Author: John Park

Gateball Activity Sheet

Name:Tic Tac Toe; Three in a row
Teams try to position 3 balls in a row to win
( Adapted from Connect 4 a game developed by CNSW/AASC)

Focus Area: (Accuracy/Strategy/Communication etc)
Shot direction
Shot length
Strategy
Teamwork

Key Teaching Points:
Remind kids about Stalk, Sight, Stand, Stare, Swing
Playing together to achieve an outcome – developing a strategy

Equipment:
Mallets
Tarpaulin marked up with 20 rectangles
Gateballs
1-10 Badges or bibs 

Activity Description:
Kids are allocated a ball and badge
1&2 and  9&10 line up on the  two short sides of the rectangular tarpaulin
3,4&5 and 6,7&8 line up on the two  longer sides
Players place their ball one mallet's length from the edge of the tarpaulin
Balls are played, in turn on to the tarpaulin
The first team to get three in a row wins the game
If two balls end up on the same square the first one counts
If a ball knocks out another ball, that's fine but if a ball is knocked on to an empty square it can score that one

Play the game in reverse once the first game is over ie 10,9,8,etc

Change it: (Questions)
How could we make this game harder/easier? (Come closer or go further to start, use sparking ...)
Could we change how the game is scored ( most balls on squares?)
Should we have one leader?
Time limit on time to hit ball

Safety Considerations:
No one goes on the mat until all have played
Players stand in their place while others play
Mallets held still by players side when not in use.