3-Team Continuous Tee-Ball

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3-Team Continuous Tee-Ball
 

State Standard: 1, 3, & 4
Equipment: Two Batting Tees, Jerseys (3 colors), 4 Mats, large Poly spots, and bats Grade: 3-5 (2nd possibly)
Purpose of Event: Students will demonstrate striking, base running, and spatial awareness skills by safely hitting a ball off a tee and continuously advancing around bases to score points while avoiding getting three outs.
Time: 18-25 minutes
Organization:

  • Place 4 mats on the floor to represent bases (baseball diamond style).
  • Set up 2 batting tees at home plate (slightly spaced for safety).
  • Divide students into 3 groups:
    • Team A (Batting)
    • Team B (Batting)
    • Team C (Taggers/Fielders)
  • Provide taggers with safe tagging equipment (see options below).

Description: The game begins with the first player from both Team A and Team B hitting the ball off the tee and immediately running the bases, while the next batter in line prepares to go, keeping play continuous. Runners must travel in order from first to second to third and then home, and they are safe while standing on a base (mat). There is no limit to how many runners can be on a base at once, even if they are from different teams; however, once a runner steps off a base, they must continue to the next base without stopping or going back. A team earns one point each time a runner successfully returns to home plate.

Rules:
Players are out if they are hit by a ball, a ball is caught in the air, or they are forced out (per normal kickball rules). Teams continue batting until they either receive three outs and/or run out of players in their lineup. When this happens, that team rotates to the outfield, and the current outfield team becomes a batting team. Throughout the game, multiple runners from both teams are active at the same time, batters enter play continuously, and the activity maintains constant motion, quick decision-making, and high engagement.

Scoring:
We use three different-colored buckets, each corresponding to a team’s color. We also use popsicle sticks (or, during Easter time, plastic Easter eggs). Each time a runner from a team successfully rounds the bases twice before their team rotates to the outfield, they place one popsicle stick (or egg) into their team’s bucket. At the end of the game, we count the items in each bucket to determine the winning team.
Concerns:

  • Ensure all runners move in the same direction and stay aware of others
  • Clearly define safe zones (bases, aka mats)
  • Maintain proper spacing at batting areas (on-deck circle)
  • Require students to stay behind designated lines when not actively participating
This idea is from: 

 

 

Base Race Bonanza

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Base Race Bonanza
 

State Standard: 1, 3, & 4
Equipment: 5 mats set up like 5 on a dice, yarn balls, & foam dice Grade: 3-5 (2nd possibly)
Purpose of Event: Students will develop locomotor skills, particularly running and base movement, while reinforcing accuracy in overhand throwing and evasion strategies. It also integrates cognitive learning by engaging students in math and literacy tasks as they move.
Time: 18-25 minutes

Organization:

Divide the class into 5 equal groups, one on each mat. The one in the middle is a thrower attempting to hit the runners (working on overhand throws). You could have a 6-member group retrieve the yarn ball. The other 4 groups are the runners.

Description:
Play begins when the teacher does: Option 1. The teacher calls out a number, and that is the number of bases they run. Option 2. Math problem (add, Sub, multiply), Option 3. Use dice to do the math problem. Option 4. Run using letters or spelling (e.g., run until you get to the letter M in the alphabet), 5. Run to the spelling of your name or spelling words. If you get hit, you become a ball retriever, or you must add bases. ** We use this activity to teach students how to run the bases (in which direction) before we play our T-Ball/Wiffleball games.** 
Concerns: Use only soft yarn or foam balls and require all throws to stay below the shoulders to minimize injury risk. Clearly define running lanes and space bases appropriately to prevent collisions, while ensuring students remain aware of their surroundings. Establish controlled throwing rules, designated retriever areas, and clear stop/play signals for safe game management.
This idea is from Kurt Skogstad, retired PE Teacher (Sioux Falls School District)

 

 

Bombardment

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Bombardment
 

State Standard: 1, 3, & 4
Equipment: 6–10 footballs, 4 buckets (2 per team), 12 bowling pins (6 per side), 2 Tchoukball rebounders, basketballs for shooting opportunities, and scoring items (beanie babies, clothespins, popsicle sticks, or whiteboard). We use Beanie Babies. Grade: 3-5 (2nd grade possibly)
Purpose of Event: Students will throw accurately at targets, practice basketball shooting skills, work cooperatively with teammates, and make quick decisions during gameplay.
Time: 18-25 minutes
Setup 

  • Use a full basketball court with the main hoops down. 
  • Divide the court using the half-court line. 
  • Place two kiddie pools on each side. 
  • Place six bowling pins (or anything to be knocked down)  behind the three-point line on each side. 
  • Place one Tchoukball rebounder behind the three -point line on each side. 
  • Court boundaries are the full basketball court and each three-point line. 

