Target

Beanbag Bocce

Beanbag Bocce is a target game for physical education through which students can develop their ability to send an object with accuracy. Using beanbags instead of bocce balls, the game can be played either inside or outdoors!

https://youtu.be/vK5qVTG7jR8

Learning Targets

I can underhand throw an object with accuracy.
I know the cues for underhand throwing an object with accuracy.
I understand how I can adapt my form to increase the accuracy of my throws.

Game Overview

Play Area
  • Teams of four play in their own marked area with a throwing line. Areas should be spaced far enough apart that beanbags from one game do not land in another.
Goal
  • Land your team's beanbags closer to the pallino than your opponents can. Each beanbag you land nearer to it than their closest throw is worth a point.
Play
  • Divide the class into teams of four. Each team gets four identical beanbags, one per player, plus one different beanbag to serve as the pallino.
  • Teams decide who throws first. The starting team throws the pallino, then their first player throws their beanbag, trying to land it as close to the pallino as possible.
  • The second team's first player throws next, and teams continue alternating until all eight players have thrown.
  • The team with the closest beanbag to the pallino scores a point. If that same team also threw the second closest, they score another, and so on up to a maximum of four.
  • Only one team can score in a round.
  • Players collect their beanbags and the pallino, and the team that did not score starts the next round.
  • Play short games to seven, with teams playing a best of three series before moving to a new opponent.

Equipment

  • Beanbags
  • Cones

Safety

Make sure students do not go retrieve their beanbags until all of the players have finished throwing.

Game Builds

Builds allow you to increase the game's complexity, one layer at a time.

1
Build
1

Throwing for Accuracy

Set up a square playing area and place the pallino in the middle of it.

Teams alternate turns trying to throw their beanbags as close to the pallino as they can. Teams may not enter the playing area, but they may throw from any of its four sides.

Discussion Questions

  • Which side of the playing area did you choose to throw from, and why?
  • What did you change about your throw after watching where your first beanbag landed?
2
Build
2

Throwing for Distance

Instead of a pallino, each game uses three cones placed five, ten, and fifteen feet from the throwing line.

Teams play with the cone five feet away in round one, ten feet away in round two, and fifteen feet away in round three.

Discussion Questions

  • What did you have to change about your throw as the cone got further away?
  • Which distance was hardest to judge? Why do you think that was?

Away on Thursday?

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.

More
Target
Games

Games that build on the same tactics.