Tic -Tac-Throw

Skill: Throw
Time Required: 15
Activity Type: Physical, Transition
Group Size: 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.
Be sure the grids are spaced out and participants aren't throwing their beanbags towards other participants.
Equipment: 9-25 hoops (or more) to make the grids (3x3, 4x4, 5x5)
Beanbags (at least two different colours would be ideal).
Pylons or rope.
Objective:
Groups throw their beanbags to the grid of hoops and try to get three (or four, or five) of their beanbags in a row before the other team succeeds.
Other Skills:
Coordination
Set up:
Divide participants into pairs or groups of 3.
Set up a grid of hoops for every two groups. Could have a 3 hoop by 3 hoop grid, 4 by 4, 5 by 5 or more.
Give each group 5-15 beanbags. Try to give one group one colour beanbag and the group they are playing a different colour beanbag.
Place a pylon or rope 15-20 feet behind the grid of hoops.
Step by Step:
1. Have each pair/group give their team a name.
2. Send two teams to face each other at each grid of hoops. If there are not enough grids/hoops, then have the other participants do another activity when waiting their turn. They could toss the beanbag to each other using their non-dominant hand, try catching the beanbag on their foot or knee etc...
3. Have both teams stand behind the pylon or rope that is located behind the grid of hoops.
4. Let's say the two teams are the "Connectors" and "Tic-Tac-Targarians".
5. Decide how many beanbags in a row the teams have to get (3, 4, 5, or more if there are enough hoops). They can be in a horizontal, vertical or diagonal row.
6. Each team will choose the order in which they will throw their beanbags (if there are more than 2 participants).
7. One participant from each pair or group will play rock, paper, scissors to decide who will throw first (or use another fun way to decide who will throw first).
8. One participant from the team that won stands behind the pylon or rope and throws their beanbag towards the hoops.
9. If it was the Connectors who threw the first beanbag, then whatever hoop the beanbag lands in is the Connectors' hoop.
10. A participant from the Tic-Tac-Targarians will throw next.
11. It is up to the teams to strategize and plan where to throw their beanbag, and if they will go for the defensive block or the offensive throw.
12. If a beanbag does not land in the grid, then that team misses that turn.
13. The team to get the designated amount of beanbags in a row, wins!
14. If it is a stalemate and no team got the right amount of beanbags in a row, then they can play again, or they both leave the grid and two more teams come in to play.
Variations:
To make it more difficult, have the throwing pylon/rope further away from the hoops. Space out the hoops to make it harder for participants to get the beanbags in the hoops.
If a participant misses the grid, or gets their beanbag in a hoop that already has a beanbag inside, then they have to do 5 jumping jacks (or another exercise).
Use tennis balls or foam balls instead of beanbags.
Sources: Developed for the Leisure Information Network.