Cup Stacking: Sport Stacking

Cup Stacking

For a free set of  Speedstacks and a DVD: Go to their teacher web site and fill out their online information. Click the Cup stacking picture (above), or the following link:

Speed Stacks Teacher Central

Basic Stacking Information

  • Introduction: The first day of cup-stacking is a DVD or smart board video if your students have not been previously  introduced. The DVD, videos  and other Sport-stacking items are available at the Speedstacks website. There are also many videos on  You Tube.

Teach Stacking in order of difficulty:

  • 3-3 Stack
  • 3-3-3 Stack
  • 6 Stack
  • 1-10-1 Stack

Six Stack -up stack

  • Start with 6 cups in front of you
  • Take 3 cups with your right and 2 cups with your left
  • Leave one cup down
  • Spread the cups apart with your fingers
  • Release the bottom cup of your right hand to the right of the center cup so you now have 2 cups left in that hand
  • Release the bottom cup with your left hand to the left of the center cup
  • Release the next cup from your right hand on top of the center
  • Set the cup on in the left hand next to it
  • Put the final cup on on top with right hand

6 Stack -Down stack

  • Place right hand on top cup and your left hand on the second cup on the left
  • Slide to the right with your right hand, at the same time slide left with your left hand
  • Take the 3 cups in your left hand and the 2 cups in your right hand and put them in one stack of 6 cups

Partner Challenge:

  • Sets of cups are needed for each students.
  • Students sit in pairs across from each other.
  • Teacher designates a stacking formation:
  • 3-3-3-3
  • 3-6-3
  • 1-10-1
  • Start in down-stack position.
  • Stand up when up-stacking and down-stacking are complete.
  • Teacher gives the accumulated time count after the first person is standing.

Around the Table

  • (Set up tables so four people to six people are able to stack at the same time)
  • Students stand behind a table in front of down-stacked cups.
  • Teacher designates a stacking formation:
  • 3-3-3-3
  • 3-6-3
  • 1-10-1
  • After upstacking and downstacking –
  • Rotate to the right and begin the next stack.
  • Continue until everyone is back to their starting position.

Shuttle Relay

  • Students stand in shuttle relay style.
  • Cups are set up in the middle of the gym with one stack for each team. (in line with their team position)
  • Teacher designates a stacking formation:
  • 3-3-3-3
  • 3-6-3
  • 1-10-1
  • On the signal, the first stacker runs to the middle and stacks up.
  • Then they run to their teammates on the opposite end of the gym and give them a “five”.
  • This stacker goes to the middle and down-stacks.
  • Continue until everyone is back to the starting position, or…
  • Set a time, such as 2 minutes and see how many stacks can be made in that amount of time.

Scooter Relay

  • Students are lined up in teams in relay style with a partner.
  • Each team has two scooters linked together.
  • Each team has downstacked cups in the middle of the gym floor and at the opposite end.
  • Two students from each team will take turns as the pusher and the rider.
  • One partner from each team is sitting on the scooter, with feet extended forward
  • The other partner (next in line) will be pushing.
  • One set of 6 cups is on middle gym line.
  • Three sets of three cups are at the opposite end of the gym.
  • Students are pushed on the scooters to the center stack – up-stack the three sets of three.
  • Then, travel to the opposite end and up-stack the 6 cup stack
  • Now partners switch places and the new “rider” will down-stack the same set of cups.
  • Return to the beginning of the line and pass the scooters to the next partners in line.
  • Continue until everyone has had a turn up-stacking and down-stacking.