Traveling Beanbag Bocce Around the Schoolyard
A beanbag bocce game that travels along a course around the schoolyard: each end starts from where the jack landed in the previous one. It builds accurate lagging, choosing between getting close and blocking, and following rules.
How to play
- Set out 6 numbered cones in a loop around the blacktop. Make 6 groups of 4 with two teams of two, and start each group at a different cone. Each team has 4 beanbags in its color, and each group has a tennis ball as the jack and a hoop (3 min).
- One team stands inside the hoop and tosses the jack 13 to 26 feet toward the next cone. Then it tosses its first beanbag, trying to land close.
- Next the other team tosses, and from then on the team farther from the jack always tosses, until all 8 beanbags are used. Both feet stay inside the hoop on every toss.
- Scoring: the team with the closest beanbag scores one point for each of its beanbags closer than the opponent's best. Measure with a foot or a rope.
- Move the hoop to where the jack stopped, and the winning team tosses a new jack toward the next cone. First to 9 points, or the higher score after 20 min, wins.
Rules
- Toss only when nobody in the group is in front of the hoop.
- Always toss the jack toward the next cone, never toward another group.
- One player from each team checks close measurements.
Variations
Easier
Jack between 10 and 16 feet, and players may toss from outside the hoop.
Standard
Jack between 13 and 26 feet, four beanbags per team, and tossing from the hoop.
Harder
Knocking an opponent's beanbag away is allowed, and the jack goes 20 to 33 feet.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: place the hoop on an accessible spot and the student tosses from the wheelchair.
- Students with autism: show a drawing of the cone course and whose turn comes next.
- Skill level: teams with more points toss their last beanbag with the non-dominant hand.
Learning goals
- Lag a beanbag accurately to a target at varying distances.
- Choose between getting close and blocking based on the game situation.
- Follow the rules and the tossing order.
Equipment for a class of 25
- beanbags: 48
- tennis balls: 6
- hoops: 6
- cones: 6
Teacher tip
Before starting, play a demo end so students understand who tosses next. Check that the groups' paths do not cross.
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