No-Hands Beanbag Body Catch
In pairs, one partner gently tosses a beanbag and the other catches it with the body part the teacher calls, without hands: the back of the hand, the top of the foot, the thigh, the shoulder or the bend of the elbow. It builds body segment awareness and adjusting to an object.
How to play
- Pair up students with one beanbag each and face partners 6 feet apart, with cones separating pairs (2 min).
- First, each student balances the beanbag on different body parts for 5 seconds: head, back of the hand, shoulder, top of the foot (3 min).
- The thrower tosses the beanbag underhand, slowly and in an arc. The catcher catches it on the back of the hand and then on the thigh, lifting the knee (4 min).
- Move on to harder body parts: top of the foot, with the foot still, and the bend of the elbow, bending the arm as it lands. Five tries and switch roles (4 min).
- Points game: each body part has a value, hand 1, thigh 2, foot 3, shoulder 4. Each pair adds up points in 2 minutes and then tries to beat their score (4 min).
- To finish, each pair shares which body part was hardest and why (1 min).
Rules
- Always toss underhand and gently, never at the face.
- Catching with the palm of the hand is not allowed.
- Each pair stays in its space marked by cones.
- If the beanbag lands far away, walk to get it.
Variations
Easier
Shorten the distance to 3 feet and let the catcher place the body part under the beanbag before the toss.
Standard
Toss from 6 feet using the body parts the teacher calls.
Harder
Toss from 10 feet or make the catcher take a step to catch it.
Adaptations
- For students with limited mobility, catch while seated with thighs, back of the hand or lap, and the partner tosses from very close.
- For students with visual impairments, use a beanbag with a bell and have the thrower call out before tossing.
- For more skilled students, catch with one body part and pass it to another without dropping it, like thigh to foot.
Learning goals
- Catch an object with different body parts, softening the impact.
- Place body segments accurately under a moving object.
- Control throwing force with a partner in mind.
Equipment for a class of 25
- beanbags: 13
- cones: 14
Teacher tip
Use beanbags that aren't too full so they mold to the body; teach students to give a little as it lands, like an elevator going down, so it doesn't bounce off.
PatioLab has "No-Hands Beanbag Body Catch" and 3999 more activities ready to drag into your lesson and run from your phone in the gym.
More activities like this
More main activities for Elementary
1-on-1 Mini Volleyball Up and Down the River
One-on-one mini volleyball duels on 3 x 3 m courts under a rope 2 m high, using a receive, self-set and send rule.
1-on-1 Side-Step Square Duels
In pairs, inside 5 x 5 m squares, an attacker holding a football tries to get from the starting side to the far side without the defender pulling a flag.
1v1 Four-Gate Soccer Duels
In a square with a gate on each side, two players go head to head and score by dribbling through any of the four gates.
2-on-2 Mini Volleyball with a Neutral Setter
Two-on-two mini volleyball with a neutral setter under the rope who always plays for the team with the ball.
2v1 Attack Waves to Mini Goals
Two attackers take on one defender and try to score on a small goal in under 10 seconds.
2v2 Alley Mini-Volleyball
A 2v2 mini-volleyball game on a very long, narrow court, about 33×10 feet, where the only way to win a point is by playing for depth: short near the net or deep to the…