9 Fun Recess and Phys Edu Games Every Child Should Play
Here is a list of ten recess and phys ed games, along with their rules, that every child should get a chance to play. Some you may recognize like kickball and dodgeball. Others you may not. But all of them are fun, easy to play and good for boys and girls.
Let's start with the three versions of kickball:
1. Kickball:
The playground version that everyone knows. You choose up sides and play it similar to baseball and softball. The pitcher rolls the ball to home plate and the kicker kicks it into play. If it's kicked on the ground the defense must either touch first base with possession of the ball before the kicker gets there, tag him with the ball or hit him by throwing it at anything but their head to record an out. Balls kicked in the air that are caught are outs just as in baseball. Besides the rule that you can throw the ball at the runner and hit them for an out and there are no balls and strikes, this form of kickball is pretty much like baseball or softball. Some people play by the rule that a combination of three foul kicks or misses is an out. Others don't count fouls at all. Either way three outs ends a team at bat just as in baseball.
2. Kickball/basketball:
This one is a combination of kickball and basketball played indoors. The rules are very different from the outside version of kickball.
In kickball/basketball the pitcher still rolls the ball to the kicker who kicks it into play. And there are still three outs per at bat. But here, the rules change. After kicking the ball, instead of the runner stopping safely after taking as many bases as they can they must not stop until they cross home plate. Meanwhile, the defense must pass the ball three times and shoot it in the basket before the runner crosses home. If they pass it three times and miss the shot than they have to pass it three more times before shooting again. The only other way to get the kicker out besides the three pass and shoot method is to catch a kick in the air before it touches anything just as in regular kickball.
Running around the bases while the defense tries three passes and a shot creates a race against the clock. The runner sees the defense passing the ball and knows they have to navigate the bases before the opponent can put the ball in the basket. The defense sees the runner speeding around the bases and knows that they have to pass the ball three times and get it in the hoop before the runner scores.
Add to this the obstacles of the gym and this creates even more intrigue. The kicker can kick the ball into the ceiling. Or they can bounce it off of a wall or the basket backboard. The more you could get the ball to bounce before the defense got their hands on it, the less time they'd have to make the three passes and shot while you rounded the bases.
3. Kickball 3:
Unlike the other kickball games, here there is no pitcher. Instead of rolling the ball the defense placed it on home plate by using a donut similar to the ones you see baseball players put on the end of their bats when warming up in the on deck circle. The kicker than kicks the ball into play.
After the ball is kicked the runners advance as many bases as they can just as in regular kickball. Meanwhile the defense must field the ball behind what would be the pitchers mound and roll it back to home plate. The catcher must field the ball and place it back on home plate. When the catcher puts the ball on home plate every runner who is not on a base is out. So you can get an easy double or triple play if the ball is kicked just right. Just as in the other kickball games a kick caught in the air without hitting any obstacle first is an out. And just as in the others three outs constitute a teams at bat.
But there is a way for the kicker to kick a home run. This can be done by simply kicking the ball off of the basketball backboard. Which is easier said than done. And we had a home run bonus rule. If you kicked the ball through the basketball hoop your team got ten points.
Just as in kickball/basketball, this version is a race against the clock. And there are obstacles that can help or hinder you.
Now we get to dodgeball where we have two versions.:
4. Line Dodgeball:
This is the simple game in which two teams line up facing one another on each side of the court. The object is to throw the ball at your opponent without crossing the center line and try to hit them in order to knock them out of the game. If the opponent dodges or catches the ball, they can stay in and throw it back at you. The way that we played the ball had to hit our opponent on the fly. If it bounced it didn't count. And we always played with two playground balls, never one. So if you wanted to gang up on one person you could throw two balls at them and make them decide whether to catch one and dodge the other, dodge both, or catch them both.
5. Circle Dodgeball:
This is the game where a group of kids make a circle behind a line around another group. The group inside must dodge the balls thrown at them by those who make up the circle. Unlike line dodge, those in the middle can not touch or catch the ball at all. If they do, then they are out. They must dodge everything thrown at them whether it is in the air or bounces. The only way to stay in the game if hit is if the person who throws it steps across the line. Just as with line dodge we used two playground balls. So it was nothing to have a ball coming at you from each direction. But once we got down to one player in the middle than those on the outside could use only one ball. Once the players on the outside eliminate all who are on the inside, then the two teams switch roles.
If you are in the middle, you have to be pretty smart and acrobatic to win this game. Use your teammates as a shield until the field thins out. Then when you are alone it is duck and dodge until the opponent hits you or you get tired. It is a badge of honor to go a whole circle dodgeball game, be the last man standing and never get hit.
There are some who think that dodgeball should not be played by kids. They think that it hurts the self esteem of those who are not good at it, because they have a tendency to be picked on and hit first. Or because the bigger, stronger kids might do physical harm to those less endowed.
Now we get two simple ones:
6. Tag:
Yes the simple game of tag. The way we played it was everyone would start by spreading out in the field. We would each take a number and if your number was called you were it. Then you chase the other kids until you can tag one of them. Then that kid would try and tag someone else. The only rule was that you could not tag the same person who tagged you.
Simple yes. But a great and easy way to burn off energy and get everyone involved.
7. Relay Races:
Relay races are a great way for kids to have fun. I'm not talking about track relays such as the baton where only four people can participate. I mean relays where everyone can participate.
Here are two you may not have heard of:
8. Silent speed ball:
This game is very similar to dodgeball except that there are no teams. It is every man for himself. And there is no dodging. You must catch the ball. It is also different than dodgedball in that there is no talking. The reason there is no talking is because the game is usually played indoors in a classroom on days when the weather is too bad to go outside. At least that's when we played it. You couldn't have a lot of noise, because the other classes would hear you and not be able to concentrate on their work.
The rules are pretty simple. Everyone who plays finds an open area in the classroom. The first person throws the ball at someone who must catch it to stay in the game. No dodging in silent speedball. Then that person must throw it at someone else. You could throw the ball at anyone except the person who threw it to you. All of this while not saying a word.The last man standing wins.
9. Gatorball:
It is a combination of basketball, soccer and water polo played on a soccer field.
The object of the game is to score more goals than your opponent. The way to do this is by kicking the ball into the goal like in soccer or throwing it through like water polo.
There are three ways to advance the ball. The first is by passing it to a teammate. The second is by kicking it. And the third is by dribbling it. Like in basketball you can't take a step without dribbling, kicking or passing the ball. Running with the ball is not allowed.
Now kicking and passing the ball were the easy parts. Everyone can kick and pass a playground ball on the ground. It is dribbling it that is tough. You can be bouncing the ball and suddenly hit a rock or rut and lose it. If the ground is soft, you may not get a true bounce. Or, believe it or not, someone can kick it out of your hand.
So there you have it. nine fun recess and phys ed games that would be great for all kids to play along with their rules. The fun thing about them is that you can tweak each one to make the rules suit you. There really is no "right" way to play them.
All that you need is a little time, some space, a creative teacher and an imaginative mind.
