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Three Lines Soccer

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Group Size: 
Large group (10 or more)
Age Group: 
Grades 1-2
Age Group: 
Grades 3-5
Age Group: 
Grade 6+
Length of Activity: 
10 minutes or more
Developmental Goal: 
To develop teamwork and communication.
Equipment: 
Cones
Before You Start: 

Skills Practiced: Dribbling, kicking, trapping, shooting and passing.

Equipment Needed: One soccer ball, three cones, two soccer goals (or four more cone to form a goal) and marked boundaries.

  • Explain the rules of the game and the basic rules of soccer.
  • Ask the players to explain the rules of play back to you.
Set Up: 
Place three cones along one sideline of a field, mark boundaries and position soccer goals on either end.
How To Play: 
  • Have everyone stand in three single-file lines, one behind each cone. 
  • The first player in each line steps onto the field and form a team of three.
  • The second player in each line steps onto the other side of the field and form a team of three.
  • One player from each team plays a game of Rock-Paper-Scissors to determine who will kick off.
  • Other players in line wait their turn to play while cheering.
  • The object of the game is to be the first team to score.

The following rules apply:

  • When a point is scored, that team stays on the field and the next three in line step on the field as a team. This oncoming team gets to kick off the ball.
  • The team that did not score returns to the end of their respective line. 
  • After a set time frame if a point is not scored, have players waiting in line count down from ten, nine, eight, etc.
  • If a team wins three times in a row they have earned three claps and return to the end of the line.
Variations: 
  • Players must pass the ball to every teammate before they score.
  • Play with just one goal. Teams who steal the ball while on defense must pass the ball one or more times before they can shoot.

Basketball ‘Playworks’

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Group Size: 
Small Group (1-10)
Age Group: 
Grades 1-2
Age Group: 
Grades 3-5
Age Group: 
Grade 6+
Length of Activity: 
10 minutes or more
Developmental Goal: 
To develop concentration skills, eye-hand coordination, and depth perception.
Equipment: 
Basketballs
Before You Start: 
  • Give each student a number (for example: #1 thru #8 if there are eight players)
  • Explain that each student will be shooting on their own and no one will be playing defense on the shooters.
    • #2 player will rebound #1’s shot, #3 will rebound #2’s shot and so on. #1 will rebound the last #’s shot.
Set Up: 

Have all players line up on the free throw line or sideline to start.

How To Play: 
  • #1 will take a shot from the free throw line. #2 will then have to rebound that shot, whether it goes in or not, before the ball bounces two times on the court. If the ball bounces more than once, that rebounding student (#2) gets the first letter “P” of PLAYWORKS (each sequential time the ball bounces more than once, the rebounding student gets the next letter of PLAYWORKS).
  • #2 freezes wherever s/he is able to rebound the ball (even if s/he is off the court – there are no line boundaries).
  • #2 can take up to three steps from where s/he rebounds the ball, and then takes a shot.
  • #3 then goes for the rebound through the same process.
  • The first person to spell out all the letters of PLAYWORKS is out and has to do a task (like 20 jumping jacks, 2 laps around the yard, etc.) before getting back in the game.
  • In between shots, the rebounder waits wherever s/he took his/her last shot (if standing/waiting students need to move a little to get out of the way of a rebounder that’s okay)
  • The ball must hit a part of the backboard or rim (not just the net) for the shot to count. If the ball does not hit part of the backboard or rim, the shooter shoots again.
Variations: 
  • For younger students, allow the ball to bounce two times before getting a letter
  • Shorten the word to “PLAY” for a shorter game
  • If a student rebounds the ball before it bounces at all, s/he can erase the last letter that s/he got
  • If a player makes a shot, s/he can erase the last letter that s/he got

Kick-Basket-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 develop communication, teamwork, eye-hand and eye-foot coordination.
Equipment: 
Basketballs
Equipment: 
Cones
Equipment: 
Kickballs
Before You Start: 
  • Offensive team lines up behind the basket, second player in line is the thrower holding the second ball
  • The fielding team spreads out on the field as in baseball, one player being the pitcher, and one being the shooter
  • Demonstrate when and where to make a basket for both teams
Set Up: 

Lay out the playing field as in the diagram.

