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Introduction

The Sportime Field Day Pack adds that extra boost to the usual track-and-field events conducted during field day. It can also be broken up and used in your regular physical education classes throughout the year. Included is an instruction sheet to help you get started organizing your event. Use this sheet as a starting point and let your ideas and your students' creativity take over. Don't forget that every event does not have to be a single individual competition. You should attempt to organize partner as well as group cooperation events. Inclusion should be a key factor in the total success of your event. Above all, have fun!

You will need cones, rope and other easily identifiable equipment to post restrictions on play areas. This is especially important for the races and throwing events.

With only slight modifications, you can make your field day program completely accessible for differently-abled students as well. In most cases these modifications can be made without changing or altering the activities content and educational benefit.

Your Field Day Pack consists of 6 Flying Foam Discs, 6 Chuk-Ems, six 90-mm Squellets™, 6 plastic batons, 6 hoops, 2 sets (4 each) of 12" hurdles, a set of 6 Hopsackers™, a set of 12 juggling scarves, a 20" beach ball, a 50' closed-reel measuring tape, a 165' open-reel measuring tape, a stopwatch, a whistle and a mesh carrying bag.

1. Allow enough distance between activity areas.
2. When developing a schedule of events, be careful of conflicting "like" events. In some cases this is desirable to avoid the "good athlete" from being in everything.
3. Have enough adult supervision on hand to prevent accidents.
4. Limit the number of events an individual can compete in to avoid a single person winning everything, as well as avoiding exhaustion. Consider limiting by time or the number of similar events.
5. Organize the school/grade/class into small equal teams. Stress the concept of total involvement. Everyone must participate.
6. Create events that utilize the talents of all individuals.
7. Develop a scoring system that incorporates an inclusion concept.
8. Incorporate a positive spirit of encouragement without the pressure to win.
9. Include critical thinking/problem-solving events.
10. Include events that incorporate elements from classroom subjects.
11. Don't forget a lesson on distances. Although we are presenting events in U.S. measurements, you have an opportunity to teach the metric system prior to your event and incorporate measurements in your races.
12. Always prepare your equipment, charts and forms at least 3 days in advance before the event.

Running Events - dashes, 50 yard and 100 yard; hurdles, 50 yard; distance, 440 yard; and relays 4 x 50 yards

Long Jump - standing and/or running

Triple Jump - hop, step jump

High Jump/Standing Jump For Height - if your facility and equipment permit

Obstacle Course - run, roll, crawl, jump and jump over

Basketball Foul Shooting - Around the world game

Football Throw - for accuracy

Home Run Derby - 5 swings at a whiffle ball of a tee

Soccer Kick - for distance

Target Lawn Darts - using hoops and beanbags

Jumping Rope - how many, total or timed

Hula Hoop - how many, total or timed

Floor Hockey - target shooting

Scooter Board - swimming races

Scooter Board - canoe race

Set up: Have students work to develop both distance and accuracy. Create a straight line for them to use as a target line. The object is to throw the disc as far as possible, while keeping it as close as possible to the line. When measuring the distance of the throw, take the total distance minus the distance from the line for their distance. Use the measuring tape for accuracy.

Set up: Create a line similar to the one you used in the Foam Disc Throw above. Again, this event should be measured on both distance and accuracy.

Set up: The key to this event is throwing the Squellet like a real shot put (do not allow the hand to pass behind the plane of the body or shoulder). Distance and accuracy should be the basis for judgement in this event, similar to the discus and javelin.

Set up: Heats of 6 participants should be scheduled having the winner from each race move to the quarter, semi and final race. The distance should be kept short enough based on ability and long enough to have a difference in speed.

Set up: Use these in running races and other relay events.

Set up: As a Hula Hoop activity, these can be used as a "how many" or as a timed event. Heats should be arranged, and winners advance to the next level. As a target, the hoops can be positioned on the ground (or in a holder) an appropriate distance away. Specify the means of throwing, regulations for the throwers' position and where/how the thrown object must land or come to rest.

As a cooperative activity, the hoop can be used as a home site where partners return or as a confining area that serves as perimeter until the task is complete. Imagine one student inside the hoop and the other is a distance away. The goal is to complete a "blind" task using different methods of communications.

Set up: For races position the hurdles in lanes for the runners to jump over. To be fair, establish a rule that requires the runner to jump the hurdle in the center. This is so students don't jump with only one leg or run around the hurdle.

For obstacle courses, you can require the runner to engage the hurdle in any safe fashion you desire.

Set up: Used in sets of 3, this activity can be organized as a "how many scarves can you juggle without stopping" or "how many scarves can you juggle in a given time." This can also be organized as a partner activity under the same type of conditions.

Set up: The ball serves as a prop in a relay race with teams of 8. For example: Two students carry the ball from the start to the finish. The rule is that the ball cannot be touched with their hands. When they reach the finish line, the ball is passed to the next pair, again without hands. If the ball drops, the pair must return to the start line and begin again.