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Written By John Drzewiecki And Janine Hradsky

Introduction

These versatile balls can be successfully used in large-group inclusive games as well as effectively used in small group or individualized activities. GrabBalls can be rolled, kicked (with a SloMo™ Ball inside it), tossed, tracked and caught by students with a wide range of abilities. This guide is designed to help you and your students get the most from your GrabBall in an adapted environment.

Use: Can be used with students in early childhood through high school.

Safety Suggestions: Give your students these cues. Helpful cues for throwing: Throw only when you see your partner's eyes looking at you, and when their arms and hands are out, open and ready. Helpful cues for catching: Watch the ball as it goes into your hands or fingers. Helpful cues for kicking: Kick "through" the ball with your toes pointing to your target. Helpful cues for rolling: Keep pointing your fingers to the target even after you release the ball.

General Objectives: To increase eye-hand and eye-foot coordination; tracking and catching. Also promotes understanding of cause and effect for students functioning at lower developmental levels.

Games and Activities

Drop It/Grab It GrabBall

Grade Levels: Early childhood with assistance or kindergarten through grade 1.
Objectives: To increase motor planning, spatial awareness, agility and grasp/release patterns.
Set Up: Arrange 6 hula hoops spread out in a line on one side of the gym. Put an equal number of students in 6 lines across from the hula hoops and give the first person in each line a GrabBall. When the teacher says "GO", the first person in each line runs out to a hula hoop, drops the GrabBall into the hoop, and runs back to their line and gives the next person a high five before going to the end of the line. The next person runs out and grabs their GrabBall and brings it back. Play continues until everyone has had a turn. When everyone is sitting down the whole class is a winner!
Adaptations: For students using wheelchairs, use chairs instead of hula hoops for all students so that students can reach for balls independently while not being spotted out. For lines that have students that run at slower speeds, stagger the distance of the hula hoops/chairs. It may help to discuss issues of fairness prior to playing.

Left-Handed HandBall

Grade Levels: Grades 4 through 8.
Objectives: To increase bi-lateral coordination and passing skills. Also provides opportunities to challenge the higher-skilled players, while providing adapted equipment for those who need assistance in catching.
Set Up: Arrange two teams of equal numbers on each side of the basketball court. One team wears vests. Mark off a goal area on each side using cones or mats. Mark off a shooting line 4' from each goal.
The Game: Players must use left hands only (lefties use right hands) to throw and catch the GrabBall. Goalies can use both hands. No running with the ball - passing only. Shots must be taken from behind the shooting line. A goal is scored when an offensive player catches the GrabBall from within the goal area. Goalies can be in the goal area for 5 seconds.
Variation: Same game, but the ball is rolled to teammates and goalies.
Adaptations: When including students using wheelchairs, put a few chairs on each team and have the ambulatory students take turns using the chairs when catching and throwing.

Around The Town And Knock It Down

Grade Levels: For mid to upper elementary grades.
Objectives: To increase spatial awareness, ball control and accuracy.
Safety Suggestions: Tell students to watch where they are going!
Set Up: Using cones, mark off 2 large circles several feet apart from each other. Put 3 plastic bowling pins spaced a few feet apart in the center of each circle. Put 3 lines of students several feet away from each of the 2 circles. Give the first person in each of the 6 lines a GrabBall™.
The Game: On the signal to begin, the first person in each line moves counterclockwise around the circle while air dribbling the GrabBall. When players return to their starting point after one lap around the circle, they may take one turn at throwing their ball at one of the pins in the center of the circle. If the pin is knocked down, the pin is reset by the thrower. All players retrieve their own ball, carry it back to the next person, and go to the end of the line. The next players may begin when the teacher says, "Go."

Stations

Grade Levels: Depending on the equipment used, rotation system and choice of music, stations may be appropriate for kindergarten through upper elementary grades, or even up to a modified P.E. class at the high school level.
Objectives: To provide opportunities for child-centered exploratory play and good sportsmanship, while students increase general movement skills.
Safety Suggestions: Tell students, "Please stay in your area. If someone else's equipment comes into your area, show safety awareness and good sportsmanship by handing it to them."
Set Up: Place a variety of equipment in 8 station areas around the gym. Stations may include a few GrabBalls; a few bowling pins & ball; jump ropes; hula hoops; a mat for simple tumbling; a basketball shooting station; a fine motor area with jacks; yo-yo's; a hopscotch area; a Chinese jump rope, etc. Divide students into small groups at each station.
The Activity: When the music begins, students may begin using the equipment at their station. After a few minutes of play and when the music stops, students put the equipment back where they found it and sit down. When the music begins, they may walk to the next station and proceed with the activity.
Variation: After students have shown responsible play skills, they may rotate to stations of their choice without musical cues for stopping and waiting. Students who ask, "May I play?" may be told one time, "In a moment, please." When the student returns and asks a second time, the player who is asked will show good sportsmanship and share the equipment.

Sideline Soccer

Grade Levels: For mid-elementary grades through high school.
Objective: To encourage students to learn socialization in smaller-group inclusive activities during an outdoor activity like this soccer game.
Safety Suggestions: It is recommended that an adult or student buddy oversee the sideline soccer game since the teacher will be running the large-group soccer activity nearby. On behalf of students with decreased response speed, remind other players to wait to throw until all players are ready. Also, be sure the GrabBall has an inflated SloMo™ Ball inside it before play begins. This keeps feet from getting caught in the spaces of the GrabBall.
Set Up: In order for the GrabBall to bounce enough for this game, you must first place a deflated SloMo Ball inside the GrabBall and inflate it. This Select 5 students from the class to take a turn playing sideline soccer with the student in need of individualized assistance. Mark off a smaller soccer field and use 2 cones spaced a few feet apart for the goal areas. Use one GrabBall.
The Game: With 3 students on each team, students may kick, toss or roll the GrabBall to their teammates as they try to score a goal. After 5 minutes of play, have the students each choose a new player to join the sideline soccer game. Encourage students to modify rules and come up with strategies so that all players can participate and succeed.