How To Play: 
  • At the start of each player’s turn, the pitcher gets one ball and the offensive team’s thrower gets the other
  • Play begins with the pitcher rolling the ball to the kicker
  • The kicker kicks the ball and has to run all four bases
  • Before running home the runner must make a basket, taking as many shots as needed to make one
  • The thrower for the offensive team can throw the ball to the base runner (the kicker) after he or she has rounded third base
  • After the base runner (the kicker) makes a basket, s/he runs home
  • The thrower then becomes the next kicker, and the next person becomes the thrower
  • Meanwhile, players on the fielding team must retrieve the kicked ball and throw it to first base, second base and third base
  • Third baseman throws the ball to the designated team shooter, who shoots a basket, taking as many shots as needed to make one
  • If the kicking team scores a basket first, the team gets a point. If the fielding team makes a basket first, it is an out against the kicking team
  • Once both teams are shooting, everyone is counting down 10 seconds at which the turn is over.
Variations: 
  • Rather than having outs, first team to make a basket gets a point.

Multi-Ball

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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 understanding of the structure of a kickball field and team play.
Equipment: 
Bases
Equipment: 
Footballs
Equipment: 
Frisbee
Equipment: 
Kickballs
Before You Start: 

Skills Practiced: Kicking, catching, running, throwing, fielding, understanding a batting order, strategy, and memory.

  • On a traditional kickball field, place a kickball, football, and frisbee at home-base.
  • Mark the outfield with enough numbers for half the group.
    • The numbers should designate outfield play positions.
  • Discuss the importance of staying at your position, calling your ball and, if necessary, passing the ball or equipment to teammates in the outfield.
  • Be prepared to discuss staying in your kicking order for players in the infield.
  • Explain the rules and then ask students to explain the game back to you.
How To Play: 
  • Divide the group into infield and outfield teams and give each child on each team a number.
  • The numbers denote the kicking order and their positions in the outfield.
  • Kickers come up to home plate one at a time.
    • They can kick the kickball into the field, punt the football or throw the frisbee.
    • Then, the student runs around the bases continuously.
  • The fielders retrieve the equipment, pass them infield and put them on their appropriate bases;
    • kickball 1st, football 2nd, Frisbee 3rd.
    • The fielders are trying to quickly place the equipment before the runner reaches home-base.
    • If the runner gets home first that’s a point scored.
  • Remind students to be careful about base-blocking and stepping on equipment when running the bases. 

 

Variations: 
  • Add more equipment choices.
  • Equipment retrieved can all be placed at the pitcher’s mound.
  • Use three regular playground balls, and let the students kick, throw, or punt all three.

Trick ‘O Treat

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Group Size: 
Large group (10 or more)
Age Group: 
Grades 1-2
Age Group: 
Grades 3-5
Age Group: 
Grade 6+
Length of Activity: 
10 minutes or more
Developmental Goal: 
Cooperation, teamwork, geographic orientation, sense of boundaries
Equipment: 
Basketballs
Equipment: 
Bouncy Balls
Equipment: 
Dodgeballs
Equipment: 
Hula Hoops
Equipment: 
Kickballs
Before You Start: 
  • Divide students up into 4 groups. There should be a minimum of 4 students/group, and a maximum of 10-11.
    • If there are not enough for 4 students/group, divide students into 2, or 3 groups, instead. Remember to decrease amount of balls according to number of teams.
  • Have each team line up behind each base. The base they are lined up behind is their home base. Their home base is also the door to the house with the treats (“balls”) they want to grab before they run out.
  • Assign a number to each student (in a similar fashion to “Steal the Bacon”)
    • If teams are not even, have as many students as you need to be multiple numbers so that each student is assigned at least one number.
Set Up: 

Ideal play space is a kickball diamond, with the balls set up in the middle of the diamond. If a kickball diamond is not present, a triangle or diamond can be set up using cones as boundaries. It is recommended that a hula-hoop be used as a guard around the balls to keep them from rolling away. There should always be one ball less than team (i.e. 4 teams = 3 balls, 3 teams = 2 balls).

