physical education games using hula hoops

Pete Charrette

Hula Hoop Activities for PE: How to Incorporate Hula Hoop Games in Lessons

Not only are hula hoops a great way to get students up and moving in a physical education class, but they're also a lot of fun! They are a great go-to for any physical education teacher at the elementary or middle school level. They may be utilized in many different ways, and they can assist students to improve their fitness skills related to muscular endurance, agility, balance, coordination, reaction time, and speed. They are a true staple in physical education games and activities around the world.

30 Fun Ways to Use Hula Hoops in a Physical Education Class

Physical education hula hoop activities may be used in a school or at home to teach a variety of skills and PE concepts simply and quickly. They're an excellent tool for keeping a student's attention during any physical activity lessons. Ideally, each student should have their own hoop or one to share with a partner so they can do a variety of different and engaging activities with it. Hula hoop games can also be used for a variety of different group sizes in physical education classes. The hoops can serve as targets, bases, safe areas, or equipment reservoirs within a hula hoop game.

Hula hoops are adaptable and address PE standards

Hula hoops may be utilized as station ideas if your equipment closet is limited. The stations may be used in conjunction with other PE equipment or a unit's lesson focus.

If you have a large number of students, you could also have them collaborate in groups or trios to share the hula hoops. Hula hoop activities are also fun to do together with your parents at home. This can help you get support for your PE program.

Not only are hula hoops fun, but when students perform activities using them, they are directly addressing SHAPE America's Standard 1 : The physically literate individual demonstrates competency in a variety of motor skills and movement patterns* The movements and activities you choose to use in your lessons using hoops can directly meet your national, state or district standards with ease.

Fun ideas for adding hula hoop activities in pe classes

Employ these 30 hula-hooping activities to keep your students physically active both inside and outside of class:

Instruct your students to do the following tasks either by practicing on their own, teaching each other, or working at different stations.

1- Fitness movements

Circle the Hoop- Walk, run, skip, gallop, hop or jump as you travel around the perimeter of the hoop.

Jump in and Out - Jump in and out of the hoop with 2 feet for a set amount of time.

Hop in and Out- Hop in and out of the hoop with 1 foot for a set amount of time. Switch feet.

Scissor Step- Perform scissor steps and switch your feet inside the hoop for a set amount of time.

Jump the Hoop- Jump 2 feet to 2 feet and travel across the hula hoop when you jump. Turn around and jump back.

Run and Jump- Take a few running steps and take off of 1 foot and jump completely over the hoop to land on 2 feet.

Hula Hoop Challenge Tasks

2- Hula hoop handling tasks

Pass the Hoop- Pass the hula hoop around your body from one hand to the other. Try going in both directions.

Step Through- Hold the hula hoop in an up position and step your body through it. Step back in the other direction.

Head Balance Step Through- Balance the hoop on the top of your head. Slowly step through the hoop one foot at a time. Step back through.

Hoop Jump Rope- Use your hula hoop like a jump rope and turn it over your head and back to the ground as you jump over it each time.

Toss and Catch- Toss the hula hoop up in the air and catch it with 1 hand or 2. Try clapping or touching the ground while it is in the air.

Hoop Balance Challenge - See how long you can keep a hula hoop in the air by balancing it on one foot or your hand.

The visuals depicted above can be found at Cap'n Pete's Power PE site located here

3- Rolling and Spinning

Roll for Distance- In a large space area, roll a hula hoop to see how far it rolls before it drops down to the ground.

Roll and Jump Through- Roll a hoop (in a straight line) slowly out in front of your body. Run and jump through the hoop while it is still rolling. See if you can do it more than 1 time.

Spin and Run- Rotate the hula hoop like a spinning top. Run and touch the closest wall before the hoop stops spinning.

Spin Jack- Rotate the hula hoop like a spinning top. Perform as many jumping jacks as you can before the hoop stops spinning.

Spin and Plank- Rotate the hula hoop like a spinning top. Hold a plank position until the hoop stops spinning.

4- Twirling the Hoop

Waist Twirl- Twirl a hula hoop around your waist in either direction. See how long you can keep it moving without it dropping.

Neck Twirl- Twirl a hula hoop around your neck in either direction. See how long you can keep it moving without it dropping.

Lasso Twirl- Hold 1 arm up in the air and twirl a hula hoop on your arm like you have a lasso spinning above your head.

Side Arm Twirl- Hold 1 arm out to the side and twirl a hula hoop on your arm either in a forward or backward direction.

Two Leg Twirl- Twirl a hula hoop around your legs in either direction. See how long you can keep it moving without it dropping.

One Leg Twirl and Jump- Twirl a hula hoop using only 1 leg to propel it. As it twirls around, jump over the hoop with the other leg.

5- Partner and trio challenges

Balance Challenge- Invent new ways to balance the hula hoop. Challenge each other to see who can perform these new tasks.

Step or Jump Through- Have your partner hold a hoop beside them as they walk toward you. Step through or jump over as it passes by.

Hula Challenge- Challenge a partner to a hula hoop duel. See who can keep it twirling the longest without it dropping to the ground.

Build a Hula Hut- Build a Hula Hut using 6 hula hoops. Build using a bottom base, 4 leaning sides, and a cap on the top.

Partner Toss- From a comfortable and safe distance, toss and catch a hoop with a partner.

Create a Move- Create a movement using your body and 1 hula hoop. Challenge a partner to do the move. Use your imagination, stay in your space and be safe as you move.

Throw it Through- One partner holds a hoop at different height levels while the other partner throws a ball through it. Vary the distance the ball is thrown.

Short Line Relays- In short lines of 2 to 4, students go 1 at a time to perform a challenge task using a hoop and return back to the line.

3 in a line Hoop Relays

Final thoughts

The possibilities for hula hoop fun are endless! With a little imagination and creativity, you can come up with your own challenges and games to keep your physical education class engaged and active. I hope you will enjoy trying out these 30 different hula hoop movements and activities with your students. From rolling and spinning to twirling and tossing, there is something for everyone here.

I hope you enjoyed reading about these hula hoop ideas and are inspired to try them out in your learning area! Be sure to let me know which ones are your favorites in the comments below.

*SHAPE America. (2013). National Standards for K-12 Physical Education. Reston, VA: Author.

Need resources?

Do you need some PE Equipment-Based Challenge Cards that can easily help you teach activities like the ones discussed in the equipment-based article above? Would it help to have easy-to-implement visuals that include detailed instructions and state-of-the-art graphics? Cap'n Pete's Power PE has you covered!

28 FREE PE Equipment-Based Challenge Cards on capnpetespowerpe.com

Fill in the form below to download 28 FREE fun and active PE Equipment Challenge Cards with a variety of manipulative and movement-based skills to use in your physical education classes.

The set is a PDF digital download that includes four visuals (cards) from each the following equipment-based, skill, and movement challenge card sets: 1. Balloon Challenges, 2. Beanbag Challenges, 3. Pool Noodle Challenges, 4. Hula Hoop Challenges, 5. Playground Ball Challenges, 6. Jump Rope Challenges, and 7. Cup Stacking Challenges.

This freebie set will be sure to enhance your PE curriculum for years!

If you REALLY want to expand your physical education program's arsenal, check out Cap'n Pete's, 20 Set PE Equipment Challenge Card Super Bundle . Over 480 , PE equipment-based teaching visuals from 20 unique sets!!

Cap'n Pete's, 20 Set PE Equipment Challenge Card Super Bundle. Over 480, PE equipment-based teaching visuals from 20 unique sets!!

You can download them from either of the following platforms: Cap'n Pete's Power PE Website or Teachers Pay Teachers- Cap'n Pete's TPT Store

This comprehensive visual collection will help you teach your students a plethora of movement and manipulative skills using 20 traditional pieces of physical education equipment that include: 1. balloons, beanbags, stacking cups, pool noodles, juggling scarves, hula hoops, tumbling mats, long jump ropes, short jump ropes, scooter boards, cones & poly spots, dice, Lummi sticks. long-handled implements, short-handled implements, basketballs, beachballs, footballs, playground balls, and soccer balls.

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The Top 15 Hula Hoop Games for P.E. That'll Get Kids Moving!

Physical education (P.E.) classes are all about keeping kids active and engaged. One fantastic tool that has stood the test of time in P.E. is the trusty hula hoop. These colorful hoops aren't just for hip-swiveling fun; they're versatile tools for fostering physical activity and developing essential motor skills. In this article, we'll explore the top 15 hula hoop games for P.E., ensuring your students get moving and having a blast!

1. Hula Hoop Flip

Hula hoop flip is an easy hula hoop game that anyone can learn instantly! Start by dividing your class into 4 teams. The game begins with each team positioned behind a starting line. Provide every team with a hula hoop and a bean bag.

At the start signal, the first child on each team tosses the beanbag, aiming to either make it touch their hula hoop or land inside it. It's crucial to note that if the beanbag bounces out of the hoop, it doesn't count. If successful, the child rushes to the hula hoop, ensuring it touches the ground before flipping it over, thus moving it closer to a predetermined finish line that you've marked.

