Pin Bombardment

Two teams, each on its own side, throw foam balls to knock down the other team's pins while guarding their own without stepping into the protected zone. Students practice accurate throwing, catching, and deciding when to attack or defend.

How to play

1. Split the gym into two halves with a center line. Each team of 12 or 13 sets up 10 bottles with a little water in them along its end line, 3 feet apart (2 minutes to set up and explain).
2. Use cones to mark a 6-foot no-go zone in front of the bottles: nobody may step in it or lie down in front of the pins to block them.
3. Hand out 16 foam balls, half on each side. On the signal, everyone rolls or throws overhand to knock down the other team's bottles.
4. Players may defend by blocking or catching balls from outside the no-go zone. Nobody is ever out: if a ball hits you, keep playing.
5. A knocked-down bottle stays down. A team wins the round by knocking down all the other team's bottles, or by having more standing after 3 minutes.
6. Between rounds (1 minute), reset the bottles and switch roles: one third of each team only defends and the rest only throw. Play 4 rounds.

Rules

• Never cross the center line.
• Aim at the bottles; throwing at a classmate's head is not allowed.
• A bottle knocked down by your own teammate counts for the other team.
• Only pick up balls on your own side.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: a student using a wheelchair can be a thrower in a marked lane near the center line, where teammates bring them balls.
• Hearing impairment: start and end each round by raising a pinnie as well as blowing the whistle.
• Skill level: balance teams by throwing ability, and ask the strongest throwers to roll only.

Learning goals

• Throw accurately at a stationary target from a medium distance.
• Decide when to attack and when to defend based on the game situation.
• Respect the agreed zones and rules.

Equipment for a class of 25

• recycled bottles: 20
• foam balls: 16
• cones: 10

Teacher tip

Half-gallon bottles with an inch or two of water stay put and don't fly around. The game is won by aiming low, so call out good accurate rolls.

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