Several coins showing both heads and tails sides

Heads & Tails

  • Works with groups of all abilities
  • Perfect for core/circuit training and drills
  • Ideal for groups of 6-40 players
  • Works best on grass or mats

Heads & Tails is a fun activity where each participant's exercise fate is decided according to the toss of a coin.

Equipment

A coin is all that's needed. If you can get hold of a large novelty one then all the better.

Setting Up

Prepare two lists of exercises: one set easy and the other set hard. Then arrange the exercises into pairs, so that each easy exercise has a corresponding hard exercise.

Organise the group so that everybody has enough room to perform each of the exercises.

Playing

The group leader asks everybody to pick either heads or tails. To avoid cheating, ask those who have chosen heads to place their hands on their heads.

The coin is then flipped and the result announced. The participants who guessed correctly are assigned the easy exercise from the first pair on the list. Those who made the wrong prediction are given the harder exercise of the two.

Everybody performs their assigned exercise for a set time and then the coin is flipped again and again until all pairs of exercises from the list have been completed.

Group Size

With less than six players the session doesn't seem as fun. The game works well with large groups.

The game is slightly more enjoyable if a large coin is used so that everybody can see the result as the coin lands and cheer or grumble accordingly.

Variations

Flipping Mad

The group is split into small teams of three or four each. Each team has their own personal coin. The group leader assigns a difficult exercise to heads and an easy exercise to tails. Each team tosses their own coin and performs the hard exercise if it lands on heads and the easy exercise if it lands on tails.

Tossing Teams

The group is organised into two teams and each team takes turns flipping the coin. The tossing team collectively decides whether to choose heads or tails and then flips.

If the coin lands as predicted they choose a forfeit exercise for the opposing team. If their prediction is wrong then the opposing team chooses their own exercise.

Once the opposing team has finished their exercise they take control of the coin and play continues in a like manner.

Real World Example

The following list of pairs of exercises is created:

Easy Hard
Jog on spot Running high knees
Leg swings Squats
Arm swings Press ups
Hip rotations Burpees
Ankle rotations Calf raises

There is a group of 13 athletes. They're told to spread themselves out so they have enough room to perform burpees (i.e. the exercise from the above list that will probably require the most space to perform).

Everybody is then told to choose either heads or tails. Those choosing heads must put their hands on their heads, and those choosing tails must put their hands behind their backs.

The coin is tossed and lands on tails. Everybody that chose tails must perform 30 seconds of jogging and everybody who chose heads must perform 30 seconds of running high knees.

The group is then told to choose either heads or tails again and to position their hands accordingly. The coin is flipped and the next pair of exercises on the list is assigned.

Play continues in a similar manner until the list is (and the athletes are) exhausted.

Tips

Having a big print-out of all the exercises is a good idea do that everybody knows what's coming up.

Danger

Ensure participants have plenty of room for all the exercises they are to perform. Some exercises will require more space than others.

Since the activity involves a range of different exercises it's important to make sure before each exercise that everybody is comfortable performing it.

Remember to warm up before your session and cool down afterwards.