Tired of the same old sports games? These five games provide a twist to classic sports that will keep kids active and engaged while having fun!
Equipment Needed:
- Gator Skin Balls
- Bowling Pins
- Tennis Balls
- Ping Pong Balls
- Soccer Balls
- Water Noodle
- Standard Cones
- Spot Cones
3 Pin Bowling
Kids are separated into equal teams. 3 bowling pins are placed in a line and a team member rolls a dodgeball and tries to knock down the pins. Each pin is worth a different amount and you play the first one to a particular number.
Ball Bonanza
Divide the group into two teams and set each one up 15 feet from a large bucket. Each group is given two ping-pong balls, tennis balls, volleyballs, basketballs, golf balls, footballs, baseballs, soccer balls The object is to sink one of each type of ball into the bin. The first player from each team takes 1 toss with one type of ball. If successful, the ball gets put aside. If unsuccessful, the ball is given to the next member of the team. The player goes to the end of the line to await another try with another type of ball. Players keep tossing the balls, one type at a time, 1 per player, until one of each type has been sunk. The first team to sink one of each wins.
Gaga Ball
Use a playing area, preferably circular, about 15 feet wide, with clear boundaries. Disc cones work well. Everyone stands on the boundaries. The leader drops the ball in the center, this signals the beginning of play. After play has started, players can move within the boundaries. Players use their hands to hit the ball towards other players. The goal is to hit other players with the ball from the knee down. If a player is hit with the ball from the knee down, they are out. When they are out, they go to the boundary line and help keep the ball in the play area by acting as a wall or a cushion. You can only hit the ball with an open hand. No catching, throwing, or holding the ball. You can only touch the ball one time in a row. The ball needs to hit either a boundary or another person before you can touch it again. Explain that one more goal of the game is to prevent the ball from leaving the play area. Rather than jumping away from a ball that will go out of bounds, players should try to hit it into play. Play ends when there is only one player left, or when time has been called.
Human Foosball
You play just like the table game only with real people linked in rows. Split the kids into two teams, have a captain decide who goes in which rows and how many in each row. Each entire team faces one direction and has to stay that way. They link arms by holding the person’s elbows next to them or by holding something like a water noodle to stay connected to each other. The whole row has to stay within their boundaries like in the game, but they can slide back and forth left and right. When you play inside you can mark the boundaries with masking tape, or if you play outside you can used paint if acceptable or tape or flour. If you play in a building if you need to remove pretty much everything from the room. If you play outside, it is best if you play between two buildings so that the ball stays in the game. If you play in a field have lots of folks around to toss the ball back into play. Make sure everyone is wearing shoes, it can get a little fierce with the kicking. Use a soft ball such as a stuffed soccer ball or a nerf ball. Variation of the game: use more than one ball at a time.
Noodle Hockey
Use a water noodle cut in half as a as “hockey stick” and a dodgeball for the “puck”. Same rules as hockey or soccer. The kids love this because using the water noodle takes the athleticism out of the game. Everyone is laughing as they try to hit the ball. For a greater challenge put 2 or 3 balls into play!
About the Author:
Jason Schaitz, MBA, CPRE, is a Parks and Recreation Director with over 15 years’ experience coordinating youth programs, camps, sports, and recreation activities. He also created and manages The Summer Camp Source with the goal of providing free high quality resources for any type of camp, youth recreation or childcare program. Take your program to the next level by visiting our website for free resources and education!
Website: www.thesummercampsource.com
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