Circle Dodgeball

Got a few kiddos that love to gang up and say, “Us vs Everyone Else” Oh I have heard this chant so many times in sports and it tends to make things competitive and leave little room for inclusion.  Here is a game to switch it up and give everyone a little something. It’s called Circle Dodgeball. 

This is a very fast version of dodgeball where no one is out. In this game, the goal is to get all the players in the centre of the gym as fast as you can.  

When I set this game up, I create a good size circle in the middle of the space, with cones or using the lines in the gym. Then I select 2-3 people to start in the middle with all the dodgeballs I can find, their goal is to get everyone in the circle with them by hitting the other kids with the ball. I have everyone else run in the same direction along the walls of the gym. Leaving only 2 mats as “Safe Zones”. These Safe Zones are only active for each person for a set amount of time. You can have the group decide the time limit on the mats or you can choose. I tend to say 20-30 seconds. 

Game Play

• Create a Circle in the centre of the space with pylons
• Set up the 2 gym mats or pylon boxes as “Safe Zones” on either side of the space with a time limit. (20-30 Seconds) 
• Select 2-3 kids to start in the middle of your circle with all the dodgeballs
• Have the rest of the kids run along the walls of the gym in the same direction, trying to avoid getting hit with a dodgeball.
• Kids in the middle throw the balls at the runners trying to hit them. If they hit them below the shoulders the runner now joins the middle and starts throwing the ball at the other runners. 
• Kids throwing are only allowed out of the circle to get a ball, they cannot throw that ball until they are standing inside the circle. 
• If there is a headshot, the kid that was hit switches places with the kid that hit them. 
• Last kiddos standing win and are in the middle for the next round

The Mods

• Remove 1 or all the “Safe Zones”.
• Teachers’ vs students (this is a love it or hate it option)
• If a Runner catches the ball in their hands, the person throwing it becomes a runner.