After flipping the hoop, the child retrieves the beanbag and passes it to the next team member. The game operates as a thrilling relay race, emphasizing the importance of swift beanbag retrieval. The team that successfully moves their hula hoop all the way to the finish line first wins!

2. Hula Hoop Blob Tag

Start the game with one player carrying a hula hoop. This player is “it” and must tag the other players. However, there's a twist. When a player gets tagged, they grab onto the hula hoop, forming a chain or "blob" of taggers. This chain can grow as more players are tagged. Only the first four players hold onto the hoop, additional players may link arms with the first four to grow the blob.

The challenge for the blob is that they must work together to tag the remaining players. They can stretch and bend but cannot let go of the hula hoop or each other. The game continues until all players have been tagged and become part of the blob, or until a time limit is reached.

Hula Hoop Blob Tag encourages teamwork and strategy as the blob attempts to surround and tag the remaining players. It's a dynamic and engaging game that often leads to lots of laughter and excitement.

3. Hula Hoop Rolling Relay Race

Hoop enthusiasts, assemble! Divide the class into teams and set up a relay race. Each student must roll their hula hoop while racing to a designated spot and back. The first team to finish wins. It's a fantastic way to get the kids moving while having a blast.

3.B Hula Hoop Relay Course

In addition to the original relay race, place cones to navigate around, a jump rope on the ground to follow, or any other obstacle of your choosing to make the relay race more interesting! For older grades, students must keep the hoop rolling the entire time. If they drop it, they have to start over!

4. Hula Hoop Hopscotch

Let's combine the classic hopscotch with a hula hoop activity! Lay hoops in a hopscotch pattern and have students take turns hopping in and out, trying to land in the right spots. This game enhances balance and coordination.

5. Hula Hoop Obstacle Course

Transform your gym into an exciting hula hoop relay course. Place hoops at various spots and challenge students to navigate through them without touching the hoops. It's an excellent way to develop agility and problem-solving skills. To enhance your obstacle course, place stations for jump rope or jumping jacks to get your kids heart rate up and add some variety to the activity.

6. Hula Hoop Tennis

Time to add a twist to regular tennis. Hand each student a hula hoop, and instead of rackets, use them to hit soft tennis balls or larger inflatable balls back and forth over a net. Watch the hilarity and physical activity ensue!

7. Hula Hoop Hop

Set up a hopping challenge. Students must hop while hula hooping! See who can keep up the longest!

8. Hula Hoop Hopscotch

Take hopscotch to the next level by hopping in and out of hoops instead of squares drawn on the ground. It's a fun and active twist on a classic game.

9. Hula Hoop Toss

Hula Hoop Toss" is a lively outdoor game where players take turns tossing hula hoops to encircle cones or other targets. Players stand behind a starting line and use various tossing techniques. Scoring is established, with points awarded for successfully encircling the target. Each player typically has a set number of attempts. The player or team with the highest total score after the specified number of rounds or attempts wins. This game encourages hand-eye coordination and is adaptable for different age groups and skill levels, providing an opportunity for friendly competition. Challenge them to get creative with their hoop throwing skills!

10. Hula Hoop Catch

Pair up your students and have them toss a hula hoop to their team member. The challenge? Catch the hoop while it's spinning! This game enhances hand-eye coordination.

11. Hula Hoop Zombie Tag

In this high-energy game of tag, one student is a “zombie”, marked by a hula hoop aroudn their waist, and must tag others. Once tagged, a new "zombie" (student) places a hula hoop around their waist and joins the "zombies" in the pursuit.

12. Hula Hoop Dance-Off

Crank up the music and let the kids showcase their best dance moves within the hoop. It's an excellent way to encourage creativity and teamwork.

13. Hula Hoop Limbo

How low can you go? Use a hula hoop as the bar in a limbo contest. Students must bend backward and pass under the hoop without touching it or falling. It's a great way to test flexibility.

14. Hula Hoop Aerobics

Combine hula hooping with aerobics. Create a routine that includes hula hoop moves, such as waist hooping and arm spinning. It's an exciting way to get some cardiovascular exercise.

15. Hula Hoop Soccer

Set up goals using hula hoops and have students play soccer with a soccer ball or soft ball equivalent. This game combines soccer skills with the added challenge of maneuvering the ball through the hoops.

For a twist, have more than two teams, with each team having its own hula hoop goal and ball.

Alternativly, play with one ball and two teams, but multiple hoops.

Incorporating these hula hoop games into your physical education classes will not only keep the kids active but also help them develop vital motor skills. Remember, the key is to make physical activity enjoyable and engaging. So, let the hooping games begin, and watch your students thrive!

Hula hooping isn't just a pastime; it's a fun and effective way to promote physical activity and teamwork. By integrating these creative hula hoop games into your P.E. curriculum, you'll ensure that your students are not only moving but also having a blast while doing so.

So, what are you waiting for? Grab those hoops, assemble your teams, and let the hula hoop games begin! It's time for a whirlwind of excitement in your P.E. class.

In conclusion, hula hoops are more than just circles of fun; they're fantastic tools for promoting physical activity and honing essential motor skills in kids. Incorporating these hula hoop games into your P.E. classes will keep your students engaged and energized, fostering a lifelong love for physical education.

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21 Hula Hoop Activities

February 24, 2023 // by Keren Dinkin

Hula hoops may seem like a simple tool in comparison to the numerous high-tech toys and games available today. However, they’re great instruments for helping kids learn skills, develop their muscles, and improve their gross motor movements. Hula hoops are easily available, inexpensive, and safe. Additionally, kids will have fun trying to control a moving hoop! Whether you’re a parent organizing birthday parties or a teacher trying to hone kids’ physical skills, these fun hula hoop games and activities will keep them entertained!

1. The Hoop Game

This is one of the simplest games to play with hula hoops, bean bags, and water bottles. Lay a hula hoop on the ground and place plastic bottles in the middle. Now, kids have to target the water bottles; trying to knock them over using bean bags. This is one of the best activities for kids because they learn target practice and develop their motor skills!

Learn More: Final Site

2. Hula Hoop Pass

This is a great hula hoop team-building activity that also serves as the perfect party game. Make the kids stand in a circle and hold hands. Now, ask them to pass the hoop around the entire circle without separating their interlocked hands.

Learn More: Guide Inc.

3. Hoop Rolling

Hoop rolling is one of those fun hula hoop games that are great for developing locomotor skills. Make a line with chalk, provide each student with a stick and hula hoop, and ask them to roll the hoop along the traced path. Once they get the hang of hoop rolling, add obstacles like bowling pins and traffic cones along their path.

Learn More: Wikipedia

4. Rope And Hula Hoop Activity

This simple hoop activity improves kids’ practice in gross motor movements. Simply tie a rope to the hoop and hang it from a tree. Give the kids small objects like balls and arrows, and ask them to aim and throw them through the hoop.

Learn More: Happy Hooligans

5. Hula Hoop Basketball

Traditional netball hoops are very small so if you have little kids, you can try this variation. Secure a hoop to a pole or a door with cable ties. Give the kids soccer balls and ask them to aim at the hoop; attempting to toss their ball through the ring and score a point.

Learn More: Coach Ad

6. Jump Rope With Hula Hoop

Try this amazing variation of jump rope using a hula hoop. You can also make it a race and have your learners compete to quickly skip their way to 100!

Learn More: Dana Pederson

7. Hoop Catch

Also known as up high, this simple game is sure to challenge your students. Have your kids toss the hoop as high as possible and catch it before it touches the ground.

Learn More: New Folks

8. Hula Hoop Toss

Divide the kids into two teams and assign one hoop per team. Position the hoops a few feet away from the start line and give each team a bag full of bean bags. Set a timer and have each team compete to throw their bean bags into their hula hoop. The team that gets the most bags in the hoop wins the game!

Learn More: Empowered Parents

9. Hula Hoop Challenges

This challenge tests kids’ basic hula hooping skills. Give each kid one hoop and ask them to start spinning on cue. The last one to remain spinning without dropping their hoop wins the competition.

Learn More: The PE Specialist

10. Hula Hoop Relay

For this hula hoop relay course, divide the kids into teams and make them stand in a line, holding hands. Give each team one hoop. The children must quickly pass the hoop to the final play before the whistle sounds.

Learn More: Tip Junkie

11. Hula Hoop Rock Paper Scissors

Divide the kids into two teams. Set up a line of paired hoops that is equal to the number of participants. Members of opposing teams stand near the first pair of hoops and play rock, paper, scissors (RPS). The player who wins moves to the next hoop, while another member takes their place on the first hoop; playing RPS with the same member of the opposite team. The team that is able to occupy all the hoops wins the game!

