The purpose of this study was to consider the selection method employed for baton passing during sprint relays in high school physical education classes. Down sweep passing and up sweep passing were compared in terms of learning effect. The results obtained after dividing the students into 3 groups according to sprint capability, and examining the learning effect, were as follows. 1.  The group with a high sprint capability tended to use up-sweep passing because this allowed the baton to be passed while maintaining sprint speed. 2.  The groups with low and medium sprint capability low tended to use down-sweep passing over a free distance, because these groups found it difficult to maintain speed in the takeover zone.   These observations suggest that physical education classes can be made more productive by choosing a suitable baton pass method according to sprint ability.