Tic-Tac-Toe Shooting Relay
A team relay where every made basket earns the right to sprint out and drop a pinnie on a tic-tac-toe board made of nine hoops. It blends quick shooting with strategic decision-making and teamwork.
How to play
- Set nine hoops in a 3x3 grid about 10 yards from each basket, and make two teams of four per basket, each with three pinnies of its color (2 min).
- Teams line up on either side of the free-throw lane; on the whistle, the first player in each line shoots from a mark about 10 feet from the rim.
- If the shot goes in, the shooter runs to the board and drops a pinnie in any hoop; on a miss, they grab the rebound, pass to the next player, and go to the back of the line.
- Once a team has placed all three pinnies, its next basket lets it move one of its pinnies to an empty hoop.
- The first team to get three in a row wins the round; rounds last up to 3 minutes and you play four rounds against different opponents (12 min).
- Finish by asking which team planned its move before reaching the board and why that worked (1 min).
Rules
- You may only run to the board after a made basket.
- Never touch or move the other team's pinnies.
- Safety: run out on the right side and come back on the left so nobody collides.
- The next player does not shoot until the ball is in their hands.
Variations
Easier
Shoot from right under the rim and allow two attempts per turn.
Standard
Shoot from the 10-foot mark and move pinnies only after all three are placed.
Harder
Shoot from the free-throw line and require a weak-hand dribble into the shooting spot.
Adaptations
- A student with limited mobility shoots while a teammate runs the pinnie to the hoop they choose.
- For students who are hard of hearing, start each round by dropping a raised pinnie as well as blowing the whistle.
- Offer two shooting marks at each basket so students can pick their distance.
Learning goals
- Score quickly while keeping good shooting form.
- Make tactical choices about where to place or move each pinnie.
- Communicate with teammates in line to plan the next move.
Equipment for a class of 25
- basketballs: 6
- basketball hoops: 3
- hoops: 27
- pinnies: 18
Teacher tip
Let the line talk it over, but the runner has the final say. Keep the board well away from other baskets' running lanes.
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