Race To The Bases is a striking and fielding game designed to help students explore striking to an open space in physical education class. The game's different builds ensure that every student gets to experience success at bat!
Each team has its own playing area with a batting tee at one end and a cone set out from it to act as the running base. Fielding players spread out in the space beyond the tee. Playing areas should be spaced far enough apart that play does not overlap.
The batting player scores as many points as they can by running back and forth between the tee and the running base. The fielding players work to end that run as quickly as possible by getting the ball to the running base.
Playing areas should be spread far enough apart so as to avoid any overlapping play.
Students should be instructed to drop their bat following their swing (not throw it as they swing).
Pitching players (if used) should be at least 15’ away from the batting player.
Builds allow you to increase the game's complexity, one layer at a time.
Player One starts at bat and strikes the ball into the playing area. The fielding players field the ball and get it back to the tee as quickly as they can.
This is repeated two more times, then Player Two goes to bat and Player One joins the fielding players.
Students now play the full game of Race To The Bases.
As a modification, batting players can have the next player in the batting order pitch to them using an underhand or overhand throw. If Player Three is at bat, for example, Player Four pitches. A batting player who chooses this option gets four attempts to strike the pitched ball.
You can also add a rule that a ball caught out of the air makes the play automatically dead. This encourages fielding players to think about their positioning in the field.
The teacher places three spots in the playing area: a red spot, a blue spot, and a yellow spot.
The fielding players now set up with one player at the running base and the other two standing on two of the three spots. The batting player must try to strike the ball toward the open spot.
Once the ball has been struck, the fielding players may leave their positions to field the ball to the running base.
After their turn, the batting player uses the Striking To An Open Space Recorder to note whether they successfully sent the ball toward the open spot. Players then rotate positions as in the earlier builds.
Print the game sheet, leave it on your desk, and your sub has everything they need: the diagrams, the builds in order, what to say, and what to watch for. This one is $4. #PhysEdU Plus members get all 39, free forever, for $49 a year.
Games that build on the same tactics.
