Community Level 1 - Acquainted

Materials: Beach balls, open space

How To Play: All players scatter on a basketball court or open field. Use a well-inflated beach ball as the object of the play. Depending on the group's size, introduce one or more beach balls. More beach balls create more challenge for the group. The group's objective is to hit the ball aloft as many times as possible before the ball strikes the ground. Depending upon the skill of the group, you can set goals of increasing numbers of hits (30, 50, 75, 100 and so) to add challenge and incentive for cooperation.

Plan for Success: Before playing, practice appropriate levels of force when hitting the ball(s), for both safety and game strategy. This practice will also help you determine the group's current level of skill and cooperation, and in turn, guide your decision as to how many balls to introduce. Set a goal for the group of including all players in the volley.

While playing, stop periodically and ask students for suggested strategies to increase the number of hits.