Roll My Ball and Catch Up to It

Each child rolls their ball forward, runs after it, and stops it with their hands before it reaches the far line. They practice push strength and visual tracking, the basis for every roll-to-the-goal game.

How to play

1. Everyone at the start line with a ball; we push it gently and walk behind it until we stop it (1 min).
2. Now we push a bit harder and run to catch it before the far line (2 min).
3. We stop it with something else: a foot, a knee, or carefully sitting on it (1 min).
4. We roll it and stop it right inside the hoop placed before the line (1 min).
5. We head back crawling like crabs, rolling the ball with both hands (1 min).

Rules

• I push gently so the ball stays in the playground.
• I chase MY ball.
• I stop it before the far line.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: rolls the ball from their chair, and a classmate acts as the "wall" that stops it.
• Visual impairment: use a ball with a bell and a buddy guide who says "to your left," "straight ahead."
• More skilled: ask them to stop it right inside a hoop placed before the line.

Learning goals

• Adjust force when rolling a ball.
• Track a moving object with the eyes.
• Move with changes of pace.

Equipment for a class of 25

• medium balls: 25

Teacher tip

Mark the far line clearly with cones or chalk, well away from fences or slopes. The typical mistake is smacking the ball hard to win; remind them the goal is to catch up to it, not to send it farthest.

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