Doctor Dodgeball
A dodgeball game with foam balls where no one leaves the court: tagged players sit down and get back in when their team's doctor touches them. Students practice dodging, throwing, and helping teammates in a game with no elimination.
How to play
- Split the court in half with cones and make 2 teams of 12-13 in pinnies. Each team secretly picks 2 doctors.
- Place 6 foam balls on the center line. On the whistle, both teams grab them and throw to hit opponents below the shoulders.
- A student who gets hit sits down right there. A doctor from their team can tap their shoulder to bring them back in.
- If a doctor is hit, they sit like everyone else and can't be healed. A team with no doctors left gets a new one chosen by the teacher after 1 minute.
- Play 4-minute rounds; after each round, switch doctors and count how many students are sitting on each side (16 min). 2-minute wrap-up.
Rules
- Hits only count below the shoulders; a hit to the head doesn't count.
- Throw only foam balls and stay behind the center line.
- Seated players may grab nearby balls and pass them to teammates, but can't throw at opponents.
- Call "I'm hit" honestly and without arguing.
Variations
Easier
Doctors are visible, wearing a different color pinnie.
Standard
Two secret doctors per team.
Harder
To heal, the doctor must walk the seated player by the hand to the back line.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: a student using a wheelchair can be a permanent doctor with a long foam noodle, or throw from a safe hoop.
- Autism or anxiety: start as a visible doctor, with less attention on the student.
- Skill level: very strong throwers must use their non-dominant hand.
Learning goals
- Dodge and throw accurately in an opposing-team game.
- Help teammates stay in the game.
- Follow safety rules and play fair.
Equipment for a class of 25
- foam balls: 6
- pinnies: 25
- cones: 8
Teacher tip
Use only soft foam balls and stop play if anyone throws at heads. Switch doctors each round so everyone gets to play that role.
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