Coed Softball: Who Said Bats Are for Boys?
A coed softball game combined with a moving debate about gender stereotypes in baseball and softball. Students play and then look at why two such similar sports are so often linked to boys or girls.
How to play
- Opinion corners: the teacher reads statements like "softball is the girls' version of baseball" and each student walks to the agree, disagree or not-sure corner; someone from each corner explains why (5 min).
- First game with coed teams and a batting order drawn at random; extra rule: before an out at a base, the ball must go through two fielders (10 min).
- Second game with newly drawn teams (10 min).
- Short debate with facts: at the Olympics softball has been played as a women's event and baseball as a men's event, yet both sports have men's and women's leagues and plenty of coed recreational leagues. What changed your mind? (5 min).
Rules
- Teams are drawn at random, not picked.
- No comments about anyone's body and no jokes about who hits better because they're a boy or a girl.
- The bat goes in the hoop after hitting.
- In the corners, everyone gets heard without interruption.
Variations
Easier
Tee hitting and a debate with simple statements.
Standard
Underhand pitching with a tee after three tries, and a debate with facts.
Harder
Each group drafts a proposal to make school softball more equal.
Adaptations
- Deaf or hard-of-hearing students: debate statements are projected or shown on cards.
- Students with limited mobility: hit off the tee with a partner running for them; they can moderate the debate.
- Shy students: share their opinion on a card that the teacher reads.
Learning goals
- Analyze gender stereotypes in sport.
- Play respectfully on coed teams.
- Argue a point of view and listen to others.
Equipment for a class of 25
- plastic bats: 2
- batting tees: 2
- softballs (soft): 4
- bases: 8
- pinnies: 14
Teacher tip
Keep the debate calm and share the floor; shut down any put-downs immediately. The two-fielder rule keeps the game from being run by just two or three students.
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