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Lesson details

Learning outcome

I can perform explosive movements demonstrating coordination, control and explosive strength.

Key learning points

  1. Move: running precisions, strides and plyos require explosive strength and coordination.
  2. Move: lower body strength is essential to land safely with control and show good technique.
  3. Think: the correct timing and placement of the foot influences the success of running precisions, strides and plyos.
  4. Feel: gradually increasing the distance between movements helps to build confidence.
  5. Connect: working together to agree on an appropriate challenge develops trust and a strong sense of community.

Keywords

  • Plyos - quick, explosive jumps involving fast transitions, landing and immediately springing off to another target

  • Landing - the controlled act of making contact with the ground or a surface after a jump, drop or vault to take-off

  • Running precisions - a movement involving running and jumping to land to a precise point with control on a small or specific target

Common misconception

Pupils will often underestimate or overestimate the distance, leading to overshooting the jump or falling too short.

Emphasise that hitting the edge of the mat is crucial, therefore they should gradually increase the distance to find the correct one for them. This will also need to be adjusted when they add a run up.

Teacher tip

The obstacle and mats should be of a similar height when performing running precisions from an obstacle. This should be considered when adding mats on top of each other. Ensure that mats do not slip (good grip) and have enough distance from the wall to allow for any forward action post landing.

Equipment

4 benches, 4 obstacles (boxes/gymnastics tables), crash mats and normal mats, floor markings/hoops

Content guidance

Additional qualification required

Risk assessment required - physical activity

Supervision

Adult supervision required

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2026), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0
except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions
(Collection 2).

Prior knowledge starter quiz

4 Questions

Q1.
Where should your chest be facing when performing a step vault?

sideways
Correct answer: forward
backwards

Q2.
How should you always land your vaults?

Correct answer: softly on feet
legs locked
in a squat position

Q3.
What can we minimise by providing peer feedback on our vault technique?

fun
coordination
Correct answer: risks

Q4.
At what angle should you approach the obstacle for a thief vault?

straight on
Correct answer: slight angle
large angle

4 Questions

Q1.
What should you try to show when performing running precisions to cover a certain distance?

Correct answer: fluency
height
agility

Q2.
What are you demonstrating in one another when you work together to choose a challenging distance for each other to perform jumps?

patience
Correct answer: trust
resilience

Q3.
which part of the body needs to be particularly strong when landing?

Correct Answer: lower body, lower

Q4.
What is the name of a jump that involves jumping from one leg to the other leg?

Correct Answer: stride

To help you plan your 9 physical education lesson on: Explosive movements in Parkour, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...