What better way to let boys do what boys like to do: climb, jump, run, flip and twist!

The first year Junior Gladiator Day attracted 150 boys, the second and third year 400 boys participated and 1999 will mark the fourth year of the event.  Junior Gladiator Day is always held the Sunday after Thanksgiving from 1:00pm to 3:00pm.  The event is for boys ages 5 and up and the majority of boys have been in the 8 -10 year old age category.  The event is free but parents must fill out a waiver release form.

The boys were broken into groups by age and size and below are some of the stations that were developed. 

There were relay running races, sack races, 3-legged races, forward roll races, forward roll while in the sack races, and pull your partner while he sits in the sack races. Tape lines were made across the  floor exercise area, teams were formed, mats were places at the end of the floor against the walls for safety and the races began!  These races emphasized teamwork and cooperation.

• Low Beam - A low beam was placed over the pit.  A pair of boys, each with a nerf bat in hand, tried to knock each other off the beam.  Another version of the joust, done with older kids, was to put the boys on platforms (like big spools of thread) and give them a broomstick with padding on each end.  The boys had to try to push one another off the spool.

• The Wall - A wall was built over the men's high bar and the women's uneven bars using mats.  The boys had to climb up the wall and jump into the pit or large pile of mats.  The top and sides of the pit were tied to the bars so it would not fall down. This is great conditioning.

• Illuminator - With large round inner tubes around their waists and a large circle drawn on the floor exercise mat, the boys tried to bounce each other out of the circle.  They were not allowed to use their hands or body, they could only touch their opponent with the inner tube around their waist.  If any body part went out of the circle, the game was over. 

• Rope Climb - The boys got to climb the rope and see how high they could get.

Each boy was put in a spotting belt and got to try a flip on the trampoline. For many it was their first chance to flip.  They loved it!

The boys had to walk like a crab (on hands and feet with belly pointing towards the ceiling) and kick the giant sized soccer ball to try to score a goal for their team. This builds up the strength in their arms!

In the dance studio on hard wood floors one coach sat with an air compressor gun.  The boys had to start at one end and make their way across the the floor without getting hit by one of the nerf balls.  Trapezoid mats were used for the boys to hide behind as they made their journey across the floor.

To get from one station to the next the boys had to do obstacle course-type activities such as running or jumping on the tumble track and jumping into the pit;  walking on the beams that were in zigzag formation, one right next to the other; climbing up the parallel bars that had one end raised and the other end low; climbing through tunnels or donut mats; running through the pit; climbing over the beam, and under the next,  climbing over the beam, and under the next, etc.