Ball Bop It

Skill: Catch, Kick, Throw
Time Required: 15
Activity Type: Physical
Group Size: Large Group, Medium Group, Small Group
Age Group: 6 - 9yrs, 9 - 12yrs
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.
Equipment: 1 tennis ball per 3 participants
Objective:
For participants to do the appropriate action that is called by the "caller".
Other Skills:
Coordination
Set up:
Divide participants into groups of 3.
Go over the actions with the participants before they go in their groups. See the step-by-step section for the actions.
Step by Step:
1. Each group of 3 will have a tennis ball.
2. One participant will be the "caller".
3. They will call the different actions that the participant with the ball has to do.
4. The "caller" has to wait until the participant has completed the one action before calling another.
5. If the participant misses the ball, does the wrong action, doesn't begin to do the action within 1 second of it being called, they become the caller.
6. Have a leader go over the actions with the participants before they begin.
7. Below are examples of actions and what the caller will call. Select which ones the participants will use, and alter them to make them easier or harder for the participants.
- "Throw!" (this means they have to throw the ball in the air to their other hand).
- "Spin!" (this means the participant throws the ball in the air and does a full spin before catching the ball again).
- "Pass!" (this means they pass the ball to the other participant).
- "Bounce!" (this means they bounce the tennis ball on the ground to their other hand).
- "Bounce Over!" (this means they bounce the ball to the other participant)
- "Between Knees!" (this means they put the tennis ball between their knees and jump once in the air).
- "Trap!" (this means they put the ball on the ground and put their foot on top of it).
- "Kick!" (this means they put the ball on the ground and kick it to the other participant).
- "Kick 3 times!" (this means that the participants have to kick the ball 3 times, so participant A to participant B, then participant B to A, and then participant A to B again).
- "Tennis Racquet" (this means that the participant bounces the ball, and then using the palm of their hand as the tennis racquet, they will hit it over to the other participant).
Variations:
Each time a participant misses a ball, does the wrong action or doesn't do it quick enough, they get a letter. When they spell a designated word, they become the new caller.
Add different actions.
The two participants have their own ball, and they have to do the action the quickest.
Don't use a ball, and have the actions be exercises, such as, "jump", "spin", "hop on your left foot", "high knees", "push up" and so on.
Sources: Developed for the Leisure Information Network.