Sports and Fun in the Snow

Skill: Catch, Dodge, Dribble, Kick, Run, Throw, Trap
Time Required: 30
Activity Type: Physical
Group Size: Individual, Medium Group, Small Group
Age Group: 6 - 9yrs, 9 - 12yrs, 13+ yrs
Play area: Outdoor - Field
Safety Considerations: Make sure participants are dressed warmly, and if it is too cold, and Jack Frost is relentless, then enjoy these sports indoors.
Remove any safety hazards and obstacles from the activity area.
Remind participants to be aware of their surroundings and to keep their head up.
Equipment: Depends on the sport being played:
Football
Soccer Ball
Foam Balls
Tennis Balls
Frisbees
Pylons
Rope
Beanbags
Coloured water to spray on the snow (please see our Painting Snow activity for instructions)
And each participant will have lots of warm clothing appropriate for the outdoors.
Objective:
Participants bundle up and participate in one or more sports outside in the snow.
Other Skills:
Coordination
Set up:
Have the appropriate equipment prepared.
A winter wonderland.
Step by Step:
It's winter time - but that doesn't mean the outdoor sports are done for the season. Check out these outdoor winter sports, and brrrrrrring on the fun!

Football

1. Divide participants into two groups.
2. Set up two ropes at both ends of the activity area.
3. One participant from each team starts with a football behind their rope.
4. When the activity begins, both participants start running towards the other rope.
5. The other participants try to tag the participant on the other team with the football, or stay behind their teammate.
6. If a participant with the football is tagged, they will then throw the football away, and a participant from the other group gets the ball.
7. Participants can pass the football backwards to a participant on their team (before getting tagged), and if they catch it, then they continue to run. If they miss it, then the other team gets the ball.
8. When a participant runs past the other team's rope, they get a point.
9. Or, play a normal game of football or ultimate football (check out one of our ultimate games on our activity database for rules) but outdoors in the snow - it's always more fun in the snow!

Dodgeball
1. Divide participants into two groups.
2. Using coloured water (check out Painting Snow activity for instructions), rope, or beanbags, create the centre line. Place another rope or pylons to create the back line and side lines for each side.
3. Place 5-8 foam balls on this line.
4. Each group will start on their side of the line.
5. When the activity begins, participants will run to get the balls.
6. If a participant is hit below the waist, then they have to run and touch a designated object (tree, rock, bench), before they can return to the game.
7. If a participant catches the ball, the participant that threw it has to run to touch the designated object.
8. Set a time limit for this game, since participants are never out.

Soccer
1. Set up two nets using pylons (or use indoor nets).
2. For this soccer game, there will be no goalies (we want all participants moving around to stay warm).
3. Play a normal game of soccer, where there are no out of bounds, or instead of throw-ins, have pass-ins (participants pass the soccer ball from the side line)
4. If the snow is too deep for a soccer ball, use a foam ball.

Target Practice
1. Using coloured water (check out our Painting Snow activity) or hoops, to create targets in the snow.
2. Participants will be in groups of 2-3.
3. Using frisbees, tennis balls, beanbags, or another object, participants will attempt to throw the objects into the targets.
4. To ensure participants continue to move and stay warm, all participants in each group will throw at the same time. The closest to the target will get a point, and the participant whose object was furthest away will run to the target and around it before collecting their object, and the other participants will go to collect their object.

Frisbee Catch
1. Participants get into groups of 3-4.
2. One participant will start with the frisbee, and the other participants will stand 10-15 feet away from them.
3. The participant will throw the frisbee towards the other participants.
4. If a participant catches it they get a point.
5. The thrower gets the frisbee back and throws again.
6. The first participant to get 2-3 catches is the new thrower.
7. Could use a football, or another object instead of a frisbee.
Variations:
Allow participants to create their own rules for playing these sports in the snow.
Play a tag game, such as Blob Tag, that keeps all participants moving at all times.
Adapt the sport for the participants and space.
Sources: Developed for the Leisure Information Network.