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Physical Education

Relay Variations

Overview

Teams practise and race different relay formats, focusing on the handover as the key technical skill.

Learning Objective
Students develop baton exchange technique and team strategy in a variety of relay formats.

Resources needed

  • Open outdoor space
  • Batons (sticks)
  • Marked lanes and exchange zones

Lesson stages

0 / 7 done
  1. 1 Teach the visual handover: outgoing runner extends hand back, incoming runner places baton without looking.
  2. 2 Pairs practise the handover walking, then jogging.
  3. 3 Standard relay: 4x100m equivalent on a marked course.
  4. 4 Swedish relay: legs of different distances — shortest runner runs longest leg.
  5. 5 Pursuit relay: team starts at intervals — try to catch the team in front.
  6. 6 Medley: different movements for each leg (run, skip, hop, backwards run).
  7. 7 Debrief: which format required the most teamwork? Why?

Tap a step to mark it as done.

Variations

  • Obstacle relay — navigate a simple course on each leg.
  • Ball relay — carry a ball and pass it at the exchange.
  • Design your own relay format.
More information

Teach: baton, exchange, handover, zone, leg, pursuit. Demonstrate the visual handover multiple times — it is counterintuitive and needs repetition.

Students who need shorter distances run the first or shortest leg. All formats accommodate different speeds.

Is the handover happening smoothly without stopping? Are teams communicating about strategy before racing?

Sticks make free batons. Mark lanes and zones with stones or lines in soil. No track or cones needed.

Students slow down to hand over the baton safely. Teach that the exchange zone exists precisely so both runners can be at full speed — the handover should accelerate the baton, not slow it.

Relay racing develops the most complex teamwork in athletics — each individual must perform, but the team result depends on the transition between them.

Activity details
Secondary Medium 25 minutes 5 minutes prep Whole Class Outdoor
Topics
Relay Teamwork Running