Learn More: SSWW.com

12. Ring Around The Bottle

This one will soon become one of the kid’s favorite hula hoop games. Divide the kids into two teams and assign one soda bottle per team. The kids must aim to make the hoop land over the bottle. The team that covers the bottle with hoops first wins the game!

Learn More: Work R Fun

13. Physical Challenge

Make kids stand in a hoop and give them physical challenges like standing on one leg, becoming a chair, and so on. The child who lasts the longest wins.

Learn More: Playground Parkbench

14. Washer Toss

This engaging game will have your kid playing with hula hoops for hours. Align the hula hoops and assign a score to each hoop. The closest hoop gets the lowest score, and the farthest gets the highest. Ask kids to aim washers at the hoops and score their best.

15. Hula-Hoop Hopscotch

This evolved version of hopscotch is one of the most fun hula hoop games. Place the hoops in patterns and have your little ones engage in a game of hopscotch.

16. Hoop Targets

To play this excellent hula hoop game, assign one hoop and one knockable target (empty plastic bottle, bowling pin) per participant. Spread the hoops across the ground and place the targets in the middle of the hoops. Every participant has to guard their target while knocking off the opponents’. Spread cheap tennis balls or small-size balls across the activity area. When they receive the start signal, the kids pick up the balls and begin.

Learn More: Play Sport

17. Hula Hoop Tag

Ask kids to spread themselves out in an open activity area. Designate 2-3 kids as taggers and give each one a hula hoop to use in order to tag the others. When someone is tagged, they must perform a particular physical activity.

Learn More: Asphalt Green

18. Hula Hoop Obstacle Course

Use a couple of hula hoops to prepare an obstacle course. Ask the kids to run through, over, and under; moving from hoop to the next to complete the obstacle course.

Learn More: Your Therapy Source

19. Hula Hoop Tic Tac Toe

To play this simple party game, form teams X and O and give each team different colored bean bags. Arrange 9 hula-hoops in the form of a TTT board. Ask alternate team members to aim at the board and attempt to get three in a row.

20. Dolphin Island Tag

Spread some hula hoops across the activity area. The hoops are islands or safe zones. Appoint a leader to give commands. When the leader declares swimming time, all the dolphins must “swim” to avoid being captured. They must return to the hoop base for safety.

Learn More: YouTube

21. Circus-Inspired Hula Hoop Game

Decorate a hoop with yellow and orange construction paper so that it appears like it is on fire. Now, make the kids, aka circus animals, jump through the hoops. Hold the hoop higher to increase the difficulty level.

Learn More: Hi Sawyer

12 Easy Hula Hoop Games for Kids

By: Author Tanja McIlroy

Posted on Last updated: 7 April 2024

Categories Games for Kids

There are many ways you can play with hula hoops with young children that will teach them skills and develop their muscles, coordination and other physical skills.

By using hula hoops, you can teach your kids some new gross motor movements they might not yet be familiar with, such as skipping or swinging a hoop around your waist.

Hula hoops can be used in many movement activities , at home or at school. Here are a few hula hoop games to try with your preschoolers and older kids.

1. Musical Hoops

This game is a variation of the game musical chairs .

Play music and get the kids to dance around. When the music stops, instead of running to sit on a chair, kids must find an empty hoop and sit cross-legged inside it.

On each round, remove one hoop and the person who doesn’t find a hoop is out of the round. For younger kids, it may be better not to remove hoops so every child finds a hoop on each round.

This game is good for learning about position in space and body awareness .

2. Skipping Race

Did you know you can actually skip with a hula hoop?

By turning the hoop over your head and then skipping into it, one leg at a time, you can create the same motion as you do with a skipping rope .

This can make a fun and challenging race, and teach a new motor skill. Do this one on the grass as there might be some falling involved as kids trip over their hoops while getting used to the movement.

3. Hula Hoop Toss

Teach kids to aim and throw by placing two hula hoops on the floor and tossing bean bags into them.

For younger children, place the hoops close by so it is easier to get the beanbags to land inside them. For older children, move the hoops further away.

Teach number recognition at the same time by making number cards with the numbers 1 to 5 on and placing each inside a hoop (number 1 closest to you, number 5 furthest away).

Allocate the number of points on the card each time you get the bean bag inside a hoop and tally up the points after each round.

Here are more fun bean bag activities for kids.

4. Play Netball or Basketball

Young preschoolers would enjoy tossing a netball or basketball into a hula hoop as a traditional netball hoop is much smaller and therefore too difficult for most young kids to use.

Fix a hula hoop to a pole or doorknob (or any other creative position you can think of) with cable ties. You could even suspend a hoop between two chairs to keep it low for younger preschoolers.

5. Find the Number

Teach kids the numbers by laying out 10 hula hoops in random positions in a room or outdoor area. Place a sheet of paper or card with a number from 1 to 10 in each hoop.

Let kids run around and move freely, then blow a whistle or clap your hands and call out a number from 1 to 10. The children must run to the hula hoop and stand inside it, taking care to try and fit everyone in the circle.

This works best if a small group of kids plays at a time (up to 5 kids), and is also suitable for playing with one child.

For younger kids, use the numbers 1 to 5 only and increase them with time, as kids learn to recognize the numbers.

6. Hula Hoop Contest

Why not try a traditional hula hooping contest by swinging hoops around your waist to see how long they will stay up without falling?

Little kids playing with hula hoops on the grass.

This may be a little challenging for young kids but is a great skill to learn and preschoolers will find it fun to try. Let them watch an adult who knows how to hula hoop so they can see the movement.

7. Obstacle Course

Hula hoops are great for adding to obstacle courses.

Kids can hop into them (with legs together or alternating), weave around them, crawl through them, run over them, or toss things into them.

Here are some simple obstacle course ideas for kids .

8. Hopscotch

A traditional game played for many years, hopscotch has a whole host of benefits and is a great game to teach kids. It can be varied to make it simpler for younger preschoolers.

As a variation, instead of drawing a hopscotch court, lay out hula hoops and hop into them instead.

Here’s how to play hopscotch .

9. Race Across the River

Build strength with this fun pretend game.

Lay out some hula hoops and pretend they are rocks on a river. Space them wide enough apart that kids have to jump from one hoop to another.

Challenge your kids to cross the river safely by only jumping on the rocks. If they land outside the hoop, they will fall into the river and be swept away by the current.

Time your kids and see how long they take to cross the river and repeat the rounds to see if kids can beat their times. Or, make it challenging by moving the hoops further and further apart on each round, challenging kids to jump further.

10. Hula Hoop Pass

In this fun game, get the family members, or a small group of children, to stand in a row and hold hands.

The objective is to move a hula hoop from one side of the chain of people to the other side, without unlinking your hands. Move it over across your arms, over your head, under your body, etc., until it gets to the other side.

11. Spelunking

Pretend to be archaeologists going on a trip to explore caves.

Place chairs in two rows and use them to hold up several hula hoops, spaced close together. You could also use a wall for support on one side, and chairs on the other.

Lay large sheets over the hoops to create darkness and the feeling of being closed off.

Pretend to crawl through the caves, slowly squeezing your body through the tight tunnels of the cave. If you can, play this at home at night. Switch off the lights and give your child a torch to make it fun.

This game will teach kids about their position in space.

12. Free Play

Last but not least, don’t forget to let kids play freely with the hula hoops. Lay them out and invite children to use them in their play in any way they choose.

Toddler playing outside with a hula hoop

Kids will use the hoops to represent other things during symbolic play (like rocks they can stand on to cross the river safely), they might make up their own games with rules, or they might toss them into the air and catch them.

Free play is important for learning.

I hope you’ll enjoy trying these hula activities and games with your preschoolers and older kids.

Are you a preschool teacher or working in Early Childhood Education? Would you like to receive regular emails with useful tips and play-based activity ideas to try with your children? Sign up for the newsletter!

Here are more fun games to play with kids.

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Tuesday 30th of May 2023

How to play in and out game by using hula hoops

Tanja Mcilroy

Tuesday 6th of June 2023

Hi Mary, here is an article on the in and out game: https://www.playmeo.com/activities/energizer-warm-up-games/jump-in-jump-out/ I'm sure you can adapt it for younger children and use hula hoops.

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The Inspired Treehouse

Growing healthy bodies and minds through play!

10 Creative Hula Hoop Games and Activities for Kids

April 7, 2015 By Lauren Drobnjak

Hula hoop games and activities for kids are super motivating and fun ways to promote gross motor skills like coordination, endurance, balance , strength, and more.

Girl with a hula hoop standing in the grass. Text about creative hula hoop games and activities

*This post contains affiliate links. Read more .

And now that spring has officially sprung…it means that we can spend hours out in the yard doing our favorite spring activities and family activities without getting frostbite! Hooray! So get out there and give some of these a try!

1 || Rabbit Hole from The Inspired Treehouse

One of our all-time most popular posts on the blog, Rabbit Hole gets kids working and moving as a team – perfect for parties and play dates!

