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Silent Ball

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Group Size: 
Any size
Age Group: 
Pre K/K
Age Group: 
Grades 1-2
Age Group: 
Grades 3-5
Length of Activity: 
Under 10 minutes
Developmental Goal: 
To develop non-verbal communication and eye-hand coordination.
Equipment: 
Dodgeballs
Before You Start: 
  • Have players spread out  standing up in the available space.
  • Explain the rules of play and check for understanding with yes or no questions.
  • You will need one medium size ball, any that is appropriate for the players catching skill level.
How To Play: 
  • Leader counts down, “3, 2, 1, silent” and passes the ball to another person in the play area.
  • A player must sit down if:
    • S/he drops the ball.
    • S/he makes a bad pass.
    • They talk or make noise.
  • Play continues until only one person remains.
  • Last player standing gets to be first to throw the ball in the next round.
  • All players who were sitting may return to play at the start of a new round.
  • If game is progressing slowly, add a challenge by limiting time to throw, having all players take spread out, asking everyone to keep one hand behind their back at all times and so on.
Variations: 
  • For young, beginning players: Have youth sit or stand in a circle. See if they can pass the ball around the circle without anyone laughing or talking. Add more balls for a challenge round.
  • Silent Trees! Start with players sitting on the ground, when a player makes a mistake, s/he stands up and becomes a tree. Trees must remain planted, i.e they cannot move his/her feet. The tree can re-enter the game by deflecting or intercepting a pass. The person who was unsuccessful at making a pass becomes a tree.

Ultimate Ball

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Group Size: 
Large group (10 or more)
Age Group: 
Grades 3-5
Age Group: 
Grade 6+
Length of Activity: 
10 minutes or more
Equipment: 
Cones
Equipment: 
Dodgeballs
Before You Start: 

Equipment needed: One medium size ball. A soft dodgeball is perfect.

  • Use the cones to create boundaries for a field with two end zones.
  • Divide the players into two even teams.
  • Explain the rules and have players explain them back to you.
  • Have one player from each team do Ro Sham Bo (also called Rock Paper Scissors) to determine who will have possession first.
  • Line both teams up on each baseline of the field.
Set Up: 
Mark off a large open playing field in the shape of a rectangle with cones.
How To Play: 
  • On the leader’s signal, the team starting on defense throws the ball to the offensive team.
  • One player from the offense either catches the ball or picks it up where it lands, and tries to pass it to one of his/her teammates.
  • When anyone on either team has the ball, s/he can only use one foot to move, pivoting around the other foot which must be planted on the ground. They cannot take steps or run with the ball.
  • The offense tries to advance the ball down the field with passes, and scores a point if one of the team members catches the ball in the end zone.
  • The defense tries to block or knock down the ball to gain possession. If a ball is knocked down or intercepted, play of the game is switched and the defense now becomes the offense, heading toward their end zone.
  • Players may not touch each other, even while playing defense and must keep a safe distance from the player with the ball.
Variations: 
  • Use different colored jerseys if necessary to clarify the teams, as directions change often in this game and players may get confused.
  • For those just learning the game, allow one or two steps when they are throwing the ball.
  • Change the ball to a football, making it a lead-up game to Football.
  • Change the ball to a frisbee for more skilled players. This game is called Ultimate Frisbee.

Hantis

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Group Size: 
Any size
Age Group: 
Grades 3-5
Age Group: 
Grade 6+
Length of Activity: 
10 minutes or more
Developmental Goal: 
Team-work, hand-eye coordination, agility, ambidexterity, creativity.
Equipment: 
Tennis Balls
Before You Start: 
  • Determine which ball to use. Beginners may need a small playground ball. Experts need a tennis ball to play.
  • Explain the goal of the game, possessions, outs, rotation and serve.
  • Encourage a hands-on approach to learning the game.
Set Up: 
Spread the four tables one yard evenly apart from each other in a rectangle formation. Provide enough space around the entire outside of the tables to allow for movement.
How To Play: 

Hantis is a unique game because players can hit the ball twice and with any part of the body.

Goal:

  • The goal of any Hantis game is to make a player on the opposing team out.

Possession:

  • During a possession of play, each player on a team is allowed one table hit and two personal hits. Change of possession occurs when a ball hits an opposing table or player.

