What’s up Phys Ed Family!
One of my all time favorite content areas to teach is Throwing and Catching. I’ve blogged previously about some of my favorite games like Hula Hut Throwdown or Monster Ball. I love throwing and catching because there are just so many different games and activities you can play around those 2 skills.
This week I wanted to give you another one of my favorite throwing games for my 3rd graders and up, it’s called Boom City.
Normally when I teach this game, I give my students a quick Instant Activity and then have them go to Home Base Spots so I can take attendance.
For an example of a fun instant activity you could try out check out the video below (if that seems too complicated, here’s a more simplified one you could try):
After the instant activity and stretch we get right into the game.
Check out the video below for a basic overview:
Note: In the video above, I didn’t go into any additional levels or variations of the game, but if you download the Free Lesson Plan at the bottom of this post you’ll find more details and examples of how I gamify this activity for my students to increase complexity and motivation (especially the older students).
Here’s an overview of the game
Equipment Needed:
- Benches (or folded up mats)
- Lots of soft balls for throwing
- 2 Buckets of Rings (or anything else to track points – popsicle sticks, noodle slices etc)
- Wristbands or jerseys to designate teams
- 4-6 pool noodles
Game Objective:
To try and get the most rings in your team’s bucket before the time runs out.
The team with the highest number of rings in their bucket at the end of the round is the winner and will receive one point.
Discuss strategies, offer refinements, reset the rings and play again.
Add additional levels when appropriate before starting the next round
The team with the most points at the end of the class time will be declared the “Boom City Champions”
3 Jobs in the game:
- Throwers – throw a ball from behind the midline to a catcher on your team
- Catcher – go stand on the opposite side on the bench, try to catch a ball in order to steal a ring
- Blocker – stand in from of the black square and attempt to block the thrown balls from the other team
Rules:
- To count as a successful catch – the catcher must have 2 feet on the bench and catch the ball in the air
- When a catcher catches a ball successfully, they must do three things
- 1.) SPIKE THE BALL
- 2.) YELL BOOM CITY
- 3.) STEAL A RING – go steal a ring from the opposing teams bucket (behind the bench) and run across the gym to place the items in their own teams bucket *Have students say “SPIKE THE BALL… BOOM CITY… STEAL A RING”
- You may only carry one ring at a time
- Penalty Box (self counted 60 mississippi’s on the side wall) for any rule violation
- Throwing a ball past the midline
- Blocking a ball while in the middle square (no blocking in the catching zone)
- Taking more than one ring
- You can go ANYWHERE to get a ball, BUT you must come to your side of the gym to throw it
After explaining the rules to the students and demonstrating each job – allow each team to have 1 minute to discuss their strategies for success and then start the music to begin the gameplay. After each round, have the students all meet back in the middle and declare the round winner and discuss strategies. Then reset the rings/points in the correct bucket and begin the next round. Play as many rounds as you can in the time you have.
*Note Explain additional levels if you want after each round
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Level Examples (Game Extensions)
Level 2: Add nerf footballs. Same rules, except now you can get 2 points for a one handed catch. One handed catch means no other part of your body touches the ball except for your hand (not one hand + head, not one hand + belly). If a catcher catches a football with 2 hands they still get one ring.
Level 3: Give each team 2-3 noodles for the blockers to use to try and block the thrown balls
Level 4: Add foam frisbees. Foam frisbees are also worth 2 rings when caught
Game Variations and Modifications
- Use different equipment for throwing (Frisbees, soft volleyballs, yarn balls, larger or smaller balls, soft footballs, launch the items out of an elastic band launcher)
- If you don’t have enough benches you can use the area behind the end line as the “in-zone”, however I like having the catchers stand on something, because it increases their catches, which increases physical activity and boosts self confidence. You could also use folded gymnastics mats, chairs or aerobic steps.
- Have students punt the ball, strike with a paddle, or volleyball serve it instead of throwing to work on different skills
- Ideas for more Levels from Jason Gray
- Cool idea for a tag variation from GlenGrovePE
Strategies to discuss with students
- Communicate – call their name or make eye contact before you throw it to someone on the bench
- Even numbers of throwers and catchers to keep the flow moving (or more catchers bc it takes longer to catch/spike/steal a point than it does to throw a ball. If your team has a really good thrower, they could keep a lot of people busy catching and running the rings.
