Praise the Play: A Game with Language Observers

3-on-3 basketball games where observers record the comments players make to each other. Teams earn points for every compliment on an action, decision or effort, and any comment about bodies is discussed at the end so students learn to avoid it.

How to play

1. Brainstorm: each group writes five phrases that praise actions ('great read,' 'nice help,' 'keep it up on defense') and discusses common phrases about bodies and why they hurt (4 min).
2. Set up 3-on-3 games at each basket with one observer per game holding a three-column card: praise for an action, comment on the score, comment on a body (2 min).
3. First block of games: every recorded compliment on an action is worth one bonus point for the team (8 min).
4. Observers read their data without names and the group suggests how to rephrase the comments in the other columns (3 min).
5. Second block with new observers and opponents; the goal is to beat the first block's number of compliments (8 min).
6. Wrap-up: each student says out loud one specific compliment a teammate gave them that helped (5 min).

Rules

• Observers write down phrases without the speaker's name.
• Person-to-person defense with no contact on the dribbler.
• A compliment only counts if it is about something the person did, not how they are.
• No body comment is repeated out loud in the wrap-up.

Variations

Adaptations

• Hearing impairment: agree on praise gestures, such as a thumbs-up or applause in sign language, which also count.
• Limited mobility: observes in one block and plays in the other with a rule that they are not guarded when receiving.
• Autism: gets written example phrases to use during the game.

Learning goals

• Use language that values actions and effort instead of appearance.
• Improve positive communication within the team.
• Spot and rephrase comments that can harm body image.

Equipment for a class of 25

• balls: 5
• pinnies: 15
• cards: 15

Teacher tip

Any team sport works. The observers' records often surprise the group: allow time to talk about it without singling anyone out.

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