BASKET BUDDIES Points Challenge
Over the last several years, I’ve become obsessed with using laundry baskets in my program. They are useful storage for equipment and targets or goals for games. Click LAUNDRY BASKET GAMES to access my YouTube channel playlist.
Basket Buddies Points Challenge is a game we play giving students the opportunity to develop their underhand and overhand throwing skills based on the distance they need to throw. It’s also fun to watch strategies develop as the game progresses.
Setup:
Divide the class into groups of three. Depending on space and the number of baskets, you can also divide into partners of groups of four.
Place one basket with a beanbag or fleece ball inside for each group along the same sideline.
In front of each basket place 5 poly spots in a line about 5-10 feet apart depending on the grade. As the video shows, our gym has a grid with 5 squares in front of each basket, so poly spots are unnecessary.
Each spot has a point value. The closest spot is worth 1 point, the second is worth 2 points, etc.
How to play:
To begin, the teams discuss strategy for approximately 1-2 minutes.
When the game begins, one player, toting the basket, runs out to one of the spots, ready to catch a ball thrown by the second player.
If the ball is caught, the team earns the points associated with the spot. The player with the basket returns to the sideline and hands the basket to the thrower and the ball to the third person.
The game continues for about 3 minutes, with players consistently rotating jobs.
When time expires I ask about their strategies. “Did your strategy work?” “Did you have to adapt your strategy based on what you learned about your team?”
Play a second round encouraging them to beat their first score using the same strategy (if it worked) or a different strategy.
This game is fun to watch for multiple reasons. It allows me to assess each student’s throwing abilities in a game setting. Students benefit from repetition. They have countless opportunities to throw and track the ball into the basket. I’ll also observe students’ awareness of when to use an underhand throw and when to use an overhand throw. There’s also basic addition that is reinforced as students add their scores throughout the game. Finally, as seen in the video, the game is action-packed and tons of fun!