Two Shepherds and One Little Sheep

In pairs, two shepherds move their little sheep (the ball) across the yard by passing it with their feet while walking side by side. It builds short passes, receiving with the foot, and cooperation.

How to play

1. The teacher forms pairs and shows the pass: inside of the foot, soft, aimed at the friend’s foot (2 min).
2. Standing still, facing each other up close, pass the sheep and stop it with the sole (3 min).
3. Walking together across the yard: pass, stop, pass, stop, all the way to the pen (cones at the far end) (3 min).
4. Without stopping the sheep: receive it and send it back while walking (3 min).
5. Switch sides: whoever was on the right moves to the left (2 min).
6. The shepherds bring the sheep into the pen and thank each other (1 min).

Rules

• Pass the sheep gently, right to your friend’s foot.
• We walk together, nobody ahead or behind.
• If it gets away, whoever is closer goes to get it.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: the partner of a child using a wheelchair passes to the wheel or hand, and the child returns it however they can.
• Autism: a steady, familiar partner and a straight path marked with cones.
• Hearing impairment: the passer raises a hand before passing as a heads-up.

Learning goals

• Pass the ball with the inside of the foot.
• Receive and stop the ball with the sole.
• Cooperate with a partner to move forward together.

Equipment for a class of 25

• Soft balls: 25
• Cones: 8

Teacher tip

Hard passes are the big problem: ask for “sheep passes, not wolf passes.” Pairs that spread out lose the ball; have them walk almost shoulder to shoulder.

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