Zigzag Through Sleeping Bottles

Large bottles stand in rows as sleeping giants, and children zigzag through them, first with no ball, then rolling a ball by hand, and finally dribbling with the foot, without waking the giants. It builds guiding a ball around obstacles and controlling force.

How to play

1. Set up four or five rows of large bottles with wide gaps: they're sleeping giants, and each row gets its own small group (1 min).
2. Zigzag through without a ball, walking first and then jogging, without touching any giant (2 min).
3. Each child rolls a ball through the zigzag with one hand, staying low (3 min).
4. Now dribble it with the foot, using very soft taps so the giants stay asleep (4 min).
5. At the end of the row, dribble the ball into the garage, a hoop at the far end, and park it there (2 min).

Rules

• I go through the gaps without touching the bottles.
• If I knock over a giant, I stand it back up and keep going.
• My ball stays close to me.
• I start when the friend ahead has passed two bottles.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: the child zigzags in the wheelchair, pushing the ball with a hand or a cardboard tube.
• Visual impairment: use a ball with a bell inside and bottles wrapped in bright tape; a buddy walks ahead clapping.
• Less coordination: use a bigger, softer ball that doesn't roll away as easily.

Learning goals

• Guide a ball around obstacles.
• Control kicking force.
• Find the way along a zigzag path.

Equipment for a class of 25

• Large plastic bottles: 20
• Medium balls: 25
• Hoops: 5

Teacher tip

Put an inch of sand in each bottle so the wind doesn't knock them over. Make several short rows to avoid lines; the typical mistake is kicking hard and chasing the ball.

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