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Bridge Ball

Bring Play To Your City

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Average: 5 (1 vote)
Group Size: 
Large group (10 or more)
Age Group: 
Grades 3-5
Length of Activity: 
10 minutes or more
Developmental Goal: 
To improve hand-eye coordination and strategic play
Equipment: 
Bouncy Balls
Before You Start: 
  • Have everyone stand in a circle, foot to foot. Their legs should be slightly more than shoulder width apart, forming a “bridge.” Have everyone get into ready position with their hands on their knees.
  • Make sure all players know not to reach in front of others in order to get the ball.
How To Play: 
  • The object of the game is for players to try to hit the ball between other players’ bridges and block balls from coming through their own bridges. Players get a letter in the word “bridge” each time the ball goes through their legs. Once a player has spelled bridge, the game restarts.
  • Players may only hit the ball with an open palm. No throwing.
  • They may catch the ball if it is head height. They must place the ball on the ground and hit it back into play.
  • If a ball goes outside the circle, the player closest to it when it went out may go and get it.
  • If the ball goes between a player’s legs, s/he gets a letter toward the word bridge. That player may go get the ball and hit it back in play.
Variations: 
  • Instead of spelling bridge, players can turn around and play backwards once the ball has gone through their legs 1x, 2x, or however many times you decide.
  • Add a ball or two once players know how to play.
  • Put a player in the middle of the circle to keep the game moving faster.