Rolling Ball Tray Relay
In teams, each student carries a tennis ball on a paper plate held in one hand through a course with a line, a slalom and a gym bench. The activity builds dynamic balance of the body and of an object, speed control and cooperation in a relay.
How to play
- Make 5 teams of 5; in front of each team set up a 15 m (50 ft) course: 5 m along a floor line, a 4-cone slalom and a gym bench to walk across (3 min).
- Practice run: each student goes through their course once carrying the plate on an open palm with the ball on top, without holding the ball with the fingers (3 min).
- Relay: on the whistle, the first student in each line completes the course, jogs back along the outside holding the ball and hands the plate and ball to the next teammate (5 min).
- If the ball falls, go back to the last obstacle you completed; the first team to finish earns a point, and the team with the fewest drops earns another.
- Second round: carry the plate with the non-dominant hand and walk the bench in a half squat (4 min).
- Share tips (elbow close to the body, eyes forward, short steps) and repeat whichever round went best (3 min).
Rules
- No holding the ball with your thumb or pressing it against your body.
- Walk the bench, never run on it.
- Return along the outside of the course so you don't collide with the next runner.
- Points go to both speed and accuracy, so running fast alone doesn't win.
Variations
Easier
Swap the ball for a beanbag, which doesn't roll.
Standard
Carry the tennis ball on the plate along the line, through the slalom and over the bench.
Harder
Carry two balls on the plate, or a plate and ball in each hand.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: complete the course in a wheelchair with the plate in one hand, and replace the bench with a narrow cone lane.
- Shy students: go in the second round after watching others, with the team cheering them on by name.
- Advanced students: do a half turn in the middle of the bench without dropping the ball.
Learning goals
- Keep an object balanced while moving.
- Adjust speed to the difficulty of each section.
- Follow relay rules and support the team.
Equipment for a class of 25
- paper plates: 10
- tennis balls: 5
- cones: 20
- gym benches: 5
Teacher tip
Kids tend to sprint and lose the ball, so the extra accuracy point keeps the rushing in check. Keep spare plates on hand because they bend with use.
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