Physical Activity at School - Teaching Games for Understanding (TGfU)

Equipment:

• 24 racquets
• 24 small sponge balls
• 6 balls each of different sizes
• 12 soft bouncy balls
• 24 goggles
• tape
• pylons if necessary

Instructions:

Warm-up: Splat! (Involves throwing and catching)

1. Divide the class into groups of 4-6. Each group will have 1 ball. Start with a larger ball and progress to a smaller ball (like a tennis ball).
2. Give each group a defined space and wall that they will be using. Use the lines on the floor for your divisions or set up pylons to separate groups. Put a piece of tape on the wall facing each group. This line should be 2 feet from the gymnasium floor. Also put a piece of tape on the floor in front of each group, which is 2 feet from the wall. This will be your "red" line.
3. The groups will line up facing the wall, standing beside each other.
4. Person A will throw the ball against the wall (above the tape line) and person B will have to catch it. Person B can catch the ball without it bouncing, but can also let the ball bounce once before catching and then throwing it against the wall for person C to catch and so on. The last person in the group will then throw the ball against the wall for person A to catch and the cycle continues.
5. If a student fumbles the ball or catches if after it bounced twice, then they must run to the red line (2 feet from the wall), touch the line before the next student throws the ball and hits the wall. If the student makes it to the line before the ball hits the wall, then they are safe. If the ball hits the wall first, then they get the first letter in the word "SPLAT".
6. Once a student gets the word spelled out, then the entire group has to continue the activity but use their non-dominant hand.

• Objective: To practice throwing, catching and footwork skills.
• Progression: Increase the distance between the students and the wall.
• Safety: Eye goggles must be worn. Make sure the "red" line is at least 2 feet from the wall to avoid any potential for injury. Remind students that when running up to the line they are to stay out of the way of the person who is throwing the ball (Run beside them, not in front).

Questions:

Q. What did you do to challenge your opponent during the game?
Q. When your turn was coming up, what did you do to prepare yourself?

Activities/Drills:

Let's Start to Strategize! (Involves hitting, returning and running)

1. Divide students into pairs. Tell them to find a wall that they will be using and to take 2 pieces of tape to label the 2 feet mark from the floor on the wall and the 2 feet mark on the floor from the wall ("red" line). Each pair should have a court size 3 metres wide and 3 metres long.
2. When running to hit the ball with their hands, students may not go past the "red" line.
3. The ball cannot hit the floor before it hits the wall.
4. The ball must hit above the 2 feet mark on the wall.
5. The ball can bounce more than once before returning.
6. Students will alternate hitting the ball.

• Objective: Students are to work together and count how many times they can hit and return the ball to each other consecutively.
• Progression:
  • The ball can bounce only once before returning.
  • Have partners work against each other so that they are trying to hit the ball in such a way that their partner cannot return it. If their partner misses, then they get a point. Those who score a point get possession of the ball and can serve.
• Safety: Eye goggles must be worn. Ensure that there is enough space between groups.

Questions:

Q. Where and how would you strike the ball against the wall to make it easy for your partner to return?
Q. What did you do to make it difficult for your partner to return the ball?
Q. What did you do to prepare yourself for the return? Where would you stand on the court?

Around the World in 4 Stations (Involves hitting, returning, aiming and running)

1. Set up 4 stations around your gym. Space the stations apart to avoid collisions.
2. Divide class into 8 groups of 3. Assign 2 groups to each station. To avoid collisions, have groups create 1 line at each station. After the first three students of Group 1 complete the task, have Group 2 complete the task.

The stations will be divided as follows:

Station 1: Handball
Equipment: 1 large foam ball

• Students are to stand in line.
• Using a large foam ball, the first person in line will use his/her hand to hit the ball against the wall and then move to the back of the line so that the next person in line can hit the ball.
• The ball must hit above the 2 feet line on the wall.
• The ball may bounce once before being hit again.
• Groups are to count how many times they hit the wall consecutively.

Station 2: Target Practice
Equipment: 1 large foam ball, paper or tape

• Place 3-4 targets on the wall (use different coloured paper or create large squares using pieces of tape)
• Students are to use their hands and try to aim the foam ball at the target on the wall.
• The ball must hit above the 2 feet line on the wall.
• The ball may bounce once before being hit again.
• Groups are to give themselves 1 point for every target they hit.

Station 3: Racquet Time
Equipment: 1 small, bouncy ball and 6 racquets; 1 for each player

• Do the same as station 1 but this time each player will use a racquet and a smaller, bouncy ball.

Station 4: Target Practice, but Smaller
Equipment: 1 small, bouncy ball and 6 racquets, 1 for each player

• Place 2 small targets on the wall. These targets must be smaller than the targets used in Station 2. Try using half a piece of paper or create smaller squares using pieces of tape.
• Use a smaller, bouncy ball.
• Groups are to give themselves 2 points for every target they hit.
• Objective: To assist students in improving their aim by using a variety of equipment and targets.
• Progression: Increase the difficulty at each station by having students change the type of ball they use.
• Safety:
  • Eye goggles must be worn.
  • Ensure students stand 4-5 feet apart from each other so as to avoid being hit with a racquet or the student's arm when they swing it back to hit the ball.
  • Tell students which direction you want them to turn to when they have finished hitting the ball and must return to the back of the line (i.e. turn to your left). This will ensure that the student behind knows where their teammate will be going.
  • Having 2 groups play at the same time in the same court will cause collisions. Have 1 group complete the task first and then the second group. If a ball goes out of bounds or out of the court, make sure students are aware of their surroundings as they go chase after the ball.
  • Teammates should try to stop the ball before it leaves the court.

Questions:

Q. Where is the best place to stand after hitting the ball?
Q. Why did we use different (larger) balls instead of a squash ball?
Q. What happened when the targets got smaller? Did your technique or tactics change when the targets got smaller?