How To Play: 
  • Each team begins with a line behind their home base. All team members should be prepared to run in the direction of a regular kickball home run (counterclockwise).
    • Note: All students from each team should be running the same direction
  • At the blow of the whistle, adult calls out a number. Students whose number is called must run a home run back to their home base without cutting any corners.
    • Preventing cutting corners: Attach a consequence like 5 jumping jacks for each cut corner.
    • Passing: If student catches up to another, they must pass from the outside around the other student. 
  • When student returns to their home base, they must touch it to indicate they have “rang the doorbell” to enter and grab a treat. Once they touch their home base they are allowed to run inside the house and grab the “treats” in the middle.
    • Note: Each student can only grab one ball each round.
  • Once all balls have been grabbed, the last student without the “treat” is “tricked”, and his/her team receives a point. The team with the least amount of points wins.

Strategy Kickball

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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 the capacity for team play and strategy.
Equipment: 
Bases
Equipment: 
Chalk
Equipment: 
Cones
Equipment: 
Kickballs
Before You Start: 
  • The field is set up in a rectangle with four large bases.
  • A cone is placed in the center of one width of the rectangle, between 'fourth' base and first base.
  • Be prepared to review calling your ball and fair play.
  • Also be prepared to divide the group into two teams and set a kicking order.
  • Demonstrate running the bases and throwing below the waist.
  • Ask the students to explain the game back to you.

 

How To Play: 
  • The point of the game is to kick the ball and run the bases 2x and touch home without being called out. Have your team score as many points as possible. The following are the steps to playing the game:
  • The kicker kicks the pitch at the cone (home), and then runs the bases.
    • 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, then back to 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and then home.
    • The kickers, once they have begun to run the bases, can run at any time during play.
  • The runners can get “out” in the following ways:
    • If a fly ball is caught by the fielding team.
    • The runner is tagged with the ball while between bases.
  • If the ball hits the player above the waist, s/he gets a free walk home and a point for the kicking team.
  • There are no foul balls but players are not allowed to kick the ball backwards.
  • Once a team has 5 outs or a 5 minute inning has gone by, they switch sides. 

 

Variations: 
  • All play stops when the pitcher has the ball.
  • Add additional balls.
  • Increase the number of times the students run the bases.

Rim Dodgeball

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Group Size: 
Large group (10 or more)
Age Group: 
Grades 3-5
Length of Activity: 
10 minutes or more
Developmental Goal: 
To develop cooperation, teamwork, verbal communication, eye-hand coordination, and depth perception.
Equipment: 
Dodgeballs
Before You Start: 
  • Have students on both teams start by touching the wall.
  • Explain to students that they need to aim at the waist and below when throwing the dodgeballs.
  • If a student is hit in the head/face they will not be out.
  • If a student hits another student in the head more than once s/he may be subject to time out of the game. 
Set Up: 

Divide teams up evenly, place playground balls in center of gym floor between the two teams

How To Play: 
  • Both teams should be on the wall on their side of the court, with the balls in the middle.
  • When the leader blows the whistle, students may run for the balls in the center, making sure to not cross the half court line dividing up the teams.
  • For a student to temporarily be "out" they must be either hit with the ball, or throw a ball that the other team catches. When a student is temporarily "out" they stand on the side wall.
  • For students to get back in the game, someone on their team must throw the ball across to the other teams’ side and hit the backboard/rim. Once a student hits the backboard/rim, all of his/her teammates are allowed back in the game.
  • The game is over when all the students on one team are knocked out to the side wall, or when someone throws the ball from their side into the opposing teams’ basket. 
Variations: 
  • Impose a time limit
  • Hitting the backboard will only allow 1 student back in, students must hit only the rim to the whole team back in  

