All Run Softball or Football or Soccer ball etc.

**This was not written by me. The reference at the bottom of the lesson.**

This is a traditional game with a very nontraditional approach. In order to increase the activity level of students, a few changes have been made to what most Americans know as softball.

What You Need:

Booper bat
“soft” softball
bases
6 hula-hoops
18” cone

Where to Play:

Softball diamond or grass area large enough to accommodate a softball game.

Activity Description/Steps:

• Set up a softball type diamond and distribute six hoops in the outfield. Place two hoops each in left field, center field, and right field.
• Batting team lines up behind the backstop or in a safe area. The first batter hits the ball into fair territory and runs around the bases without stopping. All team members must follow the batter in single file (no passing). Each player reaching home plate before “out” or “6” is declared, scores one run for their team. It is possible that in one inning a batting team of 9 could score all 9 runs, if the fielding team fails to get the ball to all 6 hoops.
• The fielding team takes positions in the field making sure that there is one player in every hoop. The fielding team gets the batting team “out” by catching a fly ball or by throwing the batted ball to a different player in each of the 6 hoops. The players in the hoops must stay inside. The batter is out once each player in a hoop has caught a ball. It is helpful if the fielding team calls out the number of each catch. Therefore when the fielding team yells “6,” the supervisor calls an “out.”
• Change sides after 3, 4, or 5 outs. All players must rotate being inside and/or outside of hoops.
• Use the 18” cone as a batting tee, designate a pitcher, or have the activity leader pitch. Vary degree of difficulty by eliminating or adding hoops.

Safety:

Emphasize safety rules when using a bat.

Batting team must stay behind backstop or at a safe distance from batter.

Batter must not throw bat at any time.

Runners must stay behind one another when running with team.

Fielders must make sure teammates are looking at them before throwing to hoops.

How To:

Overall site supervision is extensive.

Do not let any player touch a bat before all safety rules have been covered. Demonstrate what throwing the bat is when playing softball.

Physically show students on the batting team where to stand when game is in play.

At all times keep batting team behind batter and/or a safe distance from swinging area.

Remove any student who throws the bat.

Demonstrate game prior to attempting to play.

Remove any student who refuses to obey safety rules.

To divide class into batting and fielding teams have all students find a partner “back-to-back”. One partner is A and the other is B. Group A is the fielding team and group B is the batting team.

Variations on the Activity:

Remove the bat from the game and have batter throw or kick a ball into fair territory. Change softball to football, soccer ball, foam ball or Frisbee.

Play “Alaska Snowball.” There are no hoops in this version. The fielding team lines up in single file behind the person who fields the ball. The fielders then alternate passing the ball over their heads and through their legs until the last person carries the ball to the front and yells “OUT!”

Cooperative Activities:

All players must agree to rules set. Activity leader must demonstrate how both batting and fielding teams must work together to get runs and outs. Make first few innings “practice” until group understands this nontraditional approach to softball. Stop game as needed to remind teams how to develop teamwork. Do not allow students to yell at other teammates for making mistakes. When that happens put student in time-out and ask him/her to come back to game when ready to demonstrate good sportsmanship.

Reference:

www.foundation.sdsu.edu/projects/spark/index.html