Week 4 - Boccia

Equipment

Boccia balls and jack or alternative e.g. red and blue bean bags and a white bean bag
Hopscotch court or materials to make a court
Suitable indoor or outdoor playing area
Measuring tape to assisit with set-up
Masking tape or chalk to mark boccia court.

Download the Boccia - Week 4 activity card to support teaching before and during the sport session.

Skill development game

Learning intention

To create targets that challenge opponents to try different types of shots to get closest to the target.

Skill focus

Throwing
Rolling
Shot placement

Hopscotch

This game can be played individually, in a group or against another team.

Individual: a player attempts an activity, recording the score. Over time they can track their progress, aiming to improve the score with each attempt.
Group: players work together to complete an activity, taking turns at propelling balls, aiming to gain the greatest score possible.
Team: players are split into two teams, red and blue, challenging each other to achieve the highest score.

Activity set-up

Use chalk to draw a hopscotch court, existing hopscotch playground markings or use A3 paper as boxes to create hopscotch court to set-up playing area.
Draw numbers 1 - 10 in hopscotch court.
Draw throwing line 2m from number 1 on hopscotch court.

How to play

Individual
- One player propels 6 balls at target.
- Points allocated by number in the box ball rests on.
- Only one ball scores per box (additional balls in same box do not score).
Groups
- Group plays as a team and propels 12 balls at target.
- Points allocated by number in the box ball rests on.
- Only one ball scores per box (additional balls in same box do not score).
Teams
- Play red vs blue.
- Each team takes it in turns to play 6 balls at target.
- Players may knock opposing teams balls out of hopscotch squares.
- Once all balls played, calculate each team’s score.
- Points allocated by number in the box ball rests on.
- Only one ball scores per box (additional balls in same box do not score).

Safety

No one enters the target area during play.
Players do not retrieve balls until the round is finished.
Ensure sufficient space between hopscotch courts.

Modifying Hopscotch using TREE

Teaching style

Encourage players to try different styles of propelling the ball: rolling the ball, underarm throw, overarm throw.
Think of ways in which players can improve their aim: aim in front of the target and let the ball roll in when throwing, try to release the ball when the hand/arm is extended towards the target.

Rules

Vary the method of sending the ball (e.g. throw, roll, kick, strike).
Double points if the ball lands on a number

Equipment

Boccia ball alternatives include objects such as bean bags, paper and tape balls or Koosh balls.
Slower ball/faster ball; larger ball/smaller ball. A non-rolling object, such as a bean bag, may be used.
Use benches, boards or other objects to ‘channel’ the balls towards the target.

Environment

Increase or decrease the distance between the hopscotch court and the throwing line.
Making the hopscotch squares bigger, or the distance to the target smaller, makes the activity easier.

Boccia game

Learning intention

To practice and refine accuracy of rolling or throwing a ball towards a target.

Skill focus

Throwing
Rolling
Shot placement

Boccia

Equipment

Boccia balls - 6 red, 6 blue and one jack (white ball)
Masking tape or chalk to mark playing area
Seats for players

Activity set-up

Mark playing area as shown in Boccia court layout and dimensions.
Place chairs one metre apart at throwing line.
Players sit in order red, blue, red, blue, red, blue.

How to play

The red team throws the mtarget ball (called a ‘jack’) anywhere onto the ‘valid area’.
The side throwing the jack also plays the first coloured ball.
The opposite side then plays their first coloured ball into court, then the teams take turns for a nominated number of bowls or until everyone has had a bowl.
If the jack is thrown or knocked out of court, it is placed on the cross and play continues.
A tie-breaker is used if scores are level at the end.
The jack ball is placed on the cross and sides toss a coin to determine the order of play.

Scoring

The side with the most balls closest to the jack scores one point for each scoring ball (i.e. each ball closer than the opposing team’s closest ball). If two or more balls are equally close, they score one point each.
The winning team – highest total number of points.

Modifying Boccia using TREE

Teaching style

Encourage players to try different ways to propel the ball:
- - - rolling the ball
    - underarm throw
    - overarm throw.
Think of ways players can improve their aim:
- - aim in front of the target and let the ball roll in
  - when throwing, try to release the ball when the hand/arm is extended towards the target.

Rules

If the jack is thrown or knocked out of court it is replaced on the cross and play continues.
If 2 or more balls are equally close to the jack at the finish of an end they each score 1 point.
If scores are level after 6 ends, a tie-breaker (extra end) is played. The jack ball is placed on the cross and sides toss a coin to determine the order of play.

Equipment

Boccia ball alternatives include objects such as bean bags, paper and tape balls or Koosh balls.
Items such as ‘plastic guttering’ can be used as a ball-sending ramp.

Environment

Adjust the playing area and distances to make the game easier or harder.
The Boccia court layout and dimensions shows recommended court dimensions but Boccia can be played on any suitable sized area.
The cross is marked 5 metres from the mid point of the back line.
The apex of the non-valid line is marked 1.5m from the mid point of the throwing line.
Players boxes are 1m wide.

Reflection

Questions for players

Skill development game

What do you do if your opponent’s ball is closer to the target than yours?
How can you work with your partner to restrict your opponent’s scoring opportunities?

Boccia game