Rain Plan: Moving the Tournament Indoors
The outdoor soccer tournament is rained out: in a few minutes, groups design a plan for a small gym that keeps everyone active and safe; one is chosen and run. It builds planning under pressure.
How to play
- Present the problem: the original plan was 6 teams of 4 on two outdoor soccer fields; now there's only a small gym and 25 minutes. Show the floor plan and available equipment on the whiteboard (2 min).
- In 5 groups of 5, each prepares a plan with layout, game, game length and rotations; criteria: everyone active, safe and fits the time (5 min).
- Each group pitches in 30 seconds and the class votes; the teacher vetoes anything unsafe (3 min).
- The winning group leads setup and explains the rules of the chosen game, for example 3v3 with a foam ball to small goals on three cross-court mini fields (2 min).
- Run the plan for 10 minutes, with the winning group as coordinators: they manage time, rotations and scores (10 min).
- Review: did the plan work? what went wrong? what would we add to the tournament's rain plan? (3 min).
Rules
- In a small space, no hard kicks: only passes and low shots.
- No plan may leave more than 4 people inactive at once.
- The coordinating group makes changes during the run.
- Safety: playing areas at least 2 m (6 ft) apart and away from walls.
Variations
Easier
The teacher offers two plans to choose from and groups only adapt them.
Standard
Open design in 5 minutes, vote and run.
Harder
Halfway through, half the space is lost and the coordinators must replan.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: joins the coordinating group or plays on the mini field with a no-pressure rule.
- Autism or need for predictability: gets the chosen plan in writing before play starts.
- Advanced students: must include a way to keep games evenly matched in their plan.
Learning goals
- Replan a sports event when something unexpected happens.
- Design safe, high-participation activities for a small space.
- Coordinate a group while a plan is carried out.
Equipment for a class of 25
- foam balls: 3
- small goals: 6
- cones: 16
- pinnies: 12
- whiteboard: 1
- markers: 5
Teacher tip
Let them stumble a bit during the run: that's what makes the final review meaningful. Have your own backup ready in case no plan is safe.
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