Through the Hoop! | A Perfect Minor Game for PE and Classroom Teamwork

Looking for a reliable team-building game that actually works with your class or group? Through the Hoop has been one of my go-to activities for years as a teacher especially at the start of a new unit when I want to build connection, energy, and cooperation right away. It uses minimal equipment, but the engagement it creates is huge. Students from Year 3 all the way to high school love it, and it never fails to get everyone moving, thinking, and working together.

Whether you’re teaching a PE lesson, running a classroom brain break, or leading a group workshop, Through the Hoop is a low-prep, high-impact minor game that encourages communication, teamwork, and plenty of laughs. If you’re a teacher, coach, or youth leader, this one’s definitely worth adding to your toolkit.

What Do You Need?

Hula hoops
Open space

What Is The Goal Of The Game?

To get the hoop around the circle as many times as you can before the time is up and without breaking the link

How Do You Play?

This fun team-building game can be played with the whole class or in smaller groups. Since students will be holding hands throughout the activity, I usually separate the class into male and female groups for comfort and smoother gameplay.
Ask each group to form a circle and link hands with the person next to them.
Choose one student in each circle to begin with the hoop. Carefully slide the hoop over one of their arms before they join hands, so that the hoop is resting on their arm when they complete the hand-hold with their neighbor.
Ensure that all students understand the key rule:they must not break the chain of hands at any point during the game.
When everyone is ready, the teacher blows the whistle to signal the start.
Teams must now work together to move the hoop all the way around the circle going over heads, under legs, and twisting through as needed, all while keeping their hands tightly clasped.
If any student lets go, the group must restart from the beginning.
The goal is to pass the hoop around the circle as many times as possible within the set time limit. The team with the most full rotations wins!

How Can You Modify It?

Make it easier!

Use bigger hoops
Allow students 2 chances

Make it Harder!

Add multiple hoops
Make students move hoops in different directions
Students are not allowed to talk

Why Is It Such A Useful Game?

In a new class, students can often be shy and hesitant to interact. That’s why starting with an effective icebreaker is so important and Through the Hoop is one of the best for physical education. Unlike many typical icebreakers, this game gets students moving right away and requires them to work closely with their teammates to pass the hula hoop around the circle without breaking their handhold.

The key to success is teamwork. Students must cooperate with the peers next to them by bending, lifting, communicating, and coordinating their movements. Without that support, it’s nearly impossible to move the hoop around effectively and that’s exactly what makes this game such a powerful team-building activity.

There’s also a built-in sense of urgency and friendly competition that brings energy to the room. It quickly transforms a quiet, reserved group into a loud, laughing, and cheering team. I’ve seen it time and time again shy students start smiling, barriers break down, and the group begins to gel. It’s a fun, fast-paced way to kick off a PE lesson, and it also opens the door for meaningful discussion about teamwork, mutual support, and how success in physical education often relies on working together.