Bounce And Hit Through The Tunnel

Learning Outcomes

To learn bouncing and hitting skills.

Description Of Activity

Divide the class into two equal teams.
Scatter the cones around the designated playing area in a zigzag or obstacle course pattern.
Distribute the hula hoops to one team. Each student should hold a hula hoop upright to create a tunnel. Space the students holding hula hoops evenly across the playing area.
Distribute the noodles to the other team.

Gameplay:
Warm-up (Optional): Briefly review locomotor skills like skipping, hopping, jumping jacks, etc. Have students perform them for 30 seconds each.

Bounce and Hit:
Explain that one team will be the "tunnel team" and the other will be the "bouncing team."
The bouncing team members each hold a pool noodle like a bat.
On your signal, the bouncing team starts at one end of the playing area. They should use various locomotor skills (hopping, jumping, skipping) to navigate around the cones while dribbling the floor with the noodle (bouncing).

Hitting Through the Tunnels:
As they reach a tunnel (student holding a hula hoop), the bouncing team member needs to use their noodle to gently tap the top of the hula hoop to "hit through" the tunnel.
Encourage them to maintain a steady bounce while hitting the tunnel.
The tunnel team member holding the hula hoop should lower it slightly to allow them to pass through.

Switch and Repeat:
Once all members of the bouncing team have completed the course, the teams switch roles. The tunnel team becomes the bouncing team, and vice versa.

Cool Down:
After a few rounds, end the activity with some gentle stretches.
 

Variations

For a challenge, have the bouncing team members try to bounce the noodle a certain number of times before hitting each tunnel.
Introduce different tunnel heights by having some students hold the hula hoops higher than others.

Coaching Tips

Play upbeat music to add energy to the activity.
Encourage sportsmanship and teamwork throughout the game.
Modify the difficulty based on the age and ability of your students.
Younger students might benefit from using lighter pool noodles or starting with fewer cones.
For older students, you can increase the distance between cones or the number of times they need to bounce the noodle before hitting the tunnel.
This activity can be easily adapted for students with physical limitations. For example, students who can't hold a hula hoop can stand at designated spots to create "tunnels" with their arms raised.

Equipment/Material Required

Noodles (pool noodles or foam pipe cleaners) - enough for half the class (one per student)
Hula hoops (enough for half the class)
Cones (4-6)