Play Area
The teacher divides a rectangular playing area into two zones. At the end of each zone, the teacher creates an endzone area that will be known as the "Castle Areas". Each Castle Area is marked by a "moat" line that cannot be crossed during gameplay (except for retrieving a ball)
Within each zone, the teacher will place several mats on the floor (one for every two students on that team). Each mat is a Slingshot Mount.
The teacher will then divide the class into two teams and invite each team to set up a "Castle" within their Castle Area. Castles can be made up of hula hoop structures, cones, pins, etc. Each team must build their Castle using the same list of equipment that the other team has.
Player Roles
Within each team, the teacher will divide students off into pairs. Within each pair, one player is assigned as the Slingshot and one player as the Loader.
Goal
The goal of the game is to destroy the other team's Castle before they do the same.
Play
To begin the game, each Slingshot will position themselves on a Mount in a sit-up start position. Each Slingshot's Loader will stand by their partner.
The teacher will then send gator balls into to game.
Once the gator balls are in play, Loaders may run to collect them one at a time and bring it to their Slingshot.
Once loaded with a ball, a Slingshot may launch the ball towards other team's castle via a powerful sit-up.
This goes on for 2-3 minutes and then the teacher invites players to switch roles with their partner.
Play ends once one team's Castle has been completely knocked over.
Safety
Players should be mindful of where they are throwing. Students should also be taught to throw with proper sit-up form.
Build One: Slingshots & Loaders
To prepare for build one, start by breaking each team off into pairs. Within each pair, assign one player to start as the slingshot and the other player to start as the loader.
Slingshots set up by finding an open slingshot mount and getting into a sit-up start position. The loader partner should be standing by their mat with them.
The teacher will then send gator skin balls into the game. This is when the fun begins!
The goal of the game is to try to knock over as many of the other team's castle structures as possible.
To do so, loaders must run and collect one ball, return to their partner, and place the ball in their partner's hands.
Once they have been loaded up, slingshots launch balls towards other team's castle via a powerful sit-up movement.
This goes on for two minutes. Once the timer has ended, players switch roles with their partners.
Build Two: Blockers & Batteries
For build two, dissolve the student pairings that you created in the previous build and then divide each team in half.
One half of the team will then be divided into pairs and be assigned the roles of slingshots and loaders for this build.
The other half will be divided into pairs as well, but will be taking on new roles: blockers and batteries.
The blockers role is to prevent the other team's slingshots from damaging their team's castle. To do so, blockers stay along the moat line and block any balls that come flying their way.
However, blockers are battery powered! While a blocker plays their role and attempts to defend their castle, their battery partner must hold a wall squat outside of the playing area.
Blockers and batteries stay in constant communication with each other and may switch roles on the fly at any point throughout the round.
Rounds last two minutes after which partners exchange roles.
After two rounds within this build, each half of a team switches roles with the other half (so slingshots and loaders become blockers and batteries, and vice-versa).
Build Three: Laser & Power Unit
For build three, you will once again dissolve the student pairings that you created in the previous build and then divide each team into thirds.
One third of the team will serve as slingshots and loaders, the other third will serve as blockers and batteries, and the final third will serve as Lasers and Power Units.
While the students agree on the roles they will play, go ahead and place hoops in playing area (one per laser). Each hoop is a laser mount.
When play begins, all of students begin to play their roles. Here's how the two new roles work:
First of all, lasers need to be powered up in order to perform their role. To do so, their power unit partners need to perform jumping jacks outside of the playing area.
While their power unit does their job, the laser may move within their team's zone and collect TWO balls.
Once they have collected two balls, the laser must make their way to an available mount. Once there, they may launch a ball using an overhand throw.
Once the laser has launched both of the balls that they have collected, they go tag their power unit and the two partners exchange roles.
Rounds last two minutes after which partners exchange roles.
After two rounds within this build, each team third switches roles with another third so that every player gets to play each role.
Players should be mindful of where they are throwing. Students should also be taught to throw with proper sit-up form.
