Make a string maze

You’ll need

Tables
Chairs
Scissors
String
Masking tape
Device to play music

Before you begin

Use the safety checklist to help you plan and risk assess your activity. There’s also more guidance to help you carry out your risk assessment, including examples.
Make sure all young people and adults involved in the activity know how to take part safely.
Make sure you’ll have enough adult helpers. You may need some parents and carers to help.

Planning and setting up this activity

Anyone who’s working towards their Athletics Plus Badge could lead a cool-down exercise for the group. They should explain what core muscle groups are working in each movement and why it’s important to cool-down. If they like, they could prepare an appropriate and calming cool-down playlist to play in the session.
Find out about the five major muscle groups. Check that the cool-downs work all five of the muscle groups.
Red string is ideal, as it’ll look like a motion sensor laser!

Run the activity

Setting up the maze

Find a safe area, such as a hallway, room, or outdoor space. Make sure there’s enough space to move around and no sharp corners or tripping hazards. You can risk assess the course as it’s created and being used.
Attach one end of the string to a fixed object, such as a door handle, chair or tree.
Weave the string across the space at different heights (low, high, and in between) looping it around furniture, poles, or taping it to walls. Remember to:
- Keep the sting loose and easy to duck under so no one risks getting tangled or caught.
- Avoid tying string to anything that could fall or blow over.
- Mark any sharp edges on furniture with tape or fabric.
- Keep string off the ground where it could become a trip hazard.
- Criss-cross the string in all directions to make a web or path players must go over, under, or through without touching the string.
- Avoid neck-height lines and mark strings with bright tape or ribbon to make them visible.

Running the maze

Have someone try the maze. Adjust it if needed to make sure it’s fun and safe to move through.
Make sure to supervise the maze at all times, especially with younger groups. Keep exits clear too, so no one gets stuck or tangled.
Everyone should take turns to try and complete the course without touching the string. There’s no rush to complete the course, so everyone should take extra care not to touch any of the strings. If anyone does, they should start again from the beginning.
To make it harder, try timing players, add in an obstacle (such as a tunnel), try working in pairs, or collecting hidden objects along the maze route.

Reflection

This activity made moving through a space fun and tricky! Crawling, ducking, and stepping over string helped us practise balance and careful movement. Why do you think it’s important to move carefully instead of rushing? Think about how your body felt - were you out of breath, focused, or excited? If the maze worked well, you should have felt more alert and more aware of how you were moving. If you led a cool down, what did you have to consider? What was it like leading the group and explaining the exercises? How did everyone else think they did?

Safety

All activities must be safely managed. You must complete a thorough risk assessment and take appropriate steps to reduce risk. Use the safety checklist to help you plan and risk assess your activity. Always get approval for the activity, and have suitable supervision and an InTouch process.

You must run your activities in line with the Safeguarding Code of Conduct for Adults (Yellow Card) and report any concerns to the UK HQ Safeguarding Team.

Active games: The game area should be free of hazards. Explain the rules of the game clearly and have a clear way to communicate that the game must stop when needed. Take a look at our guidance on running active games safely.
Scissors: Supervise young people appropriately when they’re using scissors. Store all sharp objects securely, out of the reach of young people.