Bouncy Ball Dodge Ball Activity

There are two things every preschooler loves: balls and throwing things! The bouncy ball dodge ball activity incorporates these preschool passions into a heart-pumping game that will have your preschooler ducking and weaving, and certainly laughing.

Bouncy ball dodge ball is played just like a traditional game of dodge ball, but with bouncy balls. Preschoolers love the dodge ball concept, but when played with a large ball their small stature and emotional sensitivity can make the game intimidating and possibly even open up participants to injury. This modified game of bouncy ball dodge ball is sure to provide loads of fun without any stress.

What You Will Need

For maximum fun, you’ll want to recruit at least 10 preschoolers to play.

Several Bouncy Balls, approximately one ball to every three players

A Piece of Chalk

What to Do

Step 1:

Locate a large, paved area to play the game. You’ll also want your playing surface to be flat and free of obstructions.

Step 2:

Draw a large circle on the playing surface with chalk. Make sure the circle’s perimeter is large enough to accommodate players running around inside of it. The size of your circle will also vary depending on the number of participants.

Step 3:

Divide preschoolers up into two teams. Try to keep the team numbers as even as possible.

Step 4:

Choose one team to come inside the circle.

Step 5:

Instruct the remaining preschoolers to spread out evenly and stand along the chalk markings to create a “human” circle.

Step 6:

Pass out the bouncy balls to the preschoolers standing on the outside of the circle.

How to Play

Just like a traditional dodge ball game, players will throw their bouncy balls at the preschoolers inside of the circle. The preschoolers inside the circle will do their best to avoid being hit by a bouncy ball.

If a preschooler is hit by a bouncy ball, he/she will have to move to the outside of the circle. If a preschooler inside the circle catches the ball, he/she must also move outside the circle.

Play continues until only one player is left inside the circle. That preschooler is crowned the winner.

Bouncy Ball Dodge Ball Activity Tips

*It’s best to play at least two rounds of bouncy ball dodge ball to give each team a chance to start out in the center of the circle.

*Enlist the help of parents and grandparents to play the “outfield.” Bouncy balls are known to travel great distances and take some skill to catch. It will be a big help to the preschool players to have someone catch any stray balls and return them to the game.

Let’s Play Ball!

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