Stick Shepherds: Ball Roundup by Zones

A cool-down where groups of three walk the balls back to their hoop using their sticks. It lowers the intensity and tidies up equipment with a small accuracy task.

How to play

1. The teacher scatters the balls around the gym and gives each group of three a hoop and a pickup zone (1 min).
2. Groups walk the balls from their zone into their hoop, one ball at a time with soft taps; nobody runs (3 min).
3. Final challenge: the last balls go into the hoop with a push pass from two meters; if it rolls out, try again from the same spot (2 min).
4. Each group puts its sticks on the rack or bench and counts the balls in its hoop out loud while sharing what was hardest in today's lesson (2 min).

Rules

• Walking only; if you run, go back to the hoop and start over.
• Move balls with the stick, not your hands or feet.
• Nobody takes balls from another zone.

Variations

Adaptations

• Wheelchair users: the group brings balls to within a meter of the hoop and they make the final passes.
• Lower-limb injury: does only the final challenge, seated on a bench beside the hoop.
• Blind or low-vision students: put something that makes a sound in the hoop and have a partner guide them.

Learning goals

• Bring the intensity down gradually.
• Adjust the strength of the push pass.
• Help put the equipment away.

Equipment for a class of 25

• floorball sticks: 30
• floorball balls: 30
• hula hoops: 6

Teacher tip

Assign the zones before you give the signal so everyone doesn't chase the same ball. You'll have everything tidied in four minutes with no running.

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