A roundup of recommended obstacle ideas for obstacle courses

wall climbing

Tottori Manabiya Preschool - Event [Sports Day Practice] 5-year-olds

An idea for a wall-climbing activity that gets the viewers excited too.

Set up a wall along the course and have participants climb it.

You can use any material for the wall, but a wooden signboard or a slatted panel works well.

If it’s simply placed, there’s a risk it could tip over, so teachers should firmly support it from both sides.

It’s also important to set the wall height so that participants can just barely reach the top with their hands.

That way it’s safe to climb and still gives a sense of accomplishment.

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yamamoto

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can stilts

Nostalgic! How to Play “Kampokkuri” ~Natsukaccho!~ [Chuba Chuba Wonderland – Chiba TV Official]

Do you know can-stilts? They’re an old-fashioned toy made by threading ropes through empty cans that are a little bigger than a typical can of juice, then standing on them to play.

You can think of them as a kind of relative to bamboo stilts, which might make it clearer.

That said, while they’re easier than bamboo stilts and most people can get on them right away, it’s a different story when it becomes a race.

Moving fast is surprisingly tricky, so I think they make a great obstacle idea that kids and adults alike can enjoy.

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Hane Keisuke

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jump rope

Obstacle race – Hiroshima Prefectural Kake High School – Sports Festival 2019

It’s very simple, but adding jump rope is also recommended.

The reason is that you can freely set the rules to match participants’ ages and fitness levels.

The simplest rules could be things like “run a certain section of the course while jumping rope” or “clear it after X jumps.” If you want to increase the difficulty, you can raise the skill level required, such as “clear it if you can do X double-unders.” For further variation, it might be fun to add rules like bonus points for those who can perform even more advanced skills, such as triple-unders or the Hayabusa (cross double-under).

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Hane Keisuke

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unicycle

I’m joining the unicycle club ❤︎ #shorts #unicycle #Starmine

A unicycle, which is propelled by pedaling a single wheel, is an activity that really tests advanced balance.

Focusing on that balance, let’s have participants ride a unicycle over obstacles.

Since it’s hard to control unless you’re experienced, it’s best not to require everyone to try; make it an optional challenge instead.

How stable you are affects the speed you can achieve, so anyone who wants to attempt it should practice thoroughly before taking on the unicycle.

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kappamaki

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two-wheeled scooter

Kick scooter race 🚳 #kindergartners #sportsday

Kick scooters are a classic means of getting around, and we tend to think that maintaining a stable posture is key to picking up speed.

Let’s incorporate those kick scooters as obstacles and test everyone’s sense of balance.

If the course is straight, it’s too easy, so it’s recommended to include bumpy sections and curves and check whether they can keep their posture even in those conditions.

You’ll also see individuality in how people decide whether to prioritize stability by taking quick, small pushes, or prioritize speed by pushing hard and gliding.

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kappamaki

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stilts

I'm getting better and better at walking on stilts.

Stilts, the classic toy that many people have tried—walking while holding bamboo with footholds—are a staple, aren’t they? Let’s incorporate those stilts into an obstacle course and have participants run skillfully while staying mindful of their own sense of balance.

Even just moving forward makes balance challenging, and turning it into a race demands even greater concentration and control.

When you get flustered, it becomes hard to judge your angles, so it seems best for those around to offer clear advice.

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kappamaki

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Rock-Paper-Scissors Obstacle Relay

This is an obstacle relay where you play rock-paper-scissors against a teacher waiting at checkpoints or turn-back points, and you can’t proceed unless you win.

The rules are simple, but since you can’t move forward on a tie or a loss, the outcome remains uncertain until the end, which adds to the fun.

For adults, you could make the rules tougher—like returning to the start if you lose—to make it even more exciting.

It’s a relay that tests not only speed but also luck, giving even those who aren’t great at sports a chance for a dramatic comeback.

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Hoshino Takashi

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