Players: 6 or more; all levels
Where: Indoors in a gym
Equipment: Standard Skill list; paper and pencils to keep score (optional)
Assistants: 2 or more judges—riders or nonriders who have some knowledge about skills; Scorekeeper (optional)
Object:
To perform an assigned Standard Skill before an audience and judges.
Play:
One person is the Commander, who issues commands but doesn’t ride. Riders form groups of similar skill level. Each command may be given to any number of riders, depending on the number of participants, skill levels represented, and the time available.
The Commander announces a skill to one or more of the riders in a group, who then walk to the performance area, perform the skill, bow, and exit. For example: For a Level 2 rider, “Do two figure eights with arms extended.”
Riders perform the skill, following Standard Skill form. Judges and Commander watch to see if the skill is performed correctly. If not, the rider is eliminated for the rest of that round. The Commander continues to call out other riders and issue commands. Commands may include skills or tricks not on the Standard Skill list, though everyone must maintain correct body form.
Variations:
Skills could be prepared in advance, written on slips of paper, and drawn at random by the Commander. Skills would be classified by levels.
All riders could stay in the game rather than being eliminated. Instead, all riders could keep their own score, or a Scorekeeper could keep track.
If riders accomplish the skill perfectly in Standard Skill form, they get 3 points. If they accomplish the skill but not in perfect form, they get 2 points. If they can do a part of the skill successfully, they get 1 point. If they fall, they get no points but remain in the game. (Or players could be eliminated after one or two falls.)
The audience, including other riders, judges, and spectators, can participate by applauding.
Suggestions for Commands:
Beginning riders:
Ride across the room, turn, and ride back, with arms extended.
Do a standard mount, ride 10 revolutions with arms extended, dismount with unicycle in front.
Do a side mount, ride with stomach on seat 8 revolutions.
Intermediate riders:
Using the weaker foot, ride one-footed across the room, arms extended.
Ride backwards, 10 revolutions, arms extended.
Advanced riders:
Wheel walk, one-footed across the room, arms extended.
Leg-around mount to wheel walk 10 revolutions, to stand-up wheel walk 10 revolutions, in Standard Skill form.
Comments:
This game is similar to Olympics, but in that game the scoring isn’t intended to be too serious.
This game has a fairly simple scoring system, but the actual Standard Skill scoring system could be used as a way to prepare both riders and judges for the Standard Skill competition.
Contact: Carol McLean, unicyclecentral@hotmail.com