Steve Bird Section 13
Steve Trapper
LOW ORGANIZATIONAL GAMES
Activity:“Spud”
Category of Game:
Tag Game (Modified using a ball)
Grade Level:
4-8
Learning Expectations:
- Students will perform movement skills in the kind of combinations that are required in a variety of modified games (eg. running, jumping, and hopping in combination).
- Students will also jump for height vertically, as well as demonstrate a variety of running techniques (eg. sprints).
Equipment:
- 1 ball (preferably soccer, but any type will do) per game. In our case, we will play two games.
- An unobstructed open space such as a gym or field.
Rules of the Game:
Students are broken up into two groups. (One group is fine, however the lower the number of people in each group, the more each person participates.) Every student pairs up with a partner. Each partner set gets a number (no partner sets have the same number). For example, if there are 20 people in the group, and 10 pairs, each pair is numbered 1-10. One pair is chosen to start the game. With everybody standing in the middle of the playing area, the beginning partners will throw the soccer ball in the air directly vertical and yell a number from 1-10 (not their own number). At this point, every pair will run away from the ball as fast as they can, holding hands. The partners who’s numbers were called must retrieve the ball as quickly as possible and yell spud once they have it in their possession. Once spud is yelled, everyone must stop where they are. The partners with the ball roll the ball towards the closest partners attempting to hit them. If the ball touches either one of the two partners (they can’t move), that pair has a letter “S”. At this time, everyone walks back to the center of the playing area, and the process starts over again; this time the pair with the “S” throws up the ball and calls out a new number. The object of the game is to run away from the ball fast enough (provided your number has not been called) so that you don’t get a letter from being hit with the ball. Once a pair has spelt “SPUD”, the game is over. In most cases, the game serves as a warm up to get people moving. With this in mind, it is unlikely that an entire game (SPUD spelt) will be played.
Teaching Strategies / Management Strategies:
To ensure the safety of every participant, the ball is rolled on the ground to hit the pairs rather than thrown. If possible, this game is best played with smaller groups, or large groups broken up into smaller groups if proper supervision is available. This way when students run, it is easier to keep track up potential injuries.
Modifications / Adaptations for Special Needs:
For physically disabled children, group them with other students (perhaps in 3’s) so that they do not feel left out. For hearing impaired students, a copy of the instructions could be written out, and the numbers could be displayed with symbols (on the hands). Similarly, instead of yelling “Spud”, the people retrieving the ball could use a signal.