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Assault courses have become super popular over the past few years. Most people associate them with the military and armed forces, but more recently, there have been plenty of events and fundraisers open to the public to test their mettle.
The great thing about assault courses is that they’re all different. Each test has a different skillset and agility, whether it’s climbing, swimming or overall stamina.
Today we’ll take a brief look at five obstacles you can add to a practice course or a full course if you run an activity centre or event.
1 – Crawl Netting
Getting participants to crawl under netting and mesh (usually through a wet, muddy puddle) is typically one of the first obstacles people come up against. It’s a great way to kick things off and get people in the spirit!
Creating a crawling obstacle from sports netting pulled tight between 4 posts is a quick and easy way to set up this classic assault course obstacle.
Crawling netting is also an excellent choice for an obstacle on its own. It requires no setup, and there’s little to break down at the end of the event, other than pulling up some t-barriers or cones around it if you’re using traffic barriers to set out your course.
2 – Rope Bridge
Depending on the level of assault course you’re running, this is a great challenge to add in. It’s not easy getting across, and it really tests balance! There are plenty of different ways to create a rope bridge – we’ve seen everything from tyres hanging between posts or posts with ropes attached that participants can use as support while crossing.
If this isn’t quite what you’re looking for, something like monkey bars over water might do the trick!
3 – Rock Climb
If your assault courses are going to take place on uneven terrain, why not add in some rocks for participants to climb up and over? It’s an easy obstacle to create and it adds a nice touch of variety.
You can buy climbing holds or make your own and attach them to the rocks for extra grip!
If you’re running courses at different locations each time, consider marking out where people need to climb, so there’s a bit of consistency from one event to the next.
4 – Swimming Pool or Lake Crossing
This is another great obstacle for courses that take place in uneven terrain – it’s especially good if you have a swimming pool or lake on site! It can be as simple as putting some planks or logs into the water to create a makeshift bridge, or you could go all out and install a proper swimming pool crossing!
Just be aware that this obstacle can add a bit of extra safety risk – make sure you have properly trained staff manning the course if it involves water.
5 – Cargo net
Cargo nets are a really great obstacle to add to an assault course. You can set them up pretty much anywhere there’s space, and they’re not too difficult for participants to get through!
If you’re using cargo nets, make sure they’re properly secured – participants don’t want to be coming down on top of each other as they go through!
Finishing Up
So there you have it – five great obstacles to add to your next assault course!
Remember that each one can be adapted to fit the level of challenge you’re after and don’t be afraid to get creative with how you set them up. Have fun designing your courses, and good luck out there on the field!