2 || Hula Hoop Rag Rug from Sisters Guild

This is SO cool. Who knew you could turn a pile of t-shirts into a rug using only a hula hoop?! Can’t wait to try this cool hula hoop rag rug idea!

3 || Hula Hoop Ring Toss from Leigh Laurel Studios

Love this step-by-step tutorial on how to make your own washable bean bags for a hula hoop ring toss game – ones that can get dirty and muddy and wet without ruining the typical bean bag stuffing…beans. Genius and perfect for springy outdoor play!

4 || Rattlesnake Relay from Education.com

Check out this great cooperative group game for kids! No set-up or other materials required…just a group of kids and a hula hoop!

5 || Flaming Hoops from The Inspired Treehouse

Kids will get a chance to be circus daredevils with this fun flaming hoops activity ! Transform your set of hula hoops into the flaming hoops from the circus – kids will love pretending to be the lions, tigers, and acrobats defying this dangerous feat!

6 || Hula Hoop Croquet from The Crafting Chicks

This one might just be our favorite. Materials from the dollar store transformed-in a super creative way-into an awesome outdoor croquet activity for kids ! It doesn’t get better than that!

7 || Rope and Hula Hoop Activity from Happy Hooligans

The easiest backyard activity in the world that will keep young kids entertained for hours! Super simple setup and kids will love inventing their own ways to play with this rope and hula hoop activity.

8 || Hula Hoop Obstacle Course Pool Game from Everyday Dishes & DIY

Who would have thought to take your hula hoops into the pool? This is such a great summer idea and a super smart ways to turn hula hoops into a cool underwater obstacle course!

9 || Tire Run from The Inspired Treehouse

Try setting up your hula hoops in the yard in an array of different patterns for this awesome tire run endurance challenge!

10 || Gross Motor Color Match Game from The Inspired Treehouse

This creative color match game is great for promoting a variety of skills at once, including balance, coordination, self-regulation, and more!

Our Favorite Hula Hoops for Kids

LED Light-Up Hula Hoop

Snap Together Detachable Hula Hoop

Spiral Taped Hula Hoop

Weighted Foam Hula Hoop

Have you and your kids come up with your own creative ways to play with hula hoops? We’d love to hear about it! Email us at [email protected]!

Looking for more fun movement ideas? Check out these Gross Motor Skills Activities for 2-3 Year Olds!

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The PE Specialist

Awesome Resources for Physical Education Teachers

Hula Hoop Tricks in PE

I never really knew how to hula hoop very well until I became a PE Teacher. I soon realized that I needed to up my skill level so I could demonstrate for my students. Over the years teaching kids has given me plenty of time to play around, practice and be creative finding different ways to hula hoop.

Hula Hoops are great.

They are easily accessible for most kids, cheap and easy to setup in class. They’re great for a station activity and if you get tired of Hula Hooping you can even find other creative things to do with them, like build Hula Huts or use them in games like Hula Hut Throwdown .

If you’ve just given kids a hula hoop with no instructions on how to use it, you might find they really struggle to get the hang of it…

In the video below you’ll find a few of my tricks that I teach to 2nd – 5th grade after they’ve gotten the basics down in K-1. There are of course always a ton of variations, but hopefully this will give you a few ideas.

If you don’t have time to check out the video I’ll give you an overview below of how I teach hula hooping with my kids and hopefully it will give you some ideas to plan some of your own Hula Hooping Activities:

Hula Hooping Tricks For Kids

Intro : Talk about management and make sure kids know when the music is off they should drop their hoops and sit down inside of them without touching them. If students have trouble with this you can let them try hula hooping with an “imaginary hula hoop” – it’s a lot easier, but not as much fun…

Hula Hoop Challenges (modify or add more as you see fit)

Start on your back, count to 3 and spin that hoop – try to keep it going as long as you can.
I’ve found that telling kids to move forward and back a pretty helpful cue
Extension : Try a waist hoop starting on your belly
Kneel on the ground and try to start your hula hoop while on your knees
Extension : Stand up from knees without dropping your hoop
Start hooping on your waist and then try to touch a knee or kneel down to the ground and stand back up without dropping your hoop
Start the hoop on the back of your neck and then bob your head like a chicken and try to keep it going
Be careful not to smack yourself in the face – start slow
Hold your arm out straight and spin your hoop around your wrist – keep your muscles tight and make small circles
Extension : Try to switch to another arm without stopping
Hold your hoop in front of you and jump through it like a jump rope
If your hoop keeps hitting the ground – pick up your hands and hold it a little higher
Extension : Try Hula Jumping Backwards
Put your knees together and then start the hoop on the back of your legs and then start it spinning and see if you can keep it going on your knees
Extension : Waist to Knees – start on your waist and see if you can make it all the way down to your knees
Put the hoop on your foot with one foot inside the hoop and one foot outside the hoop. Try to spin the hoop around your ankle while hoping over it with your other foot.
Hand – Neck – Waist – Knees – Feet
For a Video Example Click Here

COMPETITIVE ACTIVITY: HULA WAR

Challenge someone to a Hula War – if they accept proceed to the next step
Start hula hooping at the same time and walk towards your opponent
Last hoop standing is the winner!
Give your opponent a high five and find another to challenge (or go practice some tricks if you don’t want to play Hula War)

Teacher Notes:

If a student gets frustrated and doesn’t want to try a specific challenge, just allow them to try a different one, it’s about having fun being active – not becoming a professional hula hooper
Continue to encourage students for any small win and remind them to “Keep on Trying” and “Don’t Give Up”
In between each challenge you can reinforce good examples by having “Showtime” where you select a willing student to show off that challenge – kids like to see other students doing the skill and it helps them see that it’s attainable.
If you’re looking to buy some Hula Hoops I recommend getting the 36″ Hoops – they are way easier for kids to learn with than the smaller 24″ ones. Pretty much every sports equipment provider should have them.

What about K-1st Grade?

With my little’s I do some of the basic tricks (Waist, Neck, Hula Jump) just to keep it interesting and allow them to practice throughout the year as a station activity. Also, sometimes afterwards do the Hokey Pokey with our hoops since they are already out … see the video below 🙂

Hula Hoop Activity Guide

Want a convenient printable Hula Hoop Activity Guide? You can purchase ours HERE (Also available in our Membership Program)

That’s it! If you have some ideas or hula hooping activities or tricks that I didn’t mention – leave them in the comments.

Have Fun and Teach On!

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Reader Interactions

November 8, 2023 at 10:41 am

Thank you so much for this hula hooping info. I am at a new school and these kids have never had PE before. The intro really helped me figure out how to first lay out directions with the hula hoops with kiddos who have never had quality PE instruction.

November 8, 2023 at 3:13 pm

That’s awesome Casey!

Glad you’re enjoying the resources!

Let us know if you need help with anything along the way!

September 20, 2023 at 4:24 am

Many Thanks Have a nice school year!

September 20, 2023 at 3:32 pm

You to Niki!

May 19, 2022 at 6:50 pm

Hi, do you use the 36” hula hoops for TK-2 students? Are they successful in hula hooping when using that size?

May 20, 2022 at 3:22 pm

Hey Mellysa,

Thanks for reaching out!

We usually use the 24″ or 30″ for K-2 students. They don’t do as well with the larger ones.

Hope this helps!

January 21, 2021 at 9:16 am

I’m looking into additional weighted hoops. Are there any benefits to the hoops that are wavy on the inside?

January 22, 2021 at 3:16 pm

I don’t know if there is any benefits. Maybe feel? Most students are able to grasp the hula hoop concept with practice regardless of style.

May 14, 2019 at 2:29 pm

hiiiiiiiiiiii

May 10, 2019 at 12:09 pm

this is grate for my assimment. thanks.

April 30, 2019 at 11:18 pm

I teach students to spin the hula hoop, back away and watch it “die”. Then when the hoop gets lower to the ground try to jump inside and out without touching the hoop. The hoop should still be spinning slightly.

I also teach the students how to make a hula hoop come back to me. Throwing it then flicking the wrist back just before letting go reverses the spin on the hoop and it will come back.

May 2, 2019 at 3:13 pm

Cool! I love doing the come back trick, but kids always sling the hoops across the room anytime I try to teach it to them, so I stopped doing it with my students 🙁

April 10, 2018 at 3:43 pm

Hey Ben, I used your Hokey Pokey hula hoop dance and my K-2 students’ loved it. Your activities are great. Thanks

April 10, 2018 at 4:37 pm

AWESOME – glad to hear that it went well!

November 29, 2017 at 9:02 am

Super cute Ben! Love the hula hoop hokey pokey! I miss teaching my elementary kiddos!

December 6, 2017 at 5:54 pm

Elementary kiddos are pretty awesome 🙂

October 19, 2017 at 12:19 pm

I finally learned to Hula Hoop this year. Never could do it before. I’m a proud 46 year old lady learning a new trick. Must be a late bloomer. Now there are more challenges, thanks. 🙂

October 21, 2017 at 1:18 pm

Haha – I want to be like you when I grow up 🙂 – Never stop learning

January 21, 2021 at 9:18 am

I know the feeling! I was 54 before I learned. A parent gave me a weighted hoop and it helped tremendously. I finally foundmy groove.

