Flying Disc Bowling

In small groups, students throw a soft flying disc backhand, low to the ground, to knock down bottles set up like bowling pins. It works on a low, flat backhand throw, accuracy, and taking on different roles in a group.

How to play

1. Set up 6 lanes: in each, 6 bottles in a triangle (3, 2, and 1) 20 feet (6 m) from a throwing cone. Make groups of 4 with 2 soft discs (3 minutes).
2. Review the backhand: stand sideways, keep the disc flat, and release at hip height so it flies low, almost skimming the ground.
3. Each player gets two throws per turn to knock down as many bottles as possible.
4. Score it like bowling: all bottles down on the first disc is a strike worth 10; all down with both discs is 7; otherwise, 1 point per bottle.
5. Roles rotate every turn: thrower, pin setter, disc retriever, and scorekeeper. Each player gets 4 turns (10 minutes).
6. Final round: switch lanes; in the new one, the bottles are 26 feet away or in a single row, and the goal is to knock them all down in the fewest throws.

Rules

• Only one student throws at a time; the others wait beside the lane.
• The pin setter stays out of the lane until the disc has stopped.
• Throw backhand and below the waist.
• The scorekeeper calls out the score.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: students using a wheelchair throw backhand the same way, with the lane at 13 feet.
• Hearing impairment: the scorekeeper shows the score with their fingers.
• Skill level: each player chooses between two throwing cones.

Learning goals

• Throw the disc on a low, straight path.
• Control force and direction to knock down a target.
• Take on different roles within the group.

Equipment for a class of 25

• soft flying discs: 12
• recycled bottles: 36
• cones: 6

Teacher tip

Bottles with an inch of water fall nicely without flying around. If the disc rises, ask students to release lower and finish with the hand pointing at the bottles.

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