Count the Bounces

Skill: Catch, Run, Throw
Time Required: 10
Activity Type: Physical
Group Size: Large Group, Medium Group, Pair, Small Group
Age Group: 6 - 9yrs, 9 - 12yrs, 13+ yrs
Play area: Gymnasium (large indoor space)
Safety Considerations: Remove any safety hazards and obstacles from the activity area.
Remind participants to be aware of their surroundings and to keep their head up.
Ensure pairs are spread out from each other and from other pairs.
Equipment: 1 tennis ball per pair
Hoops (optional)
Pylons (optional)
Objective:
Participants bounce the tennis ball to their partner, and the partner tries to catch it after it has bounced a set amount of times.
Other Skills:
Coordination
Set up:
Divide participants into partners.
Each pair will have one tennis ball.
Partners will stand 15 or so feet away from one another and spread out from other pairs. Participants could stand at lines on the floor, or place pylons or hoops to designate where participants are to stand.
Step by Step:
1. The goal for participants is to catch the tennis ball after it has bounced a set amount of times.
2. To start, the leader will say how many times the tennis ball has to bounce.
3. The participant catching the ball can move and run around to catch the ball, but when they throw, they have to stand at their pylon (or starting spot).
4. If the leader says "2 bounces", then one participant bounces the ball towards their partner, and that partner catches the ball after it bounces 2 times, and before it bounces for a third time.
5. After participants have practiced bouncing the ball and catching it for different amounts of bounces, switch it up a bit.
6. Participants will have to stand and stay at their line, pylon, or hoop.
7. The participant catching the ball cannot leave their line, hoop, or pylon. The thrower has to use aim and the right amount of force to bounce the ball so their partner can catch it after the right bounce.
Additional Challenges:
A. Stationary Challenge: One pair at a time will bounce the ball to their stationary partner (in a hoop or at a pylon) so they catch the ball after the set amount of bounces. If they don't succeed, then the other partner has one opportunity to bounce it to their stationary partner. The last pair standing wins.
B. Most Bounces: Pairs will stand in hoops across from each other. The pair to make their ball bounce the most amount of times, and their partner catches the ball, will win.
C. Fewest Bounces: Pairs will stand in hoops across from each other. The pair that catches the ball and has the least amount of bounces will win. In case of a tie, or to make it more difficult, designate a location in front of the throwing participant for where the first bounce has to start.
D. Bouncing off the Walls: One participant in each pair will stand in front of a wall. Their partner will be standing 15 or so feet away behind them. The participant with the ball will throw it against the wall and their partner will have to catch it after a set amount of bounces. Additional rules: they cannot go outside a set of lines, have two participants trying to catch the same ball, have two partners go at once and the pair to catch their ball first will win.
Variations:
Use a basketball or volleyball instead.
After the participant bounces the ball, the leader or another participant will say the number of bounces it has to have before their partner can catch it.
Participants will bounce the ball and they will catch it as well (ensure participants are spread out).
Sources: Developed for the Leisure Information Network.