Cone Target Practice

Skill: 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: Remind participants to not run to get the balls until all participants on the other side have thrown their tennis ball.
Remind participants to not throw their tennis ball until all participants are back on the throwing line.
Equipment: Tennis Balls (1 per every 2 participants)
Cones/Pylons (3-8 per team)
Balls or objects to place on top of cones (volleyball, tennis ball, foam ball, badminton birdie etc.)
Pylons/Rope for boundaries (if needed)
Objective:
For participants to practice their throwing and aiming by trying to knock all of the balls off their team's cones before the other team succeeds.
Other Skills:
Coordination
Set up:
Divide the participants into two equal teams.
If in a gym, divide the gym in half using the centre line. Each team will be on one half of the gym. Half of the team members will stand on a sideline (throwing line) on one side of their half, and the other team members will stand on the other sideline. The other team will do the same thing on the other side of the gym.
If outdoors or in a room with no lines, use rope or cones to create the boundaries and lines.
Set up and space out 3-8 pylons on each half between the team members.
Place a ball (target) on top of each pylon (be sure each team has the same balls on their pylons).
Step by Step:
1. Give a tennis ball to the participants standing on one sideline (throwing line) for each team.
2. On the word "go", participants with the tennis balls will throw them at the cones and try to knock the balls off of them.
3. After each participant on one team has thrown their tennis ball, the participants on the other sideline will run and pick up one tennis ball and bring it back to their throwing line.
4. When each participant has returned to the throwing line, they can throw their tennis ball and try to knock off the balls.
5. The first team to knock all the balls of their cones, win.
Variations:
Play with 4 teams, and have it set up the same way, however the participants on each sideline make up 1 team. Take turns throwing the tennis balls at the cones, however, the team to knock down the most balls off their cones, win. Have teams rotate clockwise along the play area to play different teams.
Have participants throw beanbags.
To make it more difficult for older participants, use smaller targets and/or have participants standing further away from the cones.

Adaptations (Blindness/Visual Impairment):
Have another team member stand by the pylons to help orient throwers who are blind or visually impaired.

Adaptations (Mobility Impairment):
For participants with a mobility limitation who lack the ability to throw, consider allowing them to stand closer to the pylons.
Sources: Developed for the Leisure Information Network.