How to Make a Teeter Board

A teeter board is a piece of athletic equipment designed to improve balance. It can be used to train a gymnast, a skier or a dog. Like the playground seesaw it resembles, it is simply a board with a pivot point under it that tilts forward and backward or from side to side with weight shifts. The object is to become accustomed to a moving surface underfoot and learn how to use the body to start, stop and control the motion of the board. As with any learning process, start with limited motion and increase it with practice.

Things You'll Need

  • 2 sawhorses
  • 1 piece 1-inch plywood, 4 feet long by 2 feet wide
  • 1 piece indoor/outdoor carpet, 4 1/2 feet long by 2 1/2 feet wide
  • 1 can spray adhesive
  • Heavy scissors or utility knife
  • 44 slotted flat-head wood screws, 1/2-inch length
  • Screwdriver, slot blade, to fit screws
  • Tape measure
  • Pencil
  • 1 wood dowel or section of PVC pipe, 2 feet long (diameter optional)
  • 3 slotted flat-head wood screws, length = outside diameter of dowel or pipe plus ½ inch
  • Drill with bit matching diameter of long wood screws
  • Clamps to hold dowel or pipe
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Instructions

    • 1

      Place the plywood across the sawhorses.

    • 2

      Spray the upper surface of the plywood evenly with adhesive.

    • 3

      Lay the indoor/outdoor carpet on the plywood with equal overhang on all sides.

    • 4

      Smooth the carpet onto the wood so that it adheres completely, with no wrinkles or bubbles.

    • 5

      Turn the board and carpet over.

    • 6

      Fold the carpet margins over the back of the board and see where it overlaps.

    • 7

      Cut away a square of carpet with the scissors or utility knife at each corner of the board so that it does not overlap itself in any direction, trimming as necessary.

    • 8

      Spray adhesive around the edges of the back of the board for approximately 3 inches on all sides.

    • 9

      Pull the carpet snugly around the edge of the plywood on one side, press down to adhere and use wood screws to fasten it to the board 2 inches from the edge of the board, spacing the screws every 3 inches. Continue this until all four sides are fastened down securely. This provides a nonskid surface.

    • 10

      Leave the board face down and measure to find the center of the long sides. Mark this line with the pencil.

    • 11

      Lay the dowel or PVC pipe on the marked line so that the ends are even with the long sides of the board and clamp securely in place.

    • 12

      Measure and mark the center of the dowel or pipe. Measure and mark locations 1 inch from the end of the dowel or pipe on each side.

    • 13

      Drill pilot holes through the dowel or pipe and into the board at the marked locations.

      Insert the long wood screws into the pilot holes and tighten them to hold the dowel or pipe securely to the board.

    • 14

      Lay the board on the floor with the dowel or pipe down.

    • 15

      Stand on the board with one foot on each side of the center and shift your weight from one foot to the other to check the motion.