Play-by-Play: Act Out the Game From Your Spot

One person calls a game like a radio announcer, and the whole class acts out each action from their spot: sprint, jump for a rebound, slide on defense, shoot. It keeps intensity high in a small space and reviews each sport's actions.

How to play

1. Teach the action code: run in place, rebound jump, defensive slide, shot, celebration (3 min).
2. The teacher calls 3 minutes of a basketball game (4 min).
3. Calls of a soccer game and a volleyball game with sport-specific actions (6 min).
4. In groups of four, students prep and call one minute of a game for the class (5 min).
5. Cool down walking the aisles and discuss which actions were most intense (2 min).

Rules

• Stay in your own space, no moving around the room except the called slides.
• Land jumps softly without hitting desks.
• Callers only use actions from the code so everyone understands.
• You can ease off whenever you need to.

Variations

Adaptations

• Deaf or hard-of-hearing students: the caller holds up picture cards for each action.
• Wheelchair users: arm versions of each action (arm drive, throw, block).
• Students with asthma or lower fitness: do each action at half pace.

Learning goals

• Keep up intense activity in a small space.
• Recognize game actions from different sports.
• Communicate clearly when calling the game.

Teacher tip

Ask the calling groups to include a rules moment (out of bounds, foul, serve) so the class reacts with the right action. Open the windows if the room gets warm.

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