Outs:

  • There are the five total ways to make an out:
    • An out occurs when...
      • The ball hits the player's table and hits the ground.
      • The ball hits the player and hits the ground.
      • The ball is cupped.
      • The ball hits the player's table 2 times in a possession.
      • The ball hits the player 3 times in a possession.

Rotation:

  • Just like in four-square, when a player gets out, they go to the back of the line.
  • The first person in line takes Table 1 and the other three players rotate toward the serving table. This rotation gets everyone involved quickly and allows for teammates to change almost every play.
  • Players waiting in line can socialize and enjoy the action.

Serve:

  • This is very similar to a serve in ping-pong. In a proper serve, the ball must first hit the server's hand, hit off the serving table, and then into the other team's possession.


Video:

Variations: 
  • Use a small playground ball for beginning players.
  • For even more fun, encourage players to use their imagination and create tricks: Alley-oop passing, behind the back shots, between the legs, heading the ball, etc.
  • If the ball bounces off a neutral surface (i.e. desks, chairs, trees, walls, benches, etc.), but does not hit the ground, it is still in play. The use of these neutral surfaces can lead to some intense and crazy volleys.



Creator/Author:
Hantis was created by Thaxton Marshall, Ben Fartherree and Jason Johns. Find out more at Hantis.net.

 

Chewbacca

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Group Size: 
Large group (10 or more)
Age Group: 
Grades 1-2
Age Group: 
Grades 3-5
Length of Activity: 
10 minutes or more
Developmental Goal: 
To develop hand-eye coordination, teamwork and verbal communication
Equipment: 
Bouncy Balls
Equipment: 
Cones
Before You Start: 
  • Inform players:
    • They must keep at least one foot on their goal line or they must go to the end of the line.
    • They may only hit the ball with their hands.
    • The ball must remain on the ground.
Set Up: 
Place four cones in a square formation approximately the size of a four square court.
How To Play: 
  • Players form one line outside the square.
  • The first two (or three with a larger group) players become a team and go to one side of the square.
  • The second two players forms a team and go to the next side, and so-on.
  • Each team is responsible for protecting their goal which is the length of their side of the square.
  • When a ball passes over a sideline, that team goes to the end of the line and the scoring team earns a point.
  • When a team reaches five points they go to the end of the line.
  • Play begins when the ball is tossed into the air and the ball bounces three times while players yell "Chew-ba-ca!"
  • Teams are not meant to stay the same throughout the game. Players should mix up as the return for their second, third, fourth (and so on) turns.

 

Variations: 
 

Creator/Author:
Orchard Gardens Pilot School Playworks After School Program in Boston, MA

 

Castle Ball

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Group Size: 
Large group (10 or more)
Age Group: 
Grades 3-5
Age Group: 
Grade 6+
Length of Activity: 
10 minutes or more
Developmental Goal: 
To practice working together as a team while playing both offense and defense.
Equipment: 
Cones
Equipment: 
Dodgeballs
Equipment: 
Hula Hoops
Equipment: 
Jerseys
Before You Start: 
Skills Practiced:  Running, accuracy, hand eye coordination and spatial awareness.
  • Split the group into two teams.
  • Identify the play area (large enough for players to run) so that everyone understands the boundaries.
  • Tell players that Castle Ball is like building a “house of cards” out of four to six hula hoops or cones. The structure will stand on its own but will fall when a ball strikes any part of it.
  • Begin by showing the players how to build a castle. Teams can place one hula hoop on the floor and use four hula hoops to form the sides, adding another one on the top.
  • Allow players to practice building castles until they can do it themselves.
  • Demonstrate safe throws--low to the ground so that it can hit the castle and avoids other players' faces.
 
Set Up: 
Use cones to mark clear boundaries for play--a large rectangle that is split in the middle, such as a basketball court.
How To Play: 
  • Play begins with both teams have built one (or more depending on number of players and hula hoops) castles on their side of the play area.
  • Soft foam dodgeballs--approximately one ball per five players or as available--are used to attempt to knock down the other team's castle while protecting your own.
  • One point is awarded each time a castle is knocked down, even if a player bumps into his/her own castle.
  • Castles that are knocked down should be set up as quickly as possible so players can continue playing. The other team may not throw at a castle while it is being built.
  • The game is separated by a center line, which players cannot cross to retrieve a ball.
  • Players should be encouraged to pass the ball to teammates to surprise the defenders or to make sure everyone gets to throw the ball. 
  • In defending the castle, players should be alert, on the balls of their feet, and cooperate with their teammates to form strategies that will best defend their “castles”.
  • Once all castles are knocked down a new round is started.
Variations: 
  • If many hula hoops are available and teams are large, have each team maintain 2-3 castles.
  • If a lot of space is available, you can have multiple games going on at the same time, with teams of three-on-three or four-on-four.  
  • Add additional balls.

