Ultimate Ball

  1. Ball Games
  2. Recess Games
  • Large Group (10 and up)

  • Grades 3-5

  • Balls

Before You Start

  • You will need nne 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 or Ultimate Frisbee.