January 22, 2021 at 3:17 pm

Thanks for sharing! Will have look into a weighted hula hoop!

October 10, 2017 at 7:51 am

Great job. I have been teaching for 20 years but I am always willing to learn. I appreciate your effort and knowledge.

October 18, 2017 at 4:14 pm

Thanks Mark! Appreciate the feedback and always nice to connect with a lifelong learner!

January 12, 2017 at 12:03 pm

These are great tips. I usually teach adults and more advanced students to hoop dance, but have an upcoming gig where I will be working with kids K-5, and I’m grateful for your experience:)

January 12, 2017 at 8:51 pm

Awesome, glad it was helpful – I hope the gig goes well!

November 4, 2016 at 11:52 am

Great post – love all the hula-hoop challenges Ben!

November 30, 2016 at 6:33 pm

Thanks Vicki! Glad it was helpful

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4 Hula Hoop Activities for Team Building in PE!

1. Hula Hoop Blob Tag

Two students are chosen to be the 1st “BLOB.” They will hold a hula hoop with one hand and a noodle in the other hand. On the “GO” signal, the “BLOB” will travel around the gym chasing the other students. When a student is tagged, they join the “BLOB.” When the “BLOB” reaches 4 students, two students leave the “BLOB” and become a new “BLOB” by grabbing their own hula hoop and tagging noodles.

Blob Tag w/Hula Hoops – k-2 I have taught this many times but never w/hula hoops. I saw it somewhere & instantly wanted to bring it into my class Two pairs start as “blobs” When a blob reaches 4, two Ss break off, grab a noodle/hula hoop & become a new blob #physed #elempe pic.twitter.com/AUrvNZKGir — Mike Chamberlain (@mchamberlainPE) April 5, 2022

2. “Hidden Turkeys” and Hula Hoop Ring Toss

I used “Hidden Turkeys” near Thanksgiving, but the concept of rolling out a hula hoop to find and collect _______ has worked on other occasions. I have had students rolling out Hula Hoops to find fish, different valued points, matching the color spots to a posted fitness challenge, and/or a race to collect all sorts of objects spread out around the gym floor.

“Hidden 🦃s” Ss roll a ball into a hula hoop. If it stays, S gets to check the spot. If it has a 🦃 on it, they get to collect a point. If NO 🦃, S goes back to roll again. #turkeyweek #physed #elementarype pic.twitter.com/UOoTZW9zLw — Mike Chamberlain (@mchamberlainPE) November 22, 2021

Hula Hoop Ring Toss Partners take turns rolling a hula hoop to catch colored rings. Each color is assigned an exercise. If you catch more than one ring, you do each of the matching color/exercises. @DiamondPath196 @ISD196Magnets #physicaleducation #teamwork #fitnessfun pic.twitter.com/bhprLJhNoz — Mike Chamberlain (@mchamberlainPE) September 10, 2021

3. “Crossing the Pond”

In this cooperative activity, a team of 3 or 4 students travels across a “POND” that is marked off with cones using Hula Hoops. Each group is given 3 hula hoops. The students lay the hula hoops on the ground, step into them, pick up and move them as they travel across the pond. No more than two students in a hula hoop at a time. This can be done as a whole group race or a relay to collect objects and bring them back to their starting spot.

Groups of 3/4 using #teamwork #communication #cooperation & #listening skills to travel across the pond using 3 hula hoops. – no more than 2 to a hoop – hoops must be on the ground when you move to the next hula hoop #elempe #physed #leadupgame #teambuilding #196pride pic.twitter.com/tGmFnVKAOM — Mike Chamberlain (@mchamberlainPE) May 24, 2022

4. Hula Hoop Partner Walk

I have students in squads. Two students at a time use a hula hoop and two jump ropes to travel to the end of the gym and back. Each student holds one handle of each jump rope and attempts to carry the hula hoop. If the hula hoop drops, they work to pick it back up while only using the jump ropes. When they return, the next set of students go. If there is an odd number in your squad, one student can go a second time.

Teamwork and Community Building happening over here at @DiamondPath196 in PE @ISD196schools #FirstDayofSchool #welcomeback pic.twitter.com/qJ0HUllz8D — Mike Chamberlain (@mchamberlainPE) September 8, 2021

Bonus: For more, check out how these fellow Physical Educators showcasing Team/Community Building while using Hula Hoops

1. christina fuller @thecoachfuller.

Hula Hut Teamwork Challenges! My fav is the “camper”, moving it from one place to another. They liked the “condo”, a 2 story Hut. Lots of good discussions about communication styles, roles on teams and so much more! #mhepe #risdmoves #risdpoweroflove #risdbelieves #physed pic.twitter.com/7eDGA9V7fr — Christina Fuller 🚲 (@TheCoachFuller) August 24, 2022

2. Coach Donchev @eatplants2move

Hula Hut Challenges from @pe2themax pic.twitter.com/3K8Tc9Xi0n — Coach Donchev (@eatplants2move) May 14, 2021

3. Round Hill PE @RHEPE1

Hula Hut How to build gif & 6 Level Challenges by @JHudnallPE ss are going to love it. #PhysEd #PEGeeks pic.twitter.com/RAOPnBrbZw — Round Hill P.E. (@RHEPE1) September 27, 2021

3 Responses

This actually would seem pretty fun to do in PE, a great exercise, but more importantly they’d be pretty energetic to try these without complaints

I could see my students really enjoying this activity in my PE classes. I think it is a great exercise and all around activity that forces students to participate but would not mind either way because it is fun!

Amazing hula hoop activities designed for team-building in physical education settings, likely promoting fun and engaging ways to enhance teamwork. Can you share one of the hula hoop activities and how it contributes to building teamwork skills in a physical education setting?

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5 ways small sided games make a big impact, author: jessica shawley, a brand new tool for pe you didn’t know you needed, author: brett fuller, 5 skill-based floor hockey games, author: michael beringer, 16 parachute team building activities, author: tim mueller, we're social, motivating unmotivated students, author: dr. robert pangrazi, jessica shawley, and tim mueller, promoting activity and success through adapted pe, author: dr. robert pangrazi, marci pope and maria corte, author: randy spring.

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12 Fun Ways to Play With a Hula Hoop

With all the outdoor games and toys kids have to choose from, something as simple as a hula hoop might seem a little low-tech or outdated—but that's half the fun. This classic toy doesn't require much beyond a kid's physical energy and willingness to experiment with how to keep the hula hoop in motion. Hula hoops are also inexpensive and straightforward to use (once you get the hang of them).

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends kids get at least 60 minutes of physical activity a day, and hula hoops can be a fun part of meeting that requirement. Playing with a hoop also burns calories, strengthens muscles, and improves coordination at any age. Try these hula hooping activities to get started.

Variations on the Classic Spin

Grab some hula hoops and head outside with your kids . Challenge each other to see who can master spinning the hoop around their waist. While this trick is one of the basics, it takes practice to master.

Once you've got the hang of it, encourage each other to try something fancier: Shift the hoop up and down your neck, or get a pair of hoops and see if you can whirl one on each arm at the same time.

Hoop Targets

Set your hoops on the ground or prop them upright against a wall or tree to use them as targets for beanbags, water balloons , or foam darts. Want something a little more challenging? Use a rope to hang the hoop from the beam of a playset or a tree branch to create a moving target.

Up, Down, Under, Over

If you have a group, give this classic game a go. Have three or four kids stand inside a large hoop that they hold up at waist level without using their hands. Then, challenge them to wiggle the hoop up their necks or down their ankles (again, no hands). You can also have them try to move as a group from inside the hoop to outside without letting it touch the ground.

For centuries, kids have been using sticks to roll upright hoops along the ground. For a modern take on hoop rolling , have your child see how far they can roll a hoop with a stick or their hand before it falls over.

Once they get the hang of hoop rolling, draw a line with chalk and challenge them to trace the path with the hoop. For an added challenge, put up obstacles (such as small traffic cones, plastic bowling pins, or even lawn chairs) or devise a clever maze for them to navigate.

Hoop-Scotch

You'll need several hoops for this game. Lay each hoop on the ground in a pattern your child can hopscotch through. You can also arrange two parallel rows of hoops for kids to race through like a tire run.

Hoop Home Base

No matter which version of tag you choose to play, you can use hula hoops as a home base or designated safe zone. Just make sure everyone agrees on the hoop home base rules. For example, decide that a player can only stand in a hoop for a count of 10, no more than one or two players per hoop at a time, and so on.

Giant Ring Toss

Place two hoops about eight feet apart (you might have to adjust the distance depending on players' ages and skills). Give each child one or two beanbags. The goal is to toss their beanbags into their opponent's hoop while at the same time preventing their opponent's bags from landing in their own hoop. They can use their hands, feet, or any other part of their body to deflect the incoming beanbags.

