Floor Showdown with Bench Rails

Floor showdown: a racket sport for blind players where a rattle ball is hit under a center screen into the opponent's goal. Two benches act as rails, and students work on striking and locating the ball by sound.

How to play

1. Lay 2 benches parallel, 4 ft apart. In the middle, a pole on 2 cones 6 in high is the screen; at each end, 2 cones 16 in apart form the goal, with a mat standing behind. Build 5 tables (4 min).
2. Groups of 5 per table: 2 play blindfolded, kneeling behind their goal with a paddle; 1 referees, 1 keeps score and 1 retrieves.
3. Hit the ball along the floor so it passes under the screen; it may bounce off the benches.
4. A goal is 2 points. If the ball hits the screen, stops on your side or you touch it by hand, the opponent gets 1 point. Each player serves twice in a row.
5. Games to 7 points or 4 minutes, rotating roles so everyone plays 2 games and referees 1 (18 min).

Rules

• Silence at the table while the ball is live; the referee calls “freeze” to stop play.
• Your free hand stays out of the lane, and the paddle is always held in your hand.
• Nobody puts their head into the lane to find the ball while the opponent is hitting.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: the student plays seated on a chair with a paddle taped to a short pole.
• Deaf or hard of hearing: no blindfold, a bright ball and a shoulder tap before the serve.
• Skill level: a student who wins easily defends a 2-ft goal.

Learning goals

• Strike a rolling ball with control of direction and force.
• Locate the ball by sound and anticipate its path.
• Learn about showdown as a racket sport for blind players.

Equipment for a class of 25

• benches: 10
• small rattle ball: 5
• paddles: 10
• blindfolds: 10
• poles: 5
• cones: 30
• mats: 10

Teacher tip

A wiffle-style ball with a jingle bell inside makes a good rattle ball. Show a picture of a real showdown table before starting.

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