Scoops Activities

Plastics scoops are a tool in our equipment room that often go underutilized. However, they can offer a lot of coordination and control benefits and are a great stepping stone to lacrosse if you are thinking of teaching that! Below are a few skill-building activities using scoops.

1. Scoop Shoes

Scoop Shoes is based on the backyard game horseshoes. Place two hula hoops at least ten feet apart. Opposing players stand behind their hoop. Each player takes turns tossing a beanbag (or something else with a limited bounce) into the opposing hoop. Encourage students to use the underhand throwing motion. If the beanbag stops inside the hoop, the player is awarded two points. One point is awarded for a ball that stops less than a scoop length away from the hoop. Players use the scoop to measure the distance. With larger groups, we play games of two versus two.

2. Jai Alai Scoops

This activity is basically a scaled-down version of Jai Alai. Arrange students in groups of three. Each group finds a section of the wall to throw the ball against using their scoop. Two of the three players play first while the third player waits and referees. The player who begins with the ball, throws it against the wall. The ball must strike the wall above the six feet on the gymnasium wall. You can use tape to mark this height with a line. The ball must be caught on the fly or on the first bounce by the opposing player. If successful, this player immediately throws the ball against the wall. If a player is unable to catch a serve, he steps off the court to become referee. The third players now enters the game and play continues. The first of the three players to score seven points wins the round.

Catch three is a great game to teach movement without the ball and quick decision making. Make teams of three to five players. Smaller teams increase the number of touches per player. The goal of the game is for each team to make three consecutive catches without dropping the ball. You can choose to allow a bounce or not. When a team is able to do this, they receive one point. The opposing team then receives the ball. Any time a ball bounces more than once or the offensive team is unable to make a catch, it is considered a turnover and the defense immediately gains possession. The defense may NOT knock the ball out of an offensive player’s scoop.

4. Scoops Ultimate

Scoops Ultimate has similar rules to traditional Ultimate. The goal of the game is for the offensive team to advance a plastic ball into their end zone by catching and throwing with plastic scoops. To increase the excitement and level of success, you can allow the ball to bounce once. Therefore, a ball must be caught in the air or on one bounce in order for the offense to maintain possession. If the ball is dropped and bounces more than once, the defensive team gains possession. The defense may not knock the ball out of an offensive player’s scoop. When the offense catches the ball in the end zone, they receive one point. The defensive team immediately runs the ball to midfield to continue the game.

Subject: Physical Education Level: Upper Primary (3-5) , Middle School (6-8) Material Type: Activity/Lab