With a little more planning and a safety-first mindset, you can even play a human version of ring toss. Have one kid put on a bike helmet and stand still inside a hoop base. The other players can then take turns trying to toss a hula hoop over the human target from a predetermined spot.

Each kid can have a turn donning the helmet. Make the game more challenging by increasing the distance of the starting point for the toss with each round.

Hoop Jump Rope

No jump rope? No problem! Show your kid this neat hooping trick.

Stand with the hoop vertically in front of your body, then flip it down toward your feet. Next, jump over it, bringing it back behind you, then over your head and back to where you started. To avoid skinned knees, have your kid try this on soft ground first in case they stumble.

Pass the Hoop

This hula hoop game is great for picnics, recess, or birthday parties where you have a whole group of attendees. Have everyone hold hands and stand in a line or circle. To start the game, loop the hoop over a player's arm. From there, the rest of the group must pass the hoop down the line or around the circle without letting go of each other's hands.

Throw a Hoop Up High

"Up High" sounds simple, but this trick is harder than it looks. Have kids take turns tossing a hula hoop straight up in the air with the goal of catching it on the way down. Just remember to put everyone's safety first. Onlookers may want to stand clear while your kids try to master this one.

Spin Challenge

Put your group's basic hula hooping skills to the test with this game. Gather enough hula hoops for each contestant. Set a timer and challenge everyone to keep their hula hoop going. Whoever is the last one with a hula hoop in motion wins.

You can also play this using a competition bracket. Have kids go head-to-head, with the winners of each round competing against each other until a final hula hoop marathon champion is crowned. You can vary the game by requiring different skills each round, such as moving the hoop up and down the body.

Hula Hoop Relay

For this game, set up two side-by-side racecourses. Set up several hula hoop challenges along each one. Possibilities include obstacles to go around or over with a hula hoop in hand and designated spots to roll your hula hoop a certain distance, jump rope with it, spin it around the waist for 15 seconds, and/or set it down and hop two-footed in and out of it 10 times.

Next, divide your group into two even teams and give each one a hula hoop. Have someone do a practice run of the course so that everyone knows what to do. The relay race begins when the first players on each team begin running the course. They will go up and back before passing the hoop to their next teammate. The first team to have each member successfully complete the course wins.

U.S, Department of Health and Human Services. Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans .

Smithfield B. Hoop rolling: A classic game which dates back to the 5th century BC . The Vintage News.

By Catherine Holecko Catherine Holecko is an experienced freelance writer and editor who specializes in pregnancy, parenting, health and fitness.

5 Fun Games with Hula Hoops – #4 IS MY FAVORITE!

Affiliate Disclosure : As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Growing up, I’m sure we all played with the hula hoop and creating fun hula hoop games was a weekend tradition. Hula hoops have stood the test of time because they’re affordable, easy to find, and involve many games to solo or with your friends.

Remember the “good old days” when you and you’re friends would swing your hips around to see who could keep it spinning the longest?

Did you know that’s not the only hula hoop game out there? In fact, this simple toy is used for tons of great games with hula hoops that you should try.

Whether for using hula hoops for team building, group activities, preschoolers, seniors, or even just to make playtime something different, then these games are here to help!

Table of Contents

Here are 5 Fun Games with Hula Hoops to get you started:

1. thread the hula.

If you’re looking to use a hula hoop for team building, this is the game for you!

Players will form a circle while holding hands with the hula hoop hanging on one of the player’s arms. They will start the game by passing the hula hoop around the circle without letting go of their hands.

They can achieve this by running the hoop down their arm, ducking their head in and then stepping through to pass it onto the next player.

Enjoy this hula hoop teambuilding activity with two or more competing teams to make it a hilarious competitive challenge where the first team to run the hoop through their entire circle wins.

2. Hula Hoop Rock Paper Scissors (aka Hula Hoop Hopscotch)

This is an excellent hula hoop game for preschoolers. It’s also a fun way to play rock paper scissors!

Epic 4th grade hopscotch game - Hoop hop showdown

Lay down all the hula hoops available no matter their size. The idea is to create a long zig-zagging course.

Next, divide the players into two equal teams and arrange them at each end of the hula hoop course you just created. When the game starts a player from each team will hop as fast as they can through the hula hoops to the other side.

When they meet the player from the other team they will play a game of paper rock scissors. The player that wins will continue hopping as fast as they can to the opposing team’s side.

The player that loses must step off the course and run to the end of their team line. The losing team will send a new player to meet the other team’s winner and challenge them again.

The game will continue until one team makes it all the way across the hula hoop course. The longer the course the better!

You can make it challenging or add delays by adding special instructions at some of the hoops like swinging your hands wildly and counting to 10, clap 25 times, nod your head or sing a familiar tune.

3. Hula Hoop relay race

If you’re looking for competitive hula hoop games, look no further!

There are many games with hula hoops, but this is one of my favorites because it is team-based, competitive, and will wear our the players! How do you set up and play the hula hoop relay? Let’s begin:

First, you will need to divide your teams. Four teams of 10 are recommended, but use what you have.

Each team will run their own course which will involve a series of 3 or 4 hula hoop challenges. The video above shows three challenges, but you can get creative with your hula hoop relay course.

Here are a few ideas to get you started:

A standing hula hoop obstacle ( set of 6 hula hoop holders )
A flat hula hoop where the player has to pick it up and move through the center of it
A “roll the hula hoop 5-10 feet” section
After rolling the hula hoop (above) throw it back to toss the hula hoop over a cone (if failed, roll again)

4. Hula Hoop Flip Ball

If you’re wanting physical education games using hula hoops, you will love this one. It’s my personal favorite too!

Games with hula hoops for couples or small teams aren’t hard to come by, but one as unique and challenging as this is. The game is simple to organize. All you need is one hula hoop per team of 2 and some cheap tennis balls .

Next, line the teams at a starting point. Instruct each player that they have to roll the tennis ball into the hula hoop. If it stops inside the hula hoop then flip the hula one time.

If the ball does not stop inside the hula, then the player who tossed it picks it up and tosses it back to their teammate.

This hula hoop flip game ends once a team reaches a preset finish line. This game takes some skill and is great for adults or older teenagers.

5. Giant Hula Hoop Ring Toss

This is one of those games with hula hoops that all your friends will want to get in on!

This game would require a larger playing area. Someplace outside or in a large room will work best! The video above shows a giant hula hoop toss inflatable, but we recommend this affordable one on Amazon .

Once inflated, assign a throwing area where each player will stand. They will have 3 hula hoops that range in size from small to large. Now each player will have a turn to throw their hula hoops and will receive scores accordingly.

The player who has the most points after three rounds will win the game.

This game can also be played using orange traffic cones with various points assigned to them.

These are my personal favorite hula hoops for games:

Last update on 2024-04-29 at 10:58 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

How to Have Fun and Build Team Unity with Hula Hoop!

Takes 30 minutes
Easy difficulty
5-10 participants

What is Hula Hoop?

The Hula Hoop Icebreaker is an engaging and enjoyable team-building activity that I use to foster communication, cooperation, and mutual understanding among participants. Its primary objective is for the group to lower a hula hoop to the ground while each participant’s fingers maintain constant contact with it, promoting equal support without gripping or pinching the hoop.

In this activity, I usually have participants stand in a circle, forming a human chain around the hula hoop. The challenge lies in keeping the hoop balanced and coordinating movements, which often results in laughter and hilarity as groups attempt to synchronize their actions while adhering to the rules. By reflecting on the hurdles encountered during this activity and highlighting successful strategies, I aim to emphasize key takeaways related to teamwork, leadership, mutual support, communication, and role allocation within a group or organizational setting.

This simple yet effective icebreaker not only dissolves initial awkwardness among participants but also sets the stage for deeper team-building opportunities. The Hula Hoop Icebreaker can be easily adapted with additional challenges like using multiple hoops, blindfolds, or increasing complexity levels to cater to the group’s developmental needs and maintain interest over time.

Rules for Hula Hoop

Participants must form a circle, facing inward.
The hula hoop should be placed horizontally at chest height, supported by the group.
Each participant’s fingers must remain in constant contact with the hoop.
The hoop must be supported evenly by the group, without being carried or disproportionately supported by individuals.
Communication between participants is crucial for success.
Adjustments and adaptations to individual pressures on the hula hoop are necessary to lower it effectively.
Participants should balance cooperation with the challenge of moving the hoop down while following the rules.

Materials needed for Hula Hoop

Hula Hoop : A standard-sized hula hoop is required for this activity. It will be used as the main object that participants must lower to the ground as a team.

Space : Ensure you have a spacious area, either indoors or outdoors, where the group can comfortably stand in a circle without obstructions. The area should be large enough for each participant to have enough personal space to move slightly forward and backward without bumping into each other.