- While you are blocking – catch a ball and throw it to your team members (2 jobs at once)
- Taller people might be better at blocking/catching (know your team’s strengths)
- If you are able to throw a Frisbee or football accurately it’s worth more points, but if you can’t it’s probably not worth it (know your strengths)
- Run fast & gather multiple items at a time not just one
- Throw a rainbow – this is good because it will go over the blockers and also it gives the catcher more time to get ready because the ball is in the air for a longer amount of time
- Get close to the middle line so you don’t have as far to throw the ball
- Always keep an eye out for what job your team is in need of someone to fill.
- Eg.) if there are a bunch of catchers and no throwers – step off the bench and become a catcher
That’s it friends!
Hope you enjoy teaching and playing this game with your students.
If you want a detailed lesson plan, you can download it for free below:
Have Fun and Teach On
Nathalie Young says
Hello. Have you yourself ever tried this game using chairs? I don’t have benches and I’m really tempted to try it with chairs.
Marcus says
As long as students are safe…chairs should work.
May have to modify the rules but it should be a fun adaptation!
Benjamin says
Where do you get your softie balls that you use for this game? I have been looking for something other than gatorskin balls as they are expensive. TY
Marcus says
Hey Ben!
You can find all Ben’s recommended equipment and technology tools at the link below:
http://thepespecialist.com/amazon
The balls you are referring to are the Koogle Balls. A link to those is below:
https://amzn.to/2YFywFw
Hope this helps!
Debbie says
Love this game I think it will be so fun.. I also like your group.. I get some great ideas from it.
Ben Landers says
Awesome to hear that!
Lucy Bradford says
I haven’t tried this yet but love everything about the concept(s). I’m in my last year of teaching and looking for something I don’t already do, to strengthen throwing and catching skills. Boom City sounds like exactly what I’m searching for to keep things new and fresh with my intermediate students. Thank you!
Ben Landers says
Awesome, hope it works for you!
Amy says
Do you have a video of your students playing this? I tried it today and I feel like I missed something. The kids seemed confused.
Callen R. Fowler says
When we played, I broke it down into levels. So we first worked on just throwing across the midline the the designated area (benches/mats)
Then we added in the catchers-focused on throwing TO your target, not past. If the Catcher caught the ball/frisbee, then they would practice the “spike, shout”
Then we added in the taking the ring and running back to your home side, and back to the opposing side.
What helped one fifth grade class was having the catchers stand by me once they selected who the catchers were and the WHOLE class saw that they were switching sides.
Some classes were smaller so we used catchers & throwers/blockers shared the same role!
Hopefully this helped
Callen R. Fowler says
I actually braved it this week and played with 2nd grade! I shortened the throwing distance and we used mats stacked on top of one another. It really worked out well. I broke this down into smaller sections as well. Their instant activity was a overhand throwing activity with a partner of their choice for 3-4 minutes and then we divided the teams that way…partner who ended with the ball when the time went off, was on one time…other partner on opposite.
Ben Landers says
Nice! Glad it went well.
I love splitting teams like that – kids are usually pretty bummed to not be with their BFF, but it usually makes for really even teams
Amy says
Do you switch up the catchers after a certain time limit? I do have to say I tried it with the most difficult 4th grade class on the first day back from break, that may have been my downfall. We could all see the potential of it being a great game, they just were not into it? I will try it again though, but I would love to see a video of students playing it.
Ben Landers says
I don’t assign the roles. I let the kids choose which role they think their team needs them to be in. They can change roles anytime they want throughout the game. It’s more strategic and fun that way and also allow students to analyze their strengths
Ben Landers says
Nope, sorry. It does really help to do an entire demo before starting so kids can see which side they will be throwing to and catching from. Like I did in the video demo, have a student stand on the bench and go through each role… or you can break it up into levels slowly adding each part of the game like Callen suggested
Amber says
What grade levels have you played this game with?
Ben Landers says
I normally play with my 3rd – 5th grades
Bridget Fullerton says
What specific lines do you use in the gym for the blockers to stand behind? Do you make one or use a line that is already there?!? Thanks love the idea!
Ben Landers says
We have 4 square courts, so I just put the benches in the middle of the 4 square court and tell the blockers they must stand outside of the 4 square court.
Velda Yamashiro says
Thank you very much for sharing so many resources and ideas! I really appreciate your willingness to share and all of the time and energy you have put into all of this! I am doing a throwing and catching unit now so will definitely try “Boom City”! Thanks Again!
Ben Landers says
For Sure! Glad you’re finding it helpful, hope it goes well