Play Up and Down

You’ll need

Soft balls

Before you begin

Use the safety checklist to help you plan and risk assess your activity. There's also more guidance to help you carry out your risk assessment, including examples. Don’t forget to make sure all young people and adults involved in the activity know how to take part safely.
Make sure you’ll have enough helpers for each team to have one. You may need some parents and carers to help if you’re short on helpers.

To watch in full screen, double click the video

Playing the game

Everyone should stand in a circle. You might want to use markers, such as tape or floor dots to show where everyone is stood and keep the circle in shape.
Begin to pass the ball around.
If someone drops the ball, they need to go down onto one knee. The player must then continue to throw and catch the ball in their new position.
Keep throwing the ball around the circle.
If someone catches the ball, they can go back to their last position. For example, if a player is on one knee, if they catch the ball on their next go, they can stand up again.
However, if you drop the ball while on one knee, you must go down onto two knees.
After two knees, you go to one elbow, then two elbows, then one chin, then you’re out.
Keep playing until there’s a winner!

Reflection

This game was all about throwing, catching and coordination. How did you find throwing and catching? If you had to go onto a knee, elbow or even onto your chin, how did you find it? Did it make it harder? Did you come up with different techniques to help catch the ball in your new position?

If other people had to change position, did you work as a team to help them? Did you throw the ball in a certain way to help them easily catch it?

Safety

All activities must be safely managed. You must complete a thorough risk assessment and take appropriate steps to reduce risk. Use the safety checklist to help you plan and risk assess your activity. Always get approval for the activity, and have suitable supervision and an InTouch process.

Active games: The game area should be free of hazards. Explain the rules of the game clearly and have a clear way to communicate that the game must stop when needed. Take a look at our guidance on running active games safely.
Contact games and activities: Make sure everyone understands what contact is acceptable, and monitor contact throughout the activity.