Participants : This activity is designed for a group of 5-10 participants per hoop, but the number can be adjusted based on the size of your overall group or room space availability. Participants should be prepared to stand in a circle, face inward, and communicate effectively with one another to achieve the goal of lowering the hula hoop to the ground while adhering to the rules.

Setting up for Hula Hoop

To set up for the Hula Hoop icebreaker activity, follow these steps:

Choose a spacious area: Find an indoor or outdoor location where the group can comfortably stand in a circle without obstructions. Ensure there is enough personal space for participants to move slightly forward and backward without bumping into each other.
Randomly position participants: Have participants stand in a circle, facing inward. It’s best if they are randomly positioned rather than standing next to people they know well, encouraging wider interaction and cooperation.
Select a starting point: Decide on which side of the circle you will place the hula hoop. This participant will be responsible for holding the hoop horizontally at chest height or having it lightly touching their outstretched index fingers all around the circle.
Emphasize communication and cooperation: Before beginning the activity, remind participants of the main goal—to lower the hula hoop to the ground as a team—and emphasize the values of communication, cooperation, and fun.

How to play Hula Hoop

1. Prepare the Hula Hoop and Space - Gather a standard-sized hula hoop and choose a spacious area where 5-10 participants can stand in a circle without obstructions.

2. Set Expectations for Participants - Explain that the group’s goal is to lower the hula hoop to the ground while keeping fingers in constant contact with it.

3. Position Participants in a Circle - Have participants stand in a circle, facing inward, with enough personal space to move slightly forward and backward.

4. Place the Hula Hoop in Position - Place the hula hoop horizontally at chest height on one participant’s fingertips or rest it lightly on their outstretched index fingers all around the circle.

5. Encourage Communication and Cooperation - Inform participants that they must lower the hoop as a team, guiding each other verbally or non-verbally to enhance communication and cooperation.

6. Adjust Posture and Pressure - As the group begins, participants will need to adjust their individual pressures on the hula hoop and modify their stance for effective coordination.

7. Debrief the Experience - After completing the task, facilitate a debriefing session discussing challenges encountered, successful strategies, and how the experience relates to team communication and problem-solving in real-world settings.

8. Highlight Key Takeaways - Emphasize lessons learned about teamwork, leadership, mutual support, and communication within a group or organizational setting.

Benefits of Hula Hoop

Fosters Communication: I found that the Hula Hoop icebreaker significantly boosts communication skills among participants. As they work together to lower the hoop, they need to constantly guide each other verbally or non-verbally, which enhances teamwork and creative problem-solving.

Promotes Cooperation: This activity taught me the importance of cooperation in a group setting. Each participant’s fingers must remain in constant contact with the hoop, and it must be supported evenly. This encouraged participants to adjust their individual pressures exerted on the hula hoop to achieve collective lowering effectively.

Enhances Problem-Solving Skills: The Hula Hoop icebreaker is an excellent way to enhance problem-solving skills. Keeping the hula hoop balanced and coordinating movements is more challenging than it appears, requiring participants to think creatively and work together to find successful strategies.

Boosts Morale and Team Spirit: Laughter often ensues as groups attempt to synchronizedly move the hoop down while adhering to the rules. This creates a fun and engaging atmosphere that boosts morale and team spirit, making it an excellent way to start any team-building event or workshop.

Provides Insights into Team Dynamics: Once the task is completed, reflecting on the hurdles encountered during the activity can provide valuable insights into team dynamics. Questions like “What was challenging about this activity?” and “How did you overcome these challenges?” can guide this reflection, helping participants understand their roles within a group or organizational setting better.

Encourages Adaptability: The Hula Hoop icebreaker encourages adaptability by requiring participants to adjust their individual pressures exerted on the hula hoop to achieve collective lowering effectively. This could involve bending knees, adjusting stance, and stabilizing or minor lifting of arms to keep the hoop balanced and gradually move it downwards.

Reinforces Leadership Skills: The Hula Hoop icebreaker provides an opportunity for participants to step up as leaders, guiding their teammates and coordinating efforts to lower the hula hoop successfully. This helps reinforce leadership skills in a fun and engaging way.

Skills built with Hula Hoop

Communication: The Hula Hoop Icebreaker activity emphasizes the importance of clear and timely communication between team members. As participants work together to lower the hula hoop, they must constantly provide feedback and adjustments to ensure success, which translates to better communication skills in real-world settings.

Cooperation: A key aspect of this icebreaker is fostering a sense of cooperation among group members. By working towards a common goal and relying on each other’s input, participants learn the value of teamwork and develop stronger interpersonal relationships.

Problem Solving: The Hula Hoop Icebreaker presents a unique challenge that requires participants to think creatively and strategically to find solutions. This process helps sharpen problem-solving skills as individuals identify issues, analyze potential outcomes, and implement strategies in real-time.

Adaptability: As the hula hoop moves upwards unexpectedly or becomes unbalanced, participants must quickly adjust their approach and respond to changing circumstances. This experience builds adaptability, an essential skill for navigating dynamic work environments and personal relationships.

Patience and Persistence: The Hula Hoop Icebreaker can be a challenging and sometimes frustrating activity. However, by remaining patient and persistent, participants develop resilience and learn to maintain focus on their goals despite setbacks or obstacles.

Trust and Empathy: As group members work closely together and rely on each other’s input, they build trust and empathy. By practicing active listening and offering constructive feedback, participants enhance their emotional intelligence and strengthen interpersonal bonds.

Role Allocation: In the Hula Hoop Icebreaker, team members often discover that distributing tasks based on individual strengths leads to more effective problem-solving. This realization highlights the importance of role allocation in both personal and professional settings, ensuring each person contributes their unique skills to achieve collective success.

As a facilitator, observing and reflecting on these skill developments can help create a more cohesive and high-performing team, ultimately contributing to a positive and productive work environment.

Why I like Hula Hoop

I appreciate the Hula Hoop icebreaker activity for its ability to effectively promote team-building and communication in a simple, engaging, and memorable way. The activity’s design encourages participants to work together, adapt, and communicate, making it an ideal tool for fostering a collaborative environment.

One aspect I particularly like is the inherent challenge of lowering the hula hoop as a team. This seemingly basic task quickly reveals the importance of communication and coordination, providing profound insights into real-world team dynamics. As participants work together to balance the hoop and move it downwards, they learn to adjust their individual efforts based on group feedback, which is an essential skill for successful collaboration.

I also value the Hula Hoop icebreaker’s versatility. It can be easily adapted to suit various group sizes and settings, making it a flexible option for team-building facilitators. Additionally, incorporating elements such as blindfolds or multiple hoops can increase complexity, keeping the activity fresh and engaging for different groups and skill levels.

The reflective component of the Hula Hoop icebreaker is another aspect that I find appealing. By prompting participants to discuss their experiences and insights gained during the activity, facilitators can help translate these lessons into practical knowledge that benefits the team in real-world situations. This thoughtful debriefing process not only solidifies the learning experience but also fosters a stronger sense of group cohesion and camaraderie.

In summary, I like the Hula Hoop icebreaker because it offers a fun, interactive, and adaptable approach to team-building that encourages communication, cooperation, and problem-solving. Its simple yet powerful design allows participants to develop valuable skills and insights while building stronger relationships within their group.

Tips for making Hula Hoop more inclusive

Tip: Provide Different Sizes of Hula Hoops By having hula hoops in various sizes, participants with different body types can comfortably participate without feeling left out due to the unavailability of a suitable-sized hoop.

Tip: Consider Cultural Adaptations In some cultures, physical touch might be less common or carry specific meanings. Encourage verbal communication and non-physical cues as alternatives to direct finger contact with the hula hoop.

Tip: Offer Visual Aids for Visually Impaired Participants For visually impaired participants, provide tactile markers on the hula hoop or use audio descriptions during the activity to ensure their full engagement and safety.

Tip: Use Clear Verbal Instructions Be mindful of language barriers or hearing difficulties by speaking clearly, slowly, and providing written instructions if necessary. Offer translation services or visual alternatives when needed.

Tip: Accommodate Physical Limitations If participants have physical limitations or disabilities, provide alternative ways to participate in the activity that don’t compromise their safety or comfort. This might involve using a lighter hoop, sitting down, or taking breaks as required.

Tip: Encourage Self-Expression and Personal Style Promote individuality and creativity by allowing participants to express themselves through movement, clothing, or personalized verbal cues during the activity.

Tip: Address Potential Sensory Sensitivities Be aware of sensory sensitivities some participants may have, such as sensitivity to loud noises or bright lights. Adjust the environment and volume levels accordingly to ensure a comfortable and inclusive experience for everyone.

