Competition Committee: Ruling on Game-Day Incident Reports
A 4v4 colpbol game day where referees write incident reports and a student competition committee rules on them using an agreed table of educational penalties. It builds sportsmanship and reasoning.
How to play
- Present the class penalty table: warning, loss of one sportsmanship point, or serving as assistant referee in the next game. Name a 3-person committee (3 min).
- Two colpbol courts: four teams of 4 (plus subs who come in each point) and two referees with incident sheets. Secretly give each referee a scenario card, such as 'a player complains angrily', to add to the report (2 min).
- Round 1, 6-minute games: hit the ball with one hand, no consecutive touches by the same player and no holding (6 min).
- Round 2, 6 minutes against new opponents; meanwhile the committee reads the round 1 reports (6 min).
- Hearing: the committee listens for 1 minute to each involved team captain, rules using the table and posts the decision with its reason on the whiteboard (5 min).
- A short third round with penalties applied, then a final reflection: was each ruling fair? (3 min).
Rules
- No penalty keeps anyone from playing.
- The committee decides by majority and always writes down the reason.
- Those involved may explain but not argue with the ruling.
- Safety: hit the ball with an open hand and never at anyone's head; no contact.
Variations
Easier
The teacher chairs the committee and suggests the penalty.
Standard
Three-person committee, reports with secret scenarios and a short hearing.
Harder
The committee must also propose a new rule to prevent the most common incident.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: sits on the committee or referees; in play, their hit counts as two touches.
- Autism or social anxiety: contributes to the committee in writing.
- Advanced players: as captain, must defend a penalized teammate with reasons, not complaints.
Learning goals
- Resolve incidents by applying a shared, fair rule.
- Justify decisions with reasons, in writing.
- Accept rulings as part of good sportsmanship.
Equipment for a class of 25
- colpbol balls: 2
- pinnies: 16
- whistles: 2
- scenario cards: 6
- worksheets: 4
- whiteboard: 1
- markers: 2
Teacher tip
Use realistic but impersonal scenarios so nobody feels singled out, and keep penalties educational.
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