Dodgeball Alternatives

Debbie Holcombe
James F. Byrnes High School
150 East Main Street
Duncan SC, 29388
864 949-2355 ext.171
Deborah.Holcombe@spart5.net
Purpose of this Lesson:
This lesson is in response to the popularity of Dodgeball in our society and how we as
physical education teachers can offer alternatives to these games. It is my experience and
my opinion that many, if not most, high school PE teachers still play some form of
Dodgeball. It is our responsibility as professionals to follow the guidelines that NASPE
has set forth to guide us in choosing appropriate activities. When students plead at the
high school level to play dodgeball, like they do at my school, it is hard to tell them no.
It is however our upmost importance to provide a safe learning environment that ALL
students can participate physically and mentally resulting in a positive experience.
Ultimately each individual teacher decides what and how an activity is taught. There are
appropriate activities that do not have to compromise safety and student interest.
Hopefully this lesson can provide some modifications to teachers who choose to
participate in target activities where all students can safely enjoy the activity.
NASPE Position
According to NASPEs Appropriate Practices for Elementary School Physical
Education (2000), in a quality physical education class teachers involve ALL
children in activities that allow them to participate actively, both physically and
mentally. Activities such as relay races, dodgeball, and elimination tag provide limited
opportunities for everyone in the class, especially the slower, less agile students who
need the activity the most.
The students who are eliminated first in dodgeball are typically the ones who most
need to be active and practice their skills. Many times these students are also the
ones with the least amount of confidence in their physical abilities. Being targeted
because they are the weaker players, and being hit by a hard-thrown ball, does not
help kids to develop confidence.
For more information and detail concerning NASPEs position please refer to :
www.aahperd.org/naspe/standards/upload/Position-on-Dodgeball-In-PE-2006.pdf

Standards Addressed
Standard 1: Demonstrates competency in motor skills and movement patterns needed
to perform a variety of physical activities.
Standard 2: Demonstrates understanding of movement concepts, principles, strategies
and tactics as they apply to the learning and performance of physical
activities.
Standard 5: Exhibits responsible personal and social behavior that respects self and
others in physical activity settings.
Standard6: Values physical activity for health, enjoyment, challenge, self expression
and/or social interaction.
Dodgeball Alternative Games will help each student demonstrate the following:
1. Throwing Skills
2. Agility
3. Team strategies in manipulating, protecting, and eliminating a moving and
stationary non-human target(balls, pins and open spaces)
4. Eye-Hand Coordination
5. Peripheral Vision
6. Working cooperatively with peers to accomplish a goal.
7. Understanding angles, trajectory and velocity of balls thrown to accurately place
the ball in the most advantageous position for success.

Activities
Target Ball: Students are placed on four teams (each with a different color pullover)

Scoring:

with each team standing on one-side in a 40 X 40 square. Place a

36 inch or larger exercise ball in the middle of the square. Each team has 4
gator skin type balls. On the teachers signal, the students will throw their
balls at the exercise ball in the middle attempting to move the exercise ball
over one of the other three lines of the square while protecting their lines of
the square. The game ends when the exercise ball touches/crosses one of
the lines of the square or if it is touched by one of the players.
There are many ways to keep score with this game but the easiest is to give
the team who allows the ball to touch their line a point. The team with the
fewest number of points after a series of rounds wins.

Equipment: Four different colored pullovers, one 36 inch exercise ball, 16 gator
skinned type balls, marked 40 X 40 square
Variations: 1. Place teams with lines that touch on teams to work together to cross
either of the other two lines.
2. Bounce the ball in the middle, teacher gets out of the square, and then
gives the signal to throw at the bouncing target.

Considerations: Students who feel uncomfortable standing close to where balls are
being thrown can help their team by shagging balls further back behind their team
line.
******* Non throwers can always wear an odd color of jersey, such as yellow, in any
target activity to indicate that they are participating but will be stationed further away
from the objects being thrown to feel safer.

Pin Ball: Students are divided into two teams. It would be best to put colored
pullovers on to distinguish the teams even though they are on different sides of the court.
Once students beginning shagging balls they will sometimes wonder in the other teams
zone. The centerline of the basketball court divides the playing area. Place 8 10 plastic
bowling pins on spots with intersecting lines so that each team will have pins placed in
the same location on each side of the court. For example: Where the lines meet at the
free throw line and the side of the 3 second lane or where the volleyball court intersects
the 3 point line. Do not place them near the end line of the basketball court because some
students will choose to shag in this area instead of playing up near the pins. Give each
team 5-7 volleyballs. The students will roll volleyballs attempting to knock down the
other teams pins. Students can not cross the basketball centerline but are allowed to shag
balls that roll into the out of bounds area beside their court. However, the only active
playing area where they can roll from is on their own basketball court. Students can
choose to stand in front of the pins to guard them but if they are hit by a rolling volleyball
they must move and stay behind the pins for the remainder of the game. If a student who
is protecting the pins picks up a rolling volleyball cleanly they can stay in front of the
pins. Some students will choose to be shaggers and remain behind the pins at all times.
If a pin falls for any reason it must remain down. For safety purposes you may have
students remove fallen pins to a designated area.
Object of the Game: The team who knocks all the pins down first wins.
Equipment: 16-20 plastic bowling pins, 10-14 volleyballs or gatorskin type balls,
two different colored pullovers,
Area: Basketball court
******* Non throwers can always wear an odd color of jersey, such as yellow, in any
target activity to indicate that they are participating but will be stationed further away
from the objects being thrown to feel safer.
*******This activity creates interest and is often used at the beginning of the bowling
unit just to create interest or during the middle/end of a unit to break the monotony

Gap Ball: Students are divided on two teams and are placed on the basketball free
throw line on their side of the court. They will spread out from one sideline to the other
sideline and will be given between 8-10 balls for each team depending on the number of
students. When the teacher signals to start the game students will attempt to roll balls
between the gaps that are in between students past the free throw line. Some students
who are not comfortable to play on the line may choose to shag balls behind their teams
line. Students can only throw when they are even with the line. Not in front or behind
the line.
Object of the Game: To score points by rolling balls past the other teams free throw
line. Each ball must completely pass the line and must have hit the floor prior to
passing the line.
Suggestion: This will require two people to keep score
Equipment: 16-20 gatorskin type balls
Area: Basketball Court
******* Non throwers can always wear an odd color of jersey, such as yellow, in any
target activity to indicate that they are participating but will be stationed further away
from the objects being thrown to feel safer.