There are 10 games in this category. Children will learn locomotion, travelling and manipulation skills by running, catching, throwing and kicking. When choosing a ball, consider the age of the child. A large soft ball is easier to catch than a small firm ball.
Beat the Ball
What’s Needed
5 or more players, ages 6-8 years
1 large ball (18-22 cm or 7-8½ inches)
An open area
How to Play
Players stand in a circle.
One player rolls or passes the ball to the player on the right and then runs in the opposite direction around the outside of circle. The ball continues to be rolled or passes around the circle as the runner races back to his/her spot to beat the ball.
Each player takes a turn running around the circle.
Variations
Change the direction that the ball is being passed.
Adaptation Suggestions
To adapt the game for different skill levels and abilities, decide before playing:
How to pass the ball and the number of times the ball gets passed.
The size of the ball – a large ball is easier to use than a small ball.
Circle Pinball
What’s Needed
8 or more players, ages 8-12 years
1 large bouncy ball (18-22 cm, 7-8 ½ inches)
an open area
How to Play
Players called “Flippers” stand in a circle facing outward with their feet wide apart and touching a foot of the players on each side. One player stands in the middle as the “Moving Target”. One Flipper holds the ball.
Flippers bend down and swing their arms between their legs like flippers on a pinball machine. They try to hit the Moving Target with the ball. Flippers can hit, catch or throw the ball. The Moving Target avoids getting hit.
If the Moving Target is hit, he/she changes places with the Flipper who threw the ball.
Remind players to only throw the ball below the waist.
Variations
Team Stride Ball (for younger children)
Players stand facing inward.
The player in the centre holds the ball and tries to roll it outwards between the legs of the players.
The players in the circle try to stop the ball by using only their hands. If the ball rolls through a player’s legs, he/she changes places with the centre player.
Adaptation Suggestions
To adapt the game for different skill levels and abilities, decide before playing:
How to catch, hit or throw the ball.
Type of ball – a large ball is easier to use than a small ball, and a soft ball is easier to catch.
Crocodile Island
What’s Needed
10-15 players, ages 8-12 years
1 large ball (18-22 cm, 7-8 ½ inches)
3 skipping ropes or 3 hula-hoops or a piece of chalk. Learn to make your own sidewalk chalk
An open area
How to Play
Make three circles or “Islands” on the ground with skipping ropes, hula-hoops or chalk. Have one player stand on each Island. They are the “Castaways”. Other players are the “Crocodiles” and stand around the Islands.
The Castaways throw the ball to other Castaways without stepping off their Island. The Crocodiles try to catch the ball.
If a Crocodile catches the ball they change places with the Castaway who threw the ball.
Variations
Add more circles and/or balls. Use a smaller ball for greater difficulty.
Adaptation Suggestions
To adapt the game for different skill levels and abilities, decide before playing:
How to catch or pass the ball.
Type of ball – a large ball is easier to use than a small ball, and a soft ball is easier to catch.
Draw a large square and divide it into four equal squares approximately 1.5 metre x 1.5 metre (4 feet x 4 feet). Number squares 1 to 4 clockwise. See image.
A player stands in each square. The player in square 1 is the “Captain”.
The Captain starts by dropping the ball. When it bounces back, he/she hits the ball underhanded with an open palm into another square.
The player receiving the ball lets the ball bounce once before hitting it into another player’s square.
The game continues until a player fails to return the ball or commits a fault. A fault occurs when a player:
Fails to hit the ball after it lands in his/her square
Hits the ball with a fist or hits it overhand
Causes the ball to land on a line
Allows the ball to touch any part of the body other than the hands
Catches or carries the ball
Does not follow the Captain’s variations (see Variations)
The player who commits a fault is out and other players move up to the next square. A new player enters the game by going into square 4. If there are no other players, then the player who committed a fault moves to square 4.
The Captain then starts the game again.
Variations
The Captain decides on the variation before starting each game. For example:
Highsies: Bounce above waist
Lowsies: Bounce below waist
Other hand: Bounce with the other hand
Captain chooses a letter. Players call out a word that starts with that letter as they hit the ball.
Players catch the ball before bouncing it into another player’s square.
To increase the difficulty, players can use smaller balls.
Adaptation Suggestions
To adapt the game for different skill levels and abilities, decide before playing:
Draw a large square and divide it into four equal squares approximately 1.5 metre x 1.5 metre (4 feet x 4 feet). Number squares 1 to 4 clockwise. See image.
A player stands in each square. The player in square 1 is the “Captain”.
The Captain starts by dropping the ball. When it bounces back, he/she hits the ball underhanded with an open palm into another square.
The player receiving the ball lets the ball bounce once before hitting it into another player’s square.
The game continues until a player fails to return the ball or commits a fault. A fault occurs when a player:
Fails to hit the ball after it lands in his/her square
Hits the ball with a fist or hits it overhand
Causes the ball to land on a line
Allows the ball to touch any part of the body other than the hands
Catches or carries the ball
Does not follow the Captain’s variations (see Variations)
The player who commits a fault is out and other players move up to the next square. A new player enters the game by going into square 4. If there are no other players, then the player who committed a fault moves to square 4.
The Captain then starts the game again.
Variations
The Captain decides on the variation before starting each game. For example:
Highsies: Bounce above waist
Lowsies: Bounce below waist
Other hand: Bounce with the other hand
Captain chooses a letter. Players call out a word that starts with that letter as they hit the ball.
Players catch the ball before bouncing it into another player’s square.
To increase the difficulty, players can use smaller balls.
Adaptation Suggestions
To adapt the game for different skill levels and abilities, decide before playing:
Players try striking the ball in different ways. For example: soft, hard,underhand and overhand.
Players can try working with partners by hitting the ball back and forth.
Adaptation Suggestions
To adapt the game for different skill levels and abilities, decide before playing:
How to hold or hit with the racquet.
The size of the ball – a large ball is easier to hit than a small ball.
Whether to play with more than one partner.
Two Ball Wall Ball
What’s Needed
One or more players, ages 8-12 years
2 tennis balls per player
An open area and a wall
How to Play
Each player is given two tennis balls and holds one in each hand.
The player tosses one ball against the wall. As the first ball returns, he/she tosses the second ball against the wall. The player tries to catch and throw the balls before they hit the ground. This continues until the player misses a ball.
Players can count the number of times they catch the ball.
Variations
Use one ball.
Throw and catch the balls using two hands.
Let the balls bounce once before catching them.
Adaptation Suggestions
To adapt the game for different skill levels and abilities, decide before playing:
How to catch and throw the ball.
Whether to play with a partner.
The size of the ball – a large ball is easier to use than a small ball.
Wandering Ball
What’s Needed
10 or more players, ages 8-12 years
1 or more balls
Younger players can use larger balls (18-22 cm, 7-8 ½ inches) and older players can use smaller balls (6.5cm, 2 ½ inches)
An open area
How to Play
Players form a circle with two players in the middle.
Balls are thrown across the circle while the two players inside the circle try to catch the ball.
If the ball is caught by one of the players in the middle, he/she exchanges places with the player who threw the ball.
If a player throws the ball and nobody catches it, that player joins the middle players.
Variations
For a larger group, have more players in the circle and use extra balls.
Adaptation Suggestions
To adapt the game for different skill levels and abilities, decide before playing:
How to throw or catch the ball.
The size of the ball – a large ball is easier to use than a small ball.
