Quadball: Bludger Control for Beaters

A session for beaters: since there are three bludgers for four beaters, the team holding two has control and can defend and attack with an edge. Students practice keeping that control and winning it back.

How to play

1. Explain bludger control: a team with two balls versus a team with one, and what each beater does (3 min).
2. 2 vs 2 in a 15 x 15 m square with three foam balls: the pair with two tries to keep them, while the other tries to force a missed throw (7 min).
3. Add three chasers attacking one hoop: the beaters with control protect their keeper, and the others decide when to risk their only ball (8 min).
4. Small-sided 5 vs 5 on half the field; log every change of bludger control (5 min).
5. Count up: which pair kept control longest, and what did they do to keep it? (2 min).

Rules

• Foam balls thrown below shoulder height.
• A beater who gets hit drops the bludger, dismounts and goes to touch their hoop.
• No player may hold two bludgers at once.
• No contact between beaters: compete only by throwing and catching.

Variations

Adaptations

• Students with limited mobility play as a stationary beater in a marked zone, with a teammate returning balls to them.
• Shoulder injury: plays chaser without hard throws or logs changes of control.
• Students afraid of getting hit start in the 2 vs 1 with rolled throws.

Learning goals

• Understand the concept of bludger control.
• Make risk decisions with only one ball.
• Coordinate a team's two beaters.

Equipment for a class of 25

• pvc poles: 20
• foam balls: 9
• cones: 16
• colored headbands: 20
• volleyballs: 3

Teacher tip

Use foam balls in a different color from the chasers' ball so no one mixes them up. Typical mistake: the beater with two balls throws both back-to-back and gives away control.

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