Reflection questions for Hula Hoop

What did you find most challenging about this activity? Understanding the specific obstacles faced during the hula hoop exercise can provide insights into individual and group strengths as well as areas for improvement in communication, cooperation, and problem-solving.
How did you adapt your behavior throughout the activity to help lower the hula hoop? By recognizing personal adjustments and their impact on team progress, participants can learn about the importance of self-awareness and adaptability within a group context.
What strategies did your group use to work together effectively? Identifying successful approaches to collaboration can inform future teamwork efforts and demonstrate the value of effective communication and role allocation.
How does this activity relate to real-world situations in which you need to collaborate with others? Drawing parallels between the hula hoop exercise and everyday challenges can help participants develop a deeper appreciation for team dynamics and transfer their learnings from this activity into professional or personal contexts.
What did you learn about yourself as a team member during this activity? Reflecting on individual contributions to group success can promote self-awareness, personal growth, and a stronger sense of belonging within the team.
If you were to facilitate this activity with another group, what would you do differently based on your experience today? Anticipating changes for future iterations highlights participants’ growing understanding of teamwork principles and their ability to apply these insights in practice.

Want customized activity suggestions? Try our Team Building Expert GPT !

About the author

Founder & Chief Icebreaker

I started Icebreaker Spot because I truly believe that strong connections are the foundation of successful teams. I wanted to create a platform that would make it easy for people to find and share icebreakers and team building activities, empowering them to build trust, foster collaboration, and ultimately, achieve greatness together.

Materials needed
How to play
Why I like this activity
Tips for inclusivity
Reflection questions

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8 Group Games Using SCOOPS in PE

Posted on April 5, 2017 by jcahill

11 Comments

Plastic Scoops. They sit in our equipment closet year after year waiting patiently for their turn, their shot at a lesson plan titled: SCOOP SKILLS! Yet, there they remain with very limited use. Occasionally, I will take them out, blow the dust off of them, and practice some basic throwing and catching challenges. Soon after, I place them back on the shelf with a little guilt, (think Toy Story) and move on to the next unit.

Recently, I was scrolling through social media and stumbled across a post requesting ideas for scoops. Many of the teachers commented that they too were searching for scoop lessons, while others shared creative ideas and challenges. Inspired by this post, I decided to brainstorm, tweak, and implement some group activities using this underutilized manipulative. Here are a few of the games we’ve enjoyed the last couple of weeks. I hope you too are able to look beyond the basketballs and hula hoops in your equipment room, pull the scoops off of your shelves, and give them a chance to play!

Scoop Shoes

Scoop Shoes is based on the backyard game horseshoes. Place two hula hoops at least ten feet apart. Opposing players stand behind their hoop. Each player takes turns tossing a yarn ball into the opposing hoop. I encourage students to use the underhand throwing motion. If the ball stops inside the hoop, the player is awarded two points. One point is awarded for a ball that stops less than a scoop length away from the hoop. Players use the scoop to measure the distance. With larger groups, we play games of two versus two.

Sink the Ship/Walk the Plank

Four ships are set up in each of the four corners of your space with the following equipment: 4 smokestacks (foam cylinders), cannon (scoops) for each pirate, rowboat (scooter), and a plank (foam beam). The above picture shows the initial set-up.

The goal of the game is to knock out each of the opposing teams’ smokestacks in order to sink their ship. Each ship’s crew uses the scoops to fire cannonballs (foam and yarn balls) at the other ships. Crew members must stay on the ship. If a crew member falls into the water, he swims (runs) one lap around the perimeter. One crew member is designated to use the rowboat. This player’s only duty is to retrieve cannonballs that are floating in the ocean and return them to their ship. The crew can also use their plank to retrieve cannonballs. The plank can be dropped into the water anywhere around the ship. If a pirate catches a cannonball shot by another ship, she can stand up one of her fallen smokestacks. As soon as one of the four ships loses all of its smokestacks, the round is over. The ship with the most remaining smokestacks wins the round. Each crew then rotates clockwise to the next ship, and the next round begins.

When Mars Attacks

Two teams each set up three swimming pools (UFOs) at different distances and heights. Each UFO has 4 battery cells (foam cylinders) for its energy source to travel through the galaxy. Each player uses scoops and yarn balls/foam tennis balls as lasers in an attempt to knock down the opposing team’s battery cells. If a battery cell is knocked over, the student can cross the midline into the other team’s galaxy to retrieve the battery. That battery cell can be placed on one of their ships, making them stronger. If a student catches a ball thrown by an opposing player, he earns the right to retrieve a battery cell from the other team.

One Bounce ULTIMATE

One Bounce Ultimate has similar rules to traditional Ultimate. The goal of the game is for the offensive team to advance a plastic ball into their end zone by catching and throwing with plastic scoops. To increase the excitement and level of success, I allow the ball to bounce once. Therefore, a ball must be caught in the air or on one bounce in order for the offense to maintain possession. If the ball is dropped and bounces more than once, the defensive team gains possession. The defense may not knock the ball out of an offensive player’s scoop. When the offense catches the ball in the end zone, they receive one point. The defensive team immediately runs the ball to midfield to continue the game.

Quadrant Bucket Ball

Divide the playing area into quadrants. Place a smaller bucket inside a larger bucket in the back corner of each quadrant. In the video you’ll see that I place a plastic tub inside a larger swimming pool. Divide your class into four teams. Each team reports to a different quadrant. The goal of the game is to toss balls (yarn balls, foam tennis balls, small stuffed animals) into ANY of the opposing team’s buckets. Each team can defend their buckets by blocking balls thrown by the opposing teams. Any ball that lands in a bucket MUST stay in the bucket until the end of the round. If a player catches a ball thrown from another team, he may deliver it to any one of the opposing team’s bucket. At the end of a round, I stop the music and yell, “STOP and DROP!” On this signal all students must immediately sit without throwing another ball. Any ball thrown after the signal is added to the bucket of the team who threw the ball. Balls in the large bucket equal one point while balls in the smaller bucket equal two points. The team with the FEWEST balls in their buckets WIN the round.

Jai Alai lead up game

My students love this scaled-down version of the world’s fastest game, Jai Alai. Arrange students in groups of three. Each group finds a section of the wall to throw the ball against using their Cesta (scoop). Two of the three players play first while the third player waits and referees. The player who begins with the ball, throws it against the wall. The ball must strike the wall above the six feet line on gymnasium wall. You can use tape to mark this height. The ball must be caught on the fly or on the first bounce by the opposing player. If successful, this player immediately throws the ball against the wall. If a player is unable to catch a serve, he steps off the court to become referee. The third players now enters the game and play continues. The first of the three payers to score seven points wins the round. Be sure to click the link above to learn more about Jai Alai.

Catch three is a great game to teach movement without the ball and quick decision making. Make teams of three to five players. Smaller teams increase the number of touches per player. The goal of the game is for each team to make three consecutive catches without dropping the ball (I allow the ball to bounce once). When a team is able to do this, they receive one point. The opposing team then receives the ball. Any time a ball bounces more than once or the offensive team is unable to make a catch, it is considered a turnover and the defense immediately gains possession. The defense may NOT knock the ball out of an offensive player’s scoop.

Hooper Scooper

Divide the class into two teams. Spread out 8-10 hula hoops on each side. The goal of the game is to underhand toss beanbags into the opposing team’s hoops. If a beanbag lands inside a hoop, it can NOT be removed. The only exception is if a player catches a beanbag that has been tossed by the opposing team. The player making the catch is rewarded by being able to remove one beanbag from any hoop. When the teacher calls “BASELINE!”, all students must race to their end line and take a seat. One point is subtracted from a team’s score for every beanbag tossed after the signal. I sometimes grant a bonus point for the first team seated at their baseline.

Please share some of your favorite ideas for scoops in the comment section!

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11 Comments on “ 8 Group Games Using SCOOPS in PE ”

Thanks for sharing. I taught for years in an Adapted PE environment and recently I’ve moved to a traditional High School environment. I’ve ordered and introduced all the “rainbow” factors I call them. Scoops, Hoops, Bean Bags, Play Ground Balls, all the things the students loved about elementary school, but I’ve reinvented their use and increased the team work and aerobic components. They get so busy playing, that they forget they are exercising!! Score and Win

I love your rainbow factors and your style. THAT’S the way you get kids to exercise.

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Thank you for these games. I love scoops but was running out of ideas. I will definitely use some of these games with my students.

Oh my gosh, I was totally cracking up when I read your post about the scoops always sitting on the shelf and collecting dust! So true! It’s been at least 8 years since I have used mine…..lol. Thanks for sharing your ideas!

I was at the grocery store when this message popped up. I had to LOL. Glad you could relate. Hope you can use some of the ideas.

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Hey there! 🥎 It’s time to bring those plastic scoops out of the closet and let them shine! 💫 I love your idea of SCOOP SKILLS for PE games. It’s such a creative and engaging way to get students active and having fun. 🏃‍♀️💨 Do you have any specific group game suggestions using the scoops? I’m sure the community would love to hear more about your fun and innovative lesson plans! Let’s inspire each other to make the most of those dusty scoops! 🤩 #PEGames #ScoopSkills #GetActive

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