Grade Level: 3-8
Equipment: Foam balls, pins, nets
Game Description: This game incorporates lots of different skills into an action-packed soccerish type game. Players dribble the balls around (soccer-style) and can choose to knock over pins for points, or score goals on the other team for points. OR players can “convert” the ball up into their hands. Once in hand, players can pivot, pass, or bowl the ball at pins to earn points. Try it out in your PE class as something new and exciting to mix many sports skills into 1 fantastic game. Thanks to Sarah @SMS_PhysEd for this game idea.
Category: Gr 8
Battleball
Grade Level: K-8
Equipment: 4 foam balls
Game Description: This is a special type of dodgeball game with official rules, refs, and the whole show! With sportsmanship being the number 1 rule, teams will compete in an epic battle to be the last ones standing. Great game incorporating lots of skills. Popular in Australia, kids love this one and get nice and sweaty. There’s talk of some major tournament play and school-wide fun. Try it out!
Also see the official rules manual (WORD DOCUMENT DOWNLOAD) posted below:
Flag Tag
Grade Level: 3-8
Equipment: Flags, 2 boxes, pinnies
Game Description: This is a type of steal the flag game where teams face off and try to be the first team to snag all of the flags off of their opponents. Good lead-up game for flag football or an action-packed stand-alone game to try out. Thanks to @MrRosenberg_PE for this game idea!
Wall Ball
Grade Level: 5-8
Equipment: Tennis ball, wall to throw against
Game Description: A version of the popular recess game. Anywhere from 3-10 players can play this game. It’s a series of throws and catches against a wall with the purpose of getting others out and becoming the last one left! There are many versions of this game, but this one makes sure players aren’t throwing the ball at other players! Lots of fun and a great way to PLAY. Go out and do something active at recess, instead of standing around – treat your body right with a good game of wall ball.
Triple Ball
Grade Level: 4-8
Equipment: 3 balls, Hula hoop, cones
Game Description: Triple ball is like a mini version of Kickball. With 3 balls. Kicking and fielding positions are played, and there’s no shortage of activity. Small groups can set themselves all throughout the field and PLAY!
Classy Moves
Grade Level: 2-8
Equipment: None
Game Description: This is a great warm-up game; it can be used in fitness, dance, stretching, or even just making goofy moves. Students form a circle around a leader who has 20 seconds to perform an action. The students must mimic the action, and then it’s someone else’s turn to be the leader. That’s it, that’s all. Simple and effective.
The Maze
Grade Level: 2-8
Equipment: Poly spots (lilly pads)
Game Description: This is a teambuilding game where students take turns trying to find their way through the maze of lilly pads and get to the end. But with every wrong move, they must head to the back of the line and give someone else a chance. It’s great for memory-practice, communication, and team activity. Create fun and challenging mazes, switch up the leaders, and give it a go!
Turmiopallo
Grade Level: 4-8
Equipment: Mats, nets, foam balls (2 colors)
Game Description: This is a handball and target type game with a little bit of dodgeball (the dodgeball part is optional if you don’t wish to include it). The main goal of the game is for players to score as many points as they can on the opposing team before the round is over – either 3 minutes per round or first to 5 points! There are goalies on each side who do their best to save the shots taken. Goalies can’t get ‘out’ if hit, unless they leave their crease area.
Dive Ball
Grade Level: 4-8
Equipment: Mats, crash mats, handball
Game Description: This is a handball type game, but instead of scoring into goals, players must complete a diving catch onto a crash mat to score a point. Use whatever typical handball rules (3 steps, 3 seconds with the ball, etc) and go at it! For safety purposes, just make sure only 1 player per team can dive at the same time.
Hot Shots
Grade Level: 5-8
Equipment: Basketballs, hulahoops, lilly pads
Game Description: Hot Shots is a basketball shooting game where teams compete for the win! Colored lilly pads are placed on the floor all throughout the gym as shooting spots. Each player has a basketball. When a player scores a basket from a shooting spot, he picks up the lilly pad and places it in his teams collection hoop. Game goes on either for a few minutes, or until one team has 15 points (up to the teacher).