Game Start 

  • Divide the class into two teams, with each team on opposite halves. 
  • On the signal, players throw footballs toward targets (bowling pins/Tchoukball rebounder/Basketball backboard)
  • Students DO NOT throw at people. 

If a Target Is Hit 

  • BackboardBasket → Player attempts 1 jump shot. 
  • Bowling Pin → Player attempts 1 layup. 
  • Tchoukball Rebounder → Player attempts any basketball shot. 
  • After shooting, the student returns basketballs to the bin and grabs a football. 

Scoring 

  • Jump Shot Made → 1 point 
  • Rapid Fire → 1 point for each basket made (out of 5 shots) 
  • Layup Made → 1 point 
  • Any Shot from Rebounder → 1 point 

Scoring Items: (anything). We use Beanie Babies. 
Concerns: Watch for players throwing footballs at each other. Be aware of collisions,  and make sure students do not fight over basketballs. 
This idea is from: This is my adaptation of another game called “Bombardment,” but using basketball skills. Thanks to @physedgames for creating the video & posting! 

 

Around The World

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Around The World
 

State Standard: 1, 3, & 4
Equipment: Cones, Yarn Balls, Gator Balls, Jerseys Grade: 3-5 (K-2 possibly)
Purpose of Event: Throwing, Cardiovascular Endurance, & Strategy
Time: 18-25 minutes

Description:

Depending on the gymnasium, you may use the lines that make a “Box” in each corner of the gymnasium, or you can mark those areas with cones. Additionally, cones should be placed around the center of the gymnasium, making a large rectangle. In the center of that rectangle is an assortment of yarn and gator balls. To start the activity, select two (2) students to be the throwers. Those students stay inside the large rectangle, and they will be throwing yarn balls and gator balls throughout the entire activity. Select four (4) students to be “Shaggers” Place these students on the outside of the gymnasium, and their job during the activity is to pick up the yarn balls and gator balls that have been thrown and throw them back into the large rectangle. The remaining students must find a “Box” in the gymnasium to stand in. The rules are that they need to have one foot in the “Box.” On the cue of the music, the students can stay in the “Box” for no more than ten (10) seconds. After that, they must either run to the next “Box” or skip it and keep moving to another “Box” or continue running. While running, the students in the large rectangle throw yarn and gator balls at them, trying to knock them out of the game. If a student is hit at any time, they become throwers! If the ball bounces off the floor, wall, another student, etc., they are out and become throwers! Headshots do not count! The game is over when one student is left. Rotate often and switch roles for the students so they can try the different roles in the game.

Concerns: 
This idea is from:

 

 

Chain Reaction

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Chain Reaction
 

State Standard: 1,  4
Equipment: Hula-hoops (at least one per student + extras for play), Beanbags (one per team), Timer or stopwatch, Cones to designate team zones Grade: K-5
Purpose of Event: Hand-eye coordination, teamwork, throwing accuracy, & sportsmanship
Time: 20-25 minutes

Organization: Spread hula-hoops around the playing area with ample space between them. Divide students into groups of 3 or 4 and assign each team a starting position (relay line formation). Place one hula-hoop per team at their starting point to begin the “chain.”
Description: Students line up in relay formation behind their team’s starting hula-hoop. The first student tosses the beanbag into the hula-hoop. If successful, they retrieve another hula-hoop and place it at the end (top) of their team’s chain. If unsuccessful, they retrieve the beanbag, return to the line, and the next teammate takes their turn. Continue until the timer runs out. Their goal is to have the longest chain when the timer is up. Variation: Allow teams to strategize whether to grab a new hula-hoop or steal one from another team when successful. Encourage strategic placement of the hula-hoop chain to maximize success.
Concerns: Ensure students are not getting a hula-hoop if they did not get it into their hula-hoop. Students must stay in line order as well. 
This idea is from Coach Byrd, Twitter.

 

 

 

The “Death Star”

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The “Death Star”
 

State Standard: 1, 3, & 4
Equipment: Cageball (or Fitness Balls) and Playground Balls.  Grade: 3-5 (K-2 possibly)
Purpose of Event: Throwing at moving targets & Teamwork
Time: 18-25 minutes

 

Organization:  Divide the class into two teams and have them line up along their chosen sideline. Mark an area about 30 feet wide across the center of the playing area, with the cageball aka “Death Star” in the center.

