Wall Ball in a Suit

Skill: Catch, Run, Throw
Time Required: 15
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), Outdoor - Field
Safety Considerations: Remove any safety hazards and obstacles from the play area.
Remind participants to be aware of their surroundings and to keep their head up.
Make sure the teams are spread out.
Equipment: 1 tennis ball per 4 (or so) participants.
Deck of cards per 4 participants.
2-4 cones per 4 participants.
A wall and space for each group.
Objective:
For participants to catch the tennis ball that is thrown off a wall, in a designated way, and collect the most cards.
Other Skills:
Coordination
Set up:
Have participants get into partners, or select the partners for the participants.
Have partners play against another pair.
Each set of pairs will have their own wall space, and open space behind them. If there is not enough room, then have 3 pairs at one area, or have groups of 3 participants.
Each pair of partners will have a deck of cards and 2-4 cones.
One of those cones will be placed 3-5 feet in front of the wall.
Step by Step:
1. The goal for each group is to collect the most cards by catching the tennis ball in the proper way.
2. One team will start at the wall.
3. One participant on that team will have the tennis ball and stand next to the cone that is in front of the wall. That participant is the thrower, and will always throw the tennis ball against the wall.
4. The other participant will stand behind them and start as the catcher.
5. The other pair will stand to the side, and draw the first card from the deck of cards.
6. Here is what the cards and suits represent:
Hearts = Catcher has to catch the ball before it hits the ground.
Diamonds = Catcher has to catch the ball after it has bounced one time.
Spades = Catcher has to catch the ball with one hand.
Clubs = Catcher has to start on their bottom (or stomach), and as soon as the ball is thrown against the wall, they can stand up.
Queens or Kings = Catcher will place one or more cones on the ground, and the thrower has to try to knock over one of the cones.
7. If the card is hearts, then the thrower will throw the tennis ball against the wall and the catcher will try to catch the ball before it hits the ground.
8. If they do, then that team collects that card. The next card is drawn, and if it's a spade, then the catcher will try to catch the ball with one hand.
9. If the catcher misses, then the other team collects that card, and the teams switch places.
10. When the first pair is up again, the participant that was the thrower before, isnow the catcher and the catcher is now the thrower.
11. Set a maximum number of cards a team can collect at each round.
12. Play until all the cards are collected.
13. If playing with 3 participants on a team, one participant can draw the cards and place the cones.
Variations:
Other rules for suits: Thrower has to sit on their bottom while throwing, catcher has to jump in the air and do a full spin before catching the ball, a participant from the other team can try to intercept the catch, catcher will stand with their feet spread out and the thrower has to throw the ball low on the wall and try to get the tennis ball to go through the catcher's legs, catcher will start facing the opposite way and when the thrower says "throw" the catcher can turn around, catcher can not stand closer than 15 feet in front of the wall (place a cone to represent this mark), thrower has to bounce the ball before it hits the wall, and so on.
Don't have a deck of cards, write the rules on a piece of paper and put them into a hat or bowl and participants have to draw one each time.
Use a football or another ball, and do not use a wall, and change the rules to accommodate the other ball being used.
Sources: Developed for the Leisure Information Network.