Down, set, hike! The NFL combine is a test of pure athleticism and mental prowess—who is the strongest, fastest, and smartest in the pool of potential athletes in the draft class. Have your kids dig out their favorite jersey, and run a mini-combine in your home.
40-yard dash --> High knees for 40 seconds.
This event is all about speed. How fast can you get to the finish line? Instead of a 40 yard dash, time how many high knees you can do in 40 seconds? Record your score.
Bench press --> Broomstick bench press
The bench press is a test of pure strength. Instead of weights, use a broomstick, lie on the ground, and see how many reps you can do in 40 seconds.
Vertical jump --> Vertical jump
The vertical jump measures your lower body’s power and explosiveness. This one you can do in your home. Stand against a wall and reach up. Mark your reach while standing flat footed. Then, jump up as high as you can. The distance between your standing reach and jump reach is your vertical jump score.
Broad jump --> Frog jump
The broad jump is another lower-body strength test. Do a frog jump instead. Start in deep squat with your hands on the ground. Jump up as high as you can with your hands and feet leaving ground at the same time. Land and return to starting position. How far did you jump?
Three-cone drill --> Three-sock drill
How fast can you change direction? Set up three socks in your living room in an L shape. Run to the first sock, then back to start. Then, run around the first sock to the second sock, and back to the starting line following the L shape. Record your time.
Shuttle run --> Bear crawl run
The shuttle run measures lateral quickness. It is a typically a straight line—5 yards, 10 yards, 5 yards. Instead, bear crawl as fast as you can to three different rooms. How long does it take you?
Wonderlic test --> Squat + math test
The Wonderlic test assesses cognitive ability and problem-solving skills. Instead, see how many math questions you can get correct while doing squats for one minute. You can adjust the math problems based on your child’s current skill level.
- 45 ÷ 5 =
- 35 – 8 =
- 64 ÷ 8 =
- 7 x 4 =
- 36 ÷ 6 =
- 40 x 0.4 =
- 40 – 5 =
- 70 ÷ 10 =
- 18 ÷ 3 =
- 5 + 16 =
- 5 x 3 =
- 20 + 10 =
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Exercises You Can Do With Your Kids