Countdown Announcer Script

This script gives you ready-to-use prompts for timing quiz questions and starting sprint races with energy and clarity.

Quiz Countdown Prompts

Use this for each quiz question. Replace {n} with the question number.

Teacher: “Question {n}… begin now! You have 30 seconds to write your answer.”

(After 15 seconds)
Teacher: “15 seconds remaining—keep writing!”

(When 5 seconds remain)
Teacher: “5… 4… 3… 2… 1… time’s up! Pens down.”

Sprint Start Countdown

Use these cues at the beginning of each 20 m sprint challenge.

Teacher: “On your marks…”
(Pause for 2 seconds)
Teacher: “Get set…”
(Pause for 1 second)
Teacher: “Go! Sprint!”

Feel free to add a whistle or beep at “Go!” for extra excitement.

Dynamic Stretch Sequence Warm-Up

Prepare to activate muscles, increase blood flow, and reduce injury risk. Perform each movement for 30 seconds, then transition immediately to the next. Ensure students have at least one arm’s length of space around them.

1. Jog in Place
   • Lift knees to waist height, pump arms.
   • Focus on steady breathing and soft foot landings.
2. High Knees
   • Raise right knee toward chest, then left—fast pace.
   • Keep core tight and land on ball of foot.
3. Butt Kicks
   • Kick heels up toward glutes, alternating legs.
   • Drive arms to match leg rhythm.
4. Leg Swings (Front-to-Back)
   • Hold a wall or partner for balance.
   • Swing right leg forward and back in control, then switch.
5. Leg Swings (Side-to-Side)
   • Face support, swing right leg across body and out.
   • Keep hips square, then repeat with left leg.
6. Walking Lunges with Twist
   • Step forward into lunge, twist torso toward front leg.
   • Push through front heel to stand and switch sides.
7. Arm Circles
   • Extend arms to sides at shoulder height.
   • Circle forward for 15 seconds, backward for 15 seconds.
8. Toy Soldiers (Straight-Leg March)
   • Keep legs straight, kick right leg up and touch with opposite hand.
   • Alternate quickly to activate hamstrings.

Safety Tips:

• Maintain soft knees—avoid locking joints.
• Control every movement—no bouncing or jerking.
• Watch surrounding space to prevent collisions.
• Hydrate before and after warm-up.

Let’s get moving and ready to sprint!

Quiz Feedback Notes

Use these detailed explanations to review answers and concepts with your students.

Question 1

Prompt: Which equation correctly represents how running speed is determined?

• Correct Answer: Stride length × Stride frequency
• Explanation:

1. Running speed depends on how far you cover per step (stride length) and how many steps you take per second (stride frequency).
2. Mathematically, speed = distance/time. Here, distance per step × steps per time unit = overall speed.
3. The other options mix unrelated variables (e.g., reaction time × acceleration is not a distance/time calculation).

Question 2

Prompt: What term describes the force exerted by the ground on an athlete’s foot during a sprint?

• Correct Answer: Ground reaction force
• Explanation:

1. By Newton’s third law, every action has an equal and opposite reaction: when your foot pushes on the ground, the ground pushes back.
2. That opposing force is called ground reaction force and is critical for propelling you forward.
3. Muscle force and joint angle describe internal mechanics, and inertia is resistance to change in motion, not the ground’s push.

Question 3

Prompt: In sprinting, which term refers to how quickly an athlete responds to the starting signal?

• Correct Answer: Reaction time
• Explanation:

1. Reaction time measures the delay between a stimulus (the starting gun or “Go!”) and your first physical response.
2. Acceleration is how fast you speed up after you respond, stride frequency is cadence, and velocity is overall speed after acceleration.

Question 4

Prompt: Which of the following best describes acceleration in the context of sprinting?

• Correct Answer: The rate at which speed increases after the start
• Explanation:

1. Acceleration quantifies how quickly you go from rest (or a low speed) to a higher speed.
2. It’s calculated as change in speed divided by change in time.
3. The other options describe top speed (maximum speed), stride length (distance per step), or stride frequency (steps per second).

Question 5

Prompt: Which training component is most likely to improve a sprinter’s agility?

• Correct Answer: Plyometric drills
• Explanation:

1. Agility involves rapid changes of direction and explosive power.
2. Plyometric exercises (e.g., jump squats, box jumps, lateral hops) develop fast-twitch muscle fibers and neuromuscular coordination.
3. Long-distance running builds endurance, static stretching improves flexibility, and low-intensity cycling develops aerobic fitness rather than quick directional changes.

Breathing & Reflection Cool-Down

1. Guided Breathing (2 minutes)

• Have students sit or stand comfortably with feet hip-width apart.
• Circle Breathing:
  1. Inhale slowly through the nose for 4 seconds.
  2. Hold your breath for 2 seconds.
  3. Exhale gently through the mouth for 6 seconds.
• Repeat this cycle 5 times, focusing on steady, controlled breaths.

2. Reflective Journaling (4 minutes)

Invite students to write brief responses to the questions below. Allow about 1 minute per prompt.

a. What was the most important thing you learned about your body’s mechanics during today’s sprint challenge?

b. Which concept (e.g., ground reaction force, stride frequency) surprised you the most, and why?

c. How will you apply one strategy discussed today to improve your future sprint times or agility drills?

Tip for Teachers: Circulate quietly to read reflections and provide encouraging feedback. Celebrate improvements and set goals for the next session!