Alternative Name of the Game: Sandcastle

 

Over Under

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Group Size: 
Large group (10 or more)
Age Group: 
Grades 1-2
Age Group: 
Grades 3-5
Length of Activity: 
10 minutes or more
Developmental Goal: 
To develop cooperation and teamwork.
Equipment: 
Bouncy Balls
Before You Start: 
Skills Practiced: Running, passing and receiving. 
Equipment Needed: One ball per team (teams of eight to ten students).
 
  • Have students line up behind each other in groups of eight to ten, spreading out one arm’s length distance apart. 
  • Demonstrate how to pass the ball over someone’s head then under someone’s legs.
  • Give the person in front of the line a ball.
Set Up: 
Designate a start and finish line.
How To Play: 
  • The object of the game is for the group to pass back the ball either over their head or under their legs, alternating methods with each person (first person passes over their head, second person passes under their legs, third person over their head and so on). 
  • When the last person in line gets the ball, he or she runs/skips/jumps/etc. to the front of the line and starts passing the ball back again. 
  • Play until the students reach a finishing point (the line should have moved up with each new start) or until a specific number of turns. 
Variations: 
  • Have students shut their eyes while they are passing and receiving the ball. 
  • Play with a basketball where the players must take (or make!) a shot at a basket before returning to the front of the line. 
  • Add dribbling challenges such as left/right hand only or pivoting before passing the ball back. 
  • Play with a soccer ball and add similar challenges.

Drop and Hit 2-Square

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Group Size: 
Small Group (1-10)
Group Size: 
Large group (10 or more)
Age Group: 
Pre K/K
Age Group: 
Grades 1-2
Age Group: 
Grades 3-5
Length of Activity: 
10 minutes or more
Developmental Goal: 
To develop hand-eye coordination.
Equipment: 
Bouncy Balls
Before You Start: 
Skills Practiced:  Underhand and overhand ball hitting.
 
Equipment Needed:  Enough standard rubber playground balls for each pair.
  • Pair off the players
  • Explain the under hand position for hitting the ball.
  • Have two students volunteer to help demonstrate. 
  • Point out various rules and directions. 
  • Review the rules and ask students to repeat them back to you.
 
Set Up: 
Use the four square courts or create two adjacent boxes approximately five feet square with chalk or rope.
How To Play: 
  • The game begins when one player serves the ball. They let the ball bounce once and then hit it into their partners box. 
  • The receiving player must let the ball bounce once and then return it. 
Play continues until the ball:
  • Is hit outside the square.
  • Bounces twice before it is returned.
  • Is not allowed to bounce.
  • Is hit onto a line.
  • Is carried or held.
 
  • If there are only two students, the server is the player who did stop the play. 
  • If there are players waiting in line, the player who stopped the play goes to the end of the line and the next player comes in. 
Variations: 
  • Allow older students to add a limited number of more complex rules, i.e. “blackjacks”, “double-hits”.
  • These rules should be clear and agreed upon before the game begins.

Catch and Drop

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Group Size: 
Small Group (1-10)
Age Group: 
Pre K/K
Age Group: 
Grades 1-2
Length of Activity: 
10 minutes or more
Developmental Goal: 
To develop hand-eye coordination.
Equipment: 
Bouncy Balls
Before You Start: 
Skills Practiced:  Underhand and overhand ball hitting, ball placement and agility.
 
Equipment Needed:  Enough standard rubber playground balls for each group.
 
  • Explain how to hit the ball and where to place the ball.
  • Use student volunteers to demonstrate. 
  • Point out various rules and directions. 
  • Choose several volunteer groups to demonstrate before having everyone begin.
  • Ask students how many bounces can occur in their square and to name three ways that play can be stopped.
 
