La Calva: Hit Rate by Distance

La calva is a Castilian game in which you throw the marro through the air to hit the calva before it touches the ground. Students record their hit rate from four distances, build their own accuracy curve and use it to compete with a fair handicap.

How to play

1. Set up five lanes, each with a calva made from a 2-liter bottle filled with sand lying against a cone, and throwing lines at 6, 8, 10 and 12 m (3 min).
2. Explain the key rule: only a direct hit counts; the marro (a beanbag) can't touch the ground before the calva (2 min).
3. In pairs, each student takes 10 throws from each distance while the partner records hits; then they swap thrower and recorder (10 min).
4. Each student enters their data in a spreadsheet or on the worksheet and draws their hit-rate curve by distance (4 min).
5. Mini-tournament: each student throws from the distance where their hit rate is close to 50%; whoever gets the most hits out of 10 wins (6 min).

Rules

• Only one person throws per lane, and the recorder stands to the side, never behind the calva.
• Everyone collects the beanbags at the same time on the teacher's signal.
• A beanbag that bounces before hitting the calva doesn't count.
• Report the real data: the goal is to learn, not to pad your hits.

Variations

Adaptations

• Wheelchair user: throws from 4, 6, 8 and 10 m and a partner collects the beanbags.
• Visual impairment: a partner taps the calva with a stick before each throw.
• Intellectual disability: records with tally marks on a visual worksheet instead of calculating percentages.

Learning goals

• Make an accurate overhead or underhand aerial throw by adjusting the arc to the distance.
• Collect and interpret personal data to set the right level of challenge.
• Understand how a handicap allows people to compete on equal terms.

Equipment for a class of 25

• beanbags: 20
• plastic bottles: 5
• cones: 25
• tablets or phones: 5
• worksheets: 28

Teacher tip

Have the spreadsheet ready with the percentage formula so recording goes quickly. The handicap discussion is a great way into talking about fairness in sport.

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