Ankle-Tied Bear Crawl Race | Friends

Quick Intro

The Ankle-Tied Bear Crawl Race is a three-legged race on hands and feet. Two partners get into a bear crawl side by side, with their inside ankles loosely joined by a soft strap. On the start signal they crawl forward together over a short distance, five to eight metres, moving the linked legs as one. The first pair to the finish, or the pair with the fastest time, wins.

The bear crawl itself, with the knees hovering just off the floor, the back flat and opposite hand and foot moving together, is taught at Bear Crawl. This guide covers crawling while tied to someone: setting the strap, agreeing a rhythm for the linked legs and keeping a fast race from turning into a pile-up.

What You’ll Need

A soft strap, a folded resistance band or a wide piece of cloth to link the ankles. Never anything thin or hard that could dig in.
A flat, clear, non-slip surface such as grass, a gym floor or turf.
Cones or tape for a start and finish five to eight metres apart.
At least two pairs, or a stopwatch to race your own best time.

How It Works

Kneel side by side, close enough that your inside ankles touch.
Tie the strap loosely round both inside ankles, just above the ankle bone. Two fingers should slide in easily.
Both partners place the hands on the ground under the shoulders and lift the knees just off the floor.
Agree a rhythm for the linked legs. Most pairs call “in” for the tied legs and “out” for the free legs, moving them together on each call.
On “go”, crawl forward, moving the linked legs together and keeping the hands roughly in step.
Cross the finish line with both partners. The pair finishes when both are over.

For Each Partner

One voice. One partner calls the rhythm, at least at first. Two people calling at once becomes noise.

Small steps. Short hand and foot movements keep the linked legs together. Long reaches drag the strap.

Match your partner. If they slow, slow with them. Pulling ahead tugs the strap, which is the most common way pairs fall.

No pulling on the linked ankle to win or to correct your partner’s rhythm.

What the Partner Changes

A bear crawl alone lets each person pick their own stride. With the ankles tied, two people have to share a pace and a stride length, and the inside legs can only move together. That makes the crawl slower and more deliberate, and turns it into a coordination test as much as a strength one. Like the Three-Legged Race, the pair that talks and stays in rhythm usually beats the pair that is simply faster.

What Counts

The pair wins together. Both have to cross the line.
The knees stay off the floor. A pair that drops to the knees stops, lifts the knees again and carries on.
If the strap comes loose, stop, retie it and carry on.

How Far

Five to eight metres only. The race is very hard on the shoulders and short distances keep it clean. Two or three races with full rest between is plenty.

Making It Fair

The coordination demand is the same for everyone, so a fitter pair does not win automatically. If one pair is clearly mismatched against another, give them a shorter distance.

Staying Safe

Short distance only, five to eight metres.
Flat, clear, non-slip surface.
A soft, loose strap. Untie it at once if anyone falls.
Stop if either partner’s shoulders start to shake from fatigue. Do not push through.

Common Mistakes

Rushing the start. The first few steps set the rhythm. Go slowly, then build.
Long strides. Short steps keep the strap slack.
Knees on the floor. Keep them hovering.
Looking down at the feet. Look a short way ahead to keep the back flat.

Fitting It Into a Session

Use it as a fun finisher or a team game at the end of a session. It is short and demanding, so it does not need to be long.

Three-Legged Race is the upright version.
Bear Crawl Tag is a bear crawl chasing game.
Partner-Resisted Bear Crawl adds a partner’s resistance to the crawl.

FAQ

Which legs are tied?

The inside legs, the ones next to your partner.

Should we crawl with the same hand forward?

The linked legs move together. Most pairs find the hands follow naturally. If they keep clashing, take shorter steps.

Can three people do it?

It is designed for two. Adding a third makes the linked legs much harder to coordinate.