Soft Putt to the Hoop Green

Using half a pool noodle as a golf club, children push a big ball so it stops inside a hoop, sometimes close and sometimes farther. It works on adjusting how hard to hit, not just hitting hard.

How to play

1. The teacher hands out one noodle and one ball per pair and sets hoops around the yard as "greens", with a chalk starting dot near each (2 min).
2. Ant putt: from the dot, we push the ball gently so it stays inside the hoop; the partner rolls it back (3 min).
3. Elephant putt: we move the starting dot three steps back and try with a bit more strength (3 min).
4. The teacher calls "Ant!" or "Elephant!" and the pair decides where to putt from (3 min).
5. We move to a new green, say hello to the new pair and keep playing (1 min).
6. We put away noodles and balls and share whether any ball stopped right in the middle of the hoop (2 min).

Rules

• I hit the ball rolling along the ground, never in the air.
• While my partner putts, I wait beside them.
• The noodle never touches a friend.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: a full-length noodle to reach the ground from the wheelchair, and a hoop close to one side.
• Visual impairment: tie a bell to the hoop and have the partner clap from it.
• Autism: same partner and same green for the whole activity.

Learning goals

• Adjust the strength of a hit to the distance.
• Hit a rolling ball with a long tool.
• Wait for a turn and help a partner.

Equipment for a class of 25

• Pool noodles: 13
• Large rubber balls: 13
• Hoops: 13
• Chalk: 1

Teacher tip

Use big balls that roll slowly; with small ones kids only learn to hit hard. They tend to pull the noodle way back, so remind them of the small "tick, tock" clock.

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