Description: “Death Star”: The two teams are the Dark Side vs. The Force. In May, we play this game for “May the 4th Be With You.”  The game’s objective is to throw the playground balls at the Death Star (Darth Vador’s Spaceship), forcing it across the line in front of the opposing team.  Rules: Players may come up to the line but cannot move into the center area, and no one is allowed to touch the Death Star at any time. If balls become caught in the center, students can go retrieve a ball, but they must return to their throwing zone. If the Death Star crosses over to the opposing team’s side, that team wins. The game stops, and that particular team must perform an exercise. The game starts over with the Death Star starting back in the middle of the gym. 

Variations: We use the Yoga Balls with medium-sized gator-skin balls for K-2 students. For 3-5 grades we use the cageball with playground balls.

Instead of just one cageball/yoga ball have multiple (5-6). More opportunity for students throw at the Death Star.  
Concerns:

  • Be safe while throwing the balls. Students are not allowed to throw the balls at one another. Students need to be aware of the ricochet from the playground balls off the cageball.
This idea is from: 

 

Pass Me The Spider (or Chicken)

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Pass Me The Spider (or Chicken)
 

State Standard: 1, 3, & 4
Equipment:  2 noodles, 2 stuffed spiders (chickens)
 Grade: K-2
Purpose of Event: Work on Catching, Throwing, Movement, Locomotor, Personal/General Space
Time: 10-25 minutes
Description:
Select 2 students to start with the noodles, they will be freezing people.  Two students will start with the spiders, the spiders will “thaw-out” frozen students and allow them to move again.  Spiders will be passes to someone who is frozen, so they will change hands often.  

If you are frozen, you must sit and say, “please pass me the spider” to a student with a spider.  The student with the spider will then pass it off.  Spiders should be moving to different people all the time so no one stays frozen for more than a few seconds.  If the spider is in your hands, you can not be frozen.  After about a minute, switch the students with the noodles.

Start the game by walking, and then change to different locomotor skills as the game progresses and they get the hang of it.
Concerns: Moving safely in general and personal space
This idea is from:

 

Battleship

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Battleship
 

State Standard: 1, 3
Equipment:  Several gator-skin balls, folding mats, 25-30 foam pins Grade: K-5 
Purpose of Event: Manipulation, Control, Team Play

Organization: Form two equal teams with each team starting in its half of the gym. Stand the folding mats up and put them on the half court line. One team on each side on the mats. Each side will setup 12 bowling pins on their side of the mat.

Battleship:

  1. Each side will throw dodgeballs over the mats trying to knock down the pins on the other side.
  2. If you catch a ball that is thrown over the mat, you get to leave your side of the mat and take a lap around the other side. You can throw the ball you caught at their pins (you only throw one ball). After you throw your ball continue running until you have made your half lap. If you catch another ball, run around to the other side and throw again.
  3.  The teams can guard their pins.
  4. When you only have one pin left…only 1 person can guard that pin.
  5. The team that knocks over all the other teams pins wins.
  6. Set up and play again.
Concerns:  Must be able to move in general space safely and while on the scooters. Be careful when trying to strike the hockey puck that nobody is around the shooter. 
This idea is from:  Kathy Wait (Sioux Falls, SD). Original Idea: Ben Prillio = Teach Physed. 

 

Hit The Ball

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Hit The Ball

State Standard: 2 & 3
Equipment: ball per student, (koosh ball and nerf ball per pair) lots of wall space Grade: K-5
Purpose of Event: Work on throwing under and over hand, Hand-eye coordination, Timing, Aiming, Team work
Time: 15-20 minutes
Description: 
One partner stands near the wall and tosses the nerf ball into the air. the other partner throw his/her koosh ball attempting to hit the tossed ball. Alternate who throw which ball, about every 5 tosses. Need to focus on team work.

**Could be a possible station activity for K-2 students.**
Concerns: Make sure the person throwing the koosh ball is throwing at a wall so it stays safe. Have lots of room between partners.
This idea is from: WOW Workshop

Hit The Target

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Hit The Spot

State Standard: 1, 2 & 3
Equipment: Ball (nerf) and poly spot per pair of students Grade: K-5
Purpose of Event: Work on throwing under and over hand, Hand-eye coordination, Timing, Aiming, & Teamwork
Time: 15-20 minutes
Description:
Line up students in a double line about 10-15 feet apart, facing their partners. Place a poly spot between them. Objective is to throw the ball and have it hit the spot.

Each of these 5x’s and then continue to next, can also switch partners if you would like: Start by having the students standing and throw; then Jump up and throw while in the air; 3 steps and throw; 3 steps jump and throw. (Even with the steps, they should still be 10-15′ from the poly spot.) Increase distance as skill improves.

**Could be a possible station activity for K-2 students.**
Concerns: Have lots of space between pairs
This idea is from: WOW Workshop