Dodgeball and Roller Tag

Skill: Catch, Run, Throw
Time Required: 15
Activity Type: Physical
Group Size: Large Group, Medium Group, 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.
Remind participants that are "it", that they have to hit participants below the shoulders.
Equipment: Dodgeballs
Cones for boundaries, if needed.
Objective:
For participants that are "it", to hit the other participants below the shoulders as they are running from to the other end of the space.
Other Skills:
Underhand Roll
Speed
Agility
Set up:
Use the outside lines of the gym, or use cones to set up these boundaries.
Select two participants to be "it". They will each get a dodgeball and start in front of the other participants, standing a couple metres away from each other.
The rest of the participants all line up behind one of the end lines.
Step by Step:
1. The participants that are "it" will be standing in front of the participants and a couple metres away from each other.
2. They, or the leader, will count down from 3, and on 1 they will say "throw". When they say "throw", they will throw their dodgeball to each other.
3. Also, when they say "throw", all the other participants will start to run from one end to the other.
4. As soon as the "it"s catches or picks up the ball (if they didn't catch it) that was thrown to them, they can throw it at the other participants.
5. Their goal is to hit participants below the shoulders with the dodgeball before they reach the other end. If they hit participants above the shoulders, it doesn't count.
6. Once the participants cross the line on the other side, they are safe.
7. When they do hit a participant, that participant is now a "roller".
8. They will get a dodgeball from the side, and go sit on the opposite end of the other participants.
9. "It"s will start the same way, by saying "throw" and throwing their dodgeballs to each other.
10. The "roller"s job is to roll their dodgeball at the participants who are running to their end. Once they roll their dodgeball, they cannot go collect it until all participants are over the line or hit. Remind the "rollers" that they cannot throw the ball, they have to roll it.
11. If it hits a participants while it's moving or not, that participant is now a "roller" as well.
12. The "rollers" will collect their dodgeballs, or get one from the side and go to the opposite end.
13. Continue until there are no participants that aren't "rollers".
14. Switch who is "it" for the next game.
Variations:
Instead of becoming "rollers", participants that are it sit down where they were hit and try to tag participants running to the other side.
"It" has to hit participants below the waist.
The dodgeballs are placed on the side of the play area, and when "It" or the leader says "Go", they have to go run and collect the ball before they can throw it.

Adaptations (General):
Encourage everybody to look out for one another. Emphasize safety first.

Adaptations (Blindness/Visual Impairment):
Have another participant guide those who are blind or visually impaired.
Sources: Developed for the Leisure Information Network.