Follow the Trail Guide with Your Ball

Children go on a hike in a line behind the teacher, the trail guide, each dribbling their ball with their feet along the path the guide sets. It builds dribbling along a path and matching pace with the group.

How to play

1. The teacher sets a few cones as “trees on the trail” and explains: “I’m the guide; you follow with the ball at your feet” (1 min).
2. Walk slowly in a straight line, each with a ball, leaving space behind the child in front (1 min).
3. The guide makes big curves around the trees and the line follows (2 min).
4. The guide stops and says “Look, a bird!”: everyone steps on their ball and points up; then we go on (1 min).
5. A child is the guide for a few steps and the others follow (1 min).
6. We reach camp: foot on the ball and a big arm stretch (1 min).

Rules

• I stay behind my friend, no passing.
• My ball doesn’t bump the ball in front.
• When the guide stops, I step on my ball.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: a child using a wheelchair can be the guide and the others follow their path.
• Autism: always walk behind the same classmate and give a heads-up before the guide changes.
• Less coordination: a bigger ball, or carrying it by hand through the curves.

Learning goals

• Dribble the ball along a route.
• Match speed with the group.
• Warm up with continuous movement.

Equipment for a class of 25

• Soft balls: 25
• Cones: 6

Teacher tip

One line with the whole class gets endless: two or three lines with an adult each work better. If balls bunch up, remind them “one step apart.”

More activities like this

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