Back to school Sporti France gear

Cups, cones and markers: marking the play area

Marking is the foundation of a group session. The cups, soft and flat, can be placed on grass, synthetic surfaces or wooden floors without risk if a child steps on them: sold in packs of several dozen, in bright colours, they mark the boundaries of a field, the zones of a workshop, or the lanes of a race. When stacked on their holder, they are easy to transport in one go.

The cones, taller, are visible from afar and are used for slaloms, ball control gates, and relay starts; the models about ten-eight centimetres high remain soft enough to avoid injury in case of a fall. The soft markers complete the set to indicate a target or a point of passage.

Reversible and numbered bibs for team formation

The bib quickly resolves the question of teams: worn over a t-shirt, it distinguishes two camps without changing outfit. The reversible models offer two colours in one, allowing for reshaping teams on the fly by flipping it, and the numbered versions make rotations, substitutions, and calling players during a tournament easier.

A lightweight and airy mesh prevents overheating in the hall, and a loose fit can be worn by both a seven-year-old and a teenager. Choosing two or three bold colours, always the same from one year to the next, allows for the completion of series as needs arise without mismatching sets.

Foam balls and multi-sports kits

The foam balls allow younger children to play without fear: lightweight and soft, they do not hurt on impact and bounce less quickly than an inflated ball, providing time to react. The soft foams covered in a smooth skin resist scratches better and can be cleaned with a quick wipe, a bonus for outdoor use. Classic sports balls, in smaller sizes, then take over as the action becomes more precise.

The multi-sports kits combine in one bag the markers, bibs, and balls, making it easy to set up a series of activities without having to buy everything separately. Other brands of back-to-school equipment can be found on the training equipment and gear page.

Motor skills courses: hoops, cones, and ground markers

With the younger children, the equipment is mainly used to build motor skills courses. The hoops laid on the ground become spots for jumping with both feet or on one foot, the cones connected by a plank form small hurdles to jump over, and the aligned cups create a line to follow while balancing or sidestepping. Each workshop is identified by a colour, which helps the children orient themselves independently.

For a group of about twenty students, four to five workshops of three to four minutes, linked in rotation, limit waiting and keep attention. The bright colours of the equipment also serve as visual cues: start at the yellow cone, return through the red hoop.

Maintenance and storage of collective equipment

Well-organised equipment lasts several years. The cups and cones should be rinsed with clear water after a session on muddy ground, then stacked for storage, away from sunlight which can harden and discolour the plastic. The bibs should be washed by colour, at thirty degrees, and dried flat to prevent odours in the bag during transport.

The balls should be inflated to the pressure marked near the valve, using a moistened needle to avoid damage. An inventory in June, bag by bag, helps to complete missing sets before the next term, when orders from schools and clubs peak over a few weeks.

Frequently asked questions

How many cups should be prepared for a class?

A pack of forty cups is enough to mark two small fields or four distinct workshops. With several colours, each area can be identified at a glance, and children more easily remember placement instructions.

What size bib for children?

There are bibs in child and adult sizes: a child size covers the torso without going down to the knees, preventing tripping. For a group of mixed ages, the intermediate size, loose-fitting, suits most.

What ball for a preschool child?

A lightweight foam ball, about fifteen to twenty centimetres in diameter, can be easily held with two hands and does not scare on impact. It allows for practice with throws, catches, and foot strikes without risk, both indoors and outside.

Is this equipment suitable for football clubs?

Yes, cups, cones, bibs, and markers are the basis for any training session in a club: warm-ups, technical workshops, small games. The same items are also used in handball, basketball, or rugby, making the purchase worthwhile for a multi-sport association.

How to transport the equipment from one session to another?

A large bag with a drawstring or a ball net keeps bibs and balls together, and the cups stack on a holder with a handle. Storing each session in the same order prevents leaving an item behind on the pitch or in the gym.