Job Dodgeball

  • Grades 3-5

  • Bouncy Balls

Development Goal

To develop problem solving, communication and teamwork.

Before You Start

Skills Practiced: Throwing, passing, catching, evasion and running.

Equipment Needed: Two large playground balls.

  • Review dodgeball safety rules, especially throwing/ tagging only below the waist.
  • Teach and fairly enforce a consequence for throwing/ tagging above the waist.
  • Explain the rules to students and ask them to explain the game back to you.

Divide the players into two teams and assign members of each team their special jobs:

  • Throwers- can throw the ball at opposing players.
  • Taggers- must hold on to the ball and tag opposing players.
  • Rollers- can only roll/ pass the ball to members of his/her team.

Set Up

Use a large space (approx. 40×50 ft) and establish a safe zone for each team along the baselines. Place the balls in the center of the field.

How to Play

  • Start each team in their safe zone.
  • When ready yell “Go!” and players will run to the middle and grab the balls using them to tag opposing players below the waist or on their arms. (Tags can be made either by throwing the ball or by holding it and touching another player).
  • The hardest part is that each player can only do their specified job; therefore a roller cannot tag a player out, they can only pass the ball to teammates.
  • Encourage students to communicate and think strategically.
  • If players are in their safe zone they cannot be tagged.
  • When a player gets tagged s/he becomes part of the other team.

Variations

Change the special jobs to help teach new skills for other games.