Catch Me If You Can

Skill: Catch, Run, 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 Ball (basketball, volleyball, soccer ball, tennis ball etc.)
1 Hula Hoop
Objective:
For the participant in the centre, to run back inside the circle and touch the ball before the participant they threw the ball to tags them.
Other Skills:
Speed
Agility
Set up:
Have participants standing in a circle with approximately 6 feet between each other.
Ensure that there is a lot of space outside the circle for participants to run around.
Select one participant to be "It". They will stand in the centre of the circle inside the hula hoop and holding the ball.
Step by Step:
1. The participant in the middle will be standing in a hoop in the centre.
2. They will throw the ball to any participant.
3. As soon a they throw the ball, they will run outside the circle between any participants.
4. The participant who the ball was thrown to, will catch the ball (or pick it up if they missed the ball) and run it into the centre and place it in the hoop.
5. Now, the have to run outside the circle and try to tag the participant who threw the ball "It".
6. While "It" tries to run back inside the circle and touch the ball in the hoop.
7. If they manage to touch the ball without getting tagged, then they now join the circle and the other participant is the new "It".
8. If the participant tags "It", then they resume their place in the circle and the same participant is "It" again, and they go back in the centre and throw the ball to a different participant.
9. Switch "It" after 3 tries.
Variations:
Have two participants that are "It", and therefore two participants chasing their own participant.
Use a dodgeball, and the participant has to hit "It", below the shoulders in order to tag them.
Sources: Developed for the Leisure Information Network.