Paper Baseball: Newspaper Bat and Tape Ball

Each team builds bats from rolled newspaper and balls from paper wrapped in tape, then plays an adapted bat-and-run game. It works on striking, base running and fielding decisions.

How to play

1. Build: roll 10 sheets of newspaper tightly on the diagonal and wrap in tape; make two balls of packed paper and tape (8 min).
2. Batting test: self-toss and hit into open space (5 min).
3. 6v6 game with four hoops as bases: the batter self-tosses, hits and runs; fielders return the ball to the center hoop (15 min).
4. Switch sides after the whole team has batted; count full runs (5 min).
5. Bat review: which bat held up and how to improve it (2 min).

Rules

• Drop the bat in the batting hoop; never throw it.
• The batting line waits behind a line 4 m from the batter.
• Fielders may not touch or block runners.
• Ball heading toward someone: call it out loud.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: bats from the wheelchair off a cone and a teammate runs for them.
• Low vision: large ball made with colored paper and bases with a sound cone.
• Hesitant batters: hit off the cone for the first few turns.

Learning goals

• Strike with a homemade bat and control the direction.
• Decide when to run and when to stay on base.
• Play honestly on close calls.

Equipment for a class of 25

• newspaper sheets: 80
• packing tape: 6
• cones: 8
• hoops: 4

Teacher tip

The bat must end up hard; if it bends, add sheets and more tape. One roll of tape makes about three bats. Common mistake: throwing the bat when running; anyone who does it bats again.

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