front kick into the air on each clap. On 'keuman!' (stop) everyone freezes in the chamber like a statue. The stillest statue chooses the next move: knee lift, front kick or a side step.
3. Cone travel: on 'go', everyone walks clockwise to the next cone, stops, lifts the knee and holds for a count of three, then kicks out away from the circle. Keep going round.
4. Change games every two or three minutes and finish on the one the class liked best.

Coaching points

• Eyes on a fixed spot at head height helps balance; looking down makes wobbles worse.
• Standing knee soft, not locked.
• Hands stay up in guard. If the arms start flapping, reset calmly and try again.
• Praise stillness and effort, not just the highest kick.
• Kicks always go out of the circle, into empty space.

Common mistakes

• Looking down at the standing foot.
• Leaning back to get the knee higher.
• Hurrying round to the next cone and bumping into a neighbour.