Cooperative games help students have a meaningful role in accomplishing the outcome. Many games can be cooperative games with a few adaptions and changing the focus. Here are some cooperative games.
Spider Web
Students are scattered around the gym with about 3 gator balls. When students get a ball, they stay stationary and try to throw it at other students. If students get hit from the waist down, they are out and sit down. To get back up, students grab a ball and throw it at someone standing up, if they get hit they sit down the sitting student stands and returns to play. Students who are sitting ("Out") can pass the ball between eachother before throwing at a standing player. Whoever has touched the ball before hitting the standing play gets to return to the game.
Modifications
Use colors to indicate people
Must pass before throwing at someone
Scatter
Students are scattered around the gym with about 3 gator balls. When students get a ball, they stay stationary and try to throw it at other students. If students get hit from the waist down, they are out and sit down. If the person who got them out gets out, students stand up and return to play.
Modifications
Students tag instead of throw
Use colors to help identify people
New Hampshire
All students expect for 2 start wearing a jersey. The 2 students without a jersey are the taggers and work together to throw the ball (1 for the game) and hit another player from waist or below. When the taggers have the ball they are unable to move, but can pass it to be able to move again. Students with jerseys move throughout space avoiding the all. If the ball ever touches them, they take off their jersey and join the tagging/throwing team.
Modifications
Students get 3 steps with the ball
Students can only walk, not run
Never Out
Students are split into 2 teams, one fielding team and one kicking team (similar to kickball). Cones are set up in a rectangle around the gym making a track around the space. The fielding team pitches the ball to the kicking team who kicks the ball. After they kick it, they will start running around the "track". Fielding team works to get the ball back to the pitcher, and when they do they yell "STOP". The runners will stop where they are at and the next person kicks. On the kick, everyone starts running while the fielding team works to get the ball back to the pitcher. Students score points for every lap that they complete until everyone on their team has kicked and then they switch spots.
Modifications
Stationary kick and/or throw the ball to start
Short the laps or distance
Use a larger lighter ball
Pass to certain number of teammates
King Pin
Students are split into 2 teams, one on each side of the gym with 5 bowling pins on the baseline. Students try to knock over the other teams pins using gator balls. If they cross over the midline they can get tagged and go to the penalty box (usually on side behind pins). You have to catch a ball from your team in the penalty box to be freed. Many options for students throw, guard, and tagger.
Modifications
Use lighter balls
Have specific roles for students
Allow a neutral zone
Do an exercise in penatly box to get back in
Hula Hut Throw Down
Students are on 2 different teams on different sides of the gym. Teams start by trying to collect hula hoops by either making in a main basketball hoop (5 hoops) or side bins (1 hoop). Once students collect 6 hula hoops they can build a hula hoop castle on their baseline. Once it is standing the other team tries to knock it down in addition to collecting hula hoops. Try to have 3 hula hut's standing at one time.
Modifications
modify targets, distances, and number of hoops
Assign roles
Use larger, lighter balls
Allow neutral zone to make basket
Obstacle Course
Create an obstacle course consisting of different tasks for students to complete with a partner or group. Adjust task to fit learning objectives, needs, interests, and space/equipment.
Modifications
Distance, equipment, task demand
How they are getting around the obstacle
Big Base
Students are split into 2 teams, a fielding team and a kicking team. The fielding team pitches the ball and the kicking team kicks it and runs to the first base (continuing if wanting to). Fielding team attempts to get them out by either 1) catching the ball in the air 2) hitting a runner while running or they get the ball back to the pitcher. The pitcher rolls the ball and the next person kicks the ball and runs. When the ball is kicked, any runners will decide to run and advance to the next base or stay at the base they are at. There is no limit to the number of people on base.
Modifications
Use a larger/lighter ball.
Use a stationary kick or throw
Allow partner runners