Set Up: 
Use the four-square courts on the playground and/or draw new courts with chalk if needed.
How To Play: 
  • The game begins when one player serves the ball. 
  • Players let the ball bounce once and then hit it into a different player’s box. 
  • The receiving player must let the ball bounce once, and then s/he may catch it before s/he returns the ball.
Play continues until the ball:
  • Is hit outside the square.
  • Bounces twice before it is returned.
  • Is not allowed to bounce.
  • Is hit onto a line
 
  • When a player stops the play, s/he goes to the end of the line and a new player comes in square D and remaining players close the gaps, moving up as necessary.
 
Variations: 
  • Instead of allowing a catch before the ball is returned, you can allow a variety of different techniques before each player returns the ball. 
  • Examples are bubbles or spins.

Wall Ball

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Group Size: 
Small Group (1-10)
Group Size: 
Large group (10 or more)
Age Group: 
Grades 1-2
Age Group: 
Grades 3-5
Length of Activity: 
10 minutes or more
Developmental Goal: 
To develop basic ball handling skills and hand-eye coordination.
Equipment: 
Bouncy Balls
Before You Start: 
Skills Practiced: Underhand and overhand ball hitting and agility.
 
Equipment Needed:  Enough standard rubber playground balls for each group.
 
  • Demonstrate how to hit the ball against the wall.
  • Choose students to help demonstrate game.  
  • As they play, point out various rules and directions.
  • Ask students to explain the boundaries and how to hit the ball.
 
Set Up: 
Use a play area with a smooth, wide wall and marked boundaries are helpful.
How To Play: 
  • The game begins when one player serves the ball by hitting the ball towards the wall. 
  • The ball must bounce one time on the ground before it reaches the wall. 
  • The receiving player must let the ball hit the wall and bounce once before returning it.  
  • The player can then return the ball by hitting it and reaching the wall in one bounce off the ground. 

Play continues until the ball:

  • Bounces outside the boundaries.
  • Hits the wall without bouncing off the ground.
  • Bounces twice before it is returned.
  • Is not allowed to bounce.
  • Hits a line.
 
  • When a player stops the play, s/he goes to the end of the line and a new player comes into the game.
  • The remaining player is the server and begins the next game.
Variations: 
  • After play has advanced past this basic game, players can add special rules. For example, instead of requiring one bounce before returning the ball, a player could allow returns before the ball bounces as well as on a single bounce.
 

Dodgeball

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Group Size: 
Large group (10 or more)
Age Group: 
Pre K/K
Age Group: 
Grades 1-2
Age Group: 
Grades 3-5
Length of Activity: 
10 minutes or more
Developmental Goal: 
To develop teamwork and hand-eye coordination.
Equipment: 
Bouncy Balls
Before You Start: 
Skills Practiced:  Throwing, catching, rolling, running, evasion, agility and body and spatial awareness.
 
Equipment Needed:  Several playground balls.
 
  • A standard dodgeball court is a 40 yard by 20 yard rectangle with a center line dividing it into two squares. 
  • Identify a waiting area on each side of the court along the sidelines for each team.
  • An approximate court size for kindergarteners is 20 yards by 10 yards. (Increase the size as students age and skill level improves and as space allows.)
How To Play: 
  • After a signal to start, students throw the balls back and forth across the center line.
  • All students try to avoid being hit with the ball while trying to hit the opposing teams’ players from the waist down.
  • If the ball hits an opposing student from the waist down (including a hand or arm that is below waist level) before the ball hits the ground, the hit student must go to the waiting zone on their side of the court.
  • If a student catches a ball thrown by an opposing team’s student before that ball hits the ground, the player who threw the ball must go to the waiting zone on their side of the court.
  • If a student attempts to catch an opposing team’s throw and drops it, the student who dropped the ball has to go to the waiting zone on their side of the court.
  • If a student goes outside the boundaries while trying to avoid being hit, s/he must go to the waiting zone on their side of the court.
  • Students in the waiting zone should stay in line by the order in which they got to the zone. One student may re-enter the game when a teammate catches a ball before it bounces. 
  • A ball which has gone out of bounds can only be retrieved by the students on the side from which the ball went out of play.
  • The round is over when one team has all the students from the other team in the waiting zone. 
Variations: 
  • To start the game, place all playground balls on the center line.
  • Students line up on their team’s end line, and on a signal, run to the middle trying to get a ball.
  • To ensure safety, create a buffer zone in which students cannot get hit about four feet from the center line for each team.
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