Race Track

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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, teamwork, eye-hand coordination, strategic thinking, and a sense of boundaries
Equipment: 
Dodgeballs
Before You Start: 
  • Divide group into three teams: Team 1 begins in the center of the track with the dodge balls, team 2 begins at a starting line in the track, and team 3 is spread outside the track
Set Up: 

Set up a circular race track with cones or chalk

How To Play: 
  • The game involves various heats or rounds, in which students act as race cars running around the track trying to evade the dodge balls.
  • In diagram above, Team 2 is the first set of race cars. At the starting signal, team members begin running around the track in one direction. They run continuously around the track for the entire heat (determined at the beginning – i.e. 1 minute), regardless of whether they get hit by a ball.
  • Team 1 is trying to throw the dodge balls at the cars and hit them from the waist down. Team 1 must stay inside the track when they throw the balls.
  • Team 3 retrieves the balls that are over thrown and throws them back to Team 1 as quickly as possible. Team 3 does not throw balls at the cars.
  • After the heat is over, teams switch positions. Team 2 goes into the center of the track to be the next throwers, Team 1 goes to the outside of the track to retrieve thrown balls, and Team 3 moves into the track to be the next set of cars.
Variations: 
  • Have students in the center keep track of the number of hits they get.
  • If a car gets hit by a ball, s/he moves to outside of track until another car gets hit.
  • Change how students are moving around the track, and/or vary the length of heats

Pin Down

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Group Size: 
Large group (10 or more)
Age Group: 
Grades 1-2
Age Group: 
Grades 3-5
Age Group: 
Grade 6+
Length of Activity: 
10 minutes or more
Developmental Goal: 
To develop problem-solving, cooperation, teamwork, verbal communication, eye-hand coordination, strategic thinking, listening to directions, active listening, depth perception, and a sense of boundaries
Equipment: 
Bouncy Balls
Equipment: 
Chalk
Equipment: 
Cones
Before You Start: 
  • Set up a signal/whistle for freezing. Remind students that no balls may be thrown after the freeze signal/whistle.
  • Remind students that they are throwing the balls at the pins/cones, not at other students.
Set Up: 

A large rectangular space, with a line of cones in the middle to separate each team's side from the other. Balls can be balanced on top of these cones. Bowling pins or pyramid cones should be arranged along each team's base line.

How To Play: 
  • The group should be divided into two teams, and each team goes to their end line to wait for the signal to begin the game.
  • At no time may a student from one team cross over onto the other team's side.
  • When the game begins, students run to the center to grab balls.
  • The goal of the game is to knock over the opposing team’s pins while defending your own, throwing or rolling the balls.
  • Students may not kick the balls.
  • If a pin gets knocked down, no one may touch it. The leader takes the pin out of play.
  • Students may defend their pins by standing in front/back/side of it, but if they knock it over by mistake, it is taken out of play.
  • The game ends when one team has knocked down all the others’ pins.
Variations: 
  • Separate the space into quadrants or thirds and play with more teams
  • Add more balls or pins

Tunnel 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 develop teamwork and a sense of boundaries
Equipment: 
Chalk
Equipment: 
Cones
Equipment: 
Dodgeballs
Before You Start: 
  • Remind students about dodge ball safety rules
How To Play: 
  • Divide the group into two teams – “Offense” & “Defense”
  • The Offense will stand outside of the large circle, the Defense will be in between the two circles. Both teams can move freely within their areas, but cannot cross over into the other team’s zone.
  • The offensive team will have 3 dodge balls. To “score”, they will have to knock over the cones in the middle circle. Once all 3 cones have been knocked over, have the teams switch roles.
  • The defensive team can block the balls and defend the cones with any part of their body, as long as they don’t cross into the middle circle.
  • If the ball is stuck in the middle, the defensive team must throw it back to the outside
Variations: 
  • Use only one ball and one target (to encourage passing and teamwork)
  • Use more balls to make sure that everyone feels involved.
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