Clean Up Your Backyard

Two teams, each on one half of the gym, throw soft balls into the other team's half to keep their own side as clean as possible when the whistle blows. It is a high-energy warm-up that gets the whole body moving and builds throwing and quick decision-making.

How to play

1. Divide the gym in half with a line of cones and make two teams of 12 or 13 (1 min).
2. Scatter about 40 soft balls across both halves.
3. On the signal, each student picks up balls on their side and throws them over the line into the other half, one at a time (90 seconds per round).
4. On the whistle everyone freezes, the balls on each side are counted, and the side with fewer balls wins the round (1 min).
5. Between rounds, do 30 seconds of shoulder and hip mobility, then teams switch sides.
6. Play 4 rounds, changing the throw: non-dominant hand, backward, or rolling along the floor (5 min).

Rules

• Throw balls into open space, never at a person.
• Throw only one ball at a time, and no one crosses the center line.
• On the whistle, any ball in your hand stays on your side.
• Keep a 10-foot clear zone behind each end line for safety.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: a classmate feeds balls to the student, who throws from a set spot near the center line.
• Visual impairment: use brightly colored or bell balls and always throw alongside a guide partner.
• Fitness level: students needing lower intensity can collect balls and feed them to throwers.

Learning goals

• Throw with different techniques, aiming for open space.
• Make quick decisions about where and when to throw.
• Raise heart rate in a fun way.

Equipment for a class of 25

• soft balls: 40
• cones: 8

Teacher tip

Make it clear up front that throwing at someone on purpose means sitting out a round. Use only foam or very soft balls: with hard balls the game is not safe.

More activities like this

More warm-ups for Elementary