Womba-ball is derived from variations of Cricket. From the wicket-gates of sheep pastures of 14th Century England to the 21st Century powerhouse fields of South Africa, India and Pakistan, cricket is played the world over. The game of using a shepherd's staff to protect a gate from a ball of wool has come along way!
In PE class students play Womba-ballTM, which is a modified version of the Australian-playground
favorite, Kanga-ball, to give students various opportunities at
developing batting, throwing, catching, base-running, and fielding
skills related to this fast and fun game. This game is easily
suitable for 4-20 players of all age and skill levels great
for picnics and family outings!
The Womba-ballTM Unit is taught at Blaine Elementary so that all students can participate during the class session developing throwing, catching, fielding, batting and base-running skills as related to the game of softball while meeting the following EALRs:
EALR 1.1.1 Demonstrate physical skills that contribute to movement proficiency:
3rd Grade:
Throw with mature form to a stationary target
To catch with two hands
Strike using a manipulative
4th Grade:
Throw accurately with mature form to a moving target
Catch with mature form objects thrown at different levels
Strike using a manipulative with several forms (batting)
5th Grade:
Throw a variety of balls within various activities and force
Catch and field a variety of balls
Strike consistently to a specific area using a manipulative
EALR 1.2.1 Follows rules and safety procedures while participating in a variety of physical activities
Progression of Skills:
Lesson1
Throwing and catching, throwing for
accuracy, catching grounders
Lesson 2
Throwing and catching, fielding (grounders),
batting, and throwing for accuracy.
Lesson 3
Throwing for accuracy, catching, batting,
and fielding (grounders, etc.). Intro softball-
related rules.
Lesson 4
Throwing for accuracy, catching, fielding,
batting, and base-running. Development of
softball-related rules, and teamwork.
Lesson 5, 6, and 7
Throwing for accuracy, catching, fielding
(cut-offs, back-up, etc.), batting, and base-
running. Development of softball related rules, and teamwork.
Lesson 8
Assessment, through informal observation, is based on the EALRs of being able to properly throw, catch, and bat the ball.
NOTE:
An Ideal playing surface is either your gym, an undercover area, tennis courts or any ashalt surface.
Equipment used: "UltraFoam Bats" and "UltraFoam No-Bounce" balls that you can purchase through Gopher (look for "Bonker Bats and Balls"), Sportime, and / or US Games. Bowling pins can be purchase with sand in them but I have found that you need more (playground) sand in them than provided. Also, two liter pop bottles with water works as well. You will need frisbees.
For a group of 24 students you would need 4 field set-ups: 8 bats, 4 balls, 8 frisbees, and 16 pins.
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Equipment per partner group:
One "UltraFoam No-Bounce" ball, and two wickets (plastic
bowling ball pins)
- sand-filled base for bowling ball pins used outdoors
- hard surface, such as tennis court, would be ideal
Following skill-drill activities:
Partner overhand throw and catch
- Emphasis catching skills as much as throwing
Partner under-hand toss and grounder catching work
Partner under-hand toss and pop fly catching
Partner overhand throwing at partner's wicket (bowling pin) for accuracy (this person is called a "Bowler") while other partner is catching from BEHIND their one wicket.
(Tip: Have Bowlers yell out, "Womba" whenever they knock a pin over so that they, and you, can hear them being successful)
Both partners now have a wicket, spaced some 25 apart (or what ever distance will allow the greatest success) of which they both are trying to knock over each others wicket acting as both Bowler (throwing from BEHIND their own wicket), and catcher (From BEHIND their own wicket). Continue to focus on catching skills from behind the wicket.
Students
are now placed in 3-person partner groups.
Equipment per partner group:
One "UltraFoam No-Bounce" ball, and two wickets (I use
bowling pins - place some playground sand if using outdoors)
- hard surface, such as tennis court, would be ideal. Pins fall
down on grassy surfaces
One "Super UltraFoamBat"
One Frisbee
Following skill-drill activities:
Designate the following positions: Bowler, Batter, and Catcher. The Bowler is trying to knock over the two wickets (spaced 1" apart), Batter is trying to protect the wickets by the batting ball away. Catcher is working on catching the bowled ball.
- proper batting form is introduced
- fielding skills (by bowler) are also introduced
- the ball can be hit anyway (from ground, side, top, etc.) and
anywhere (there is no foul territory in cricket) to keep the ball
from hitting the wickets.
- If a ball is caught on the fly by either catcher or bowler then
that is an out.
Note: If the Batter knocks over one, or two wickets at ANYTIME then one or two outs (respectively) are called. Three outs or 10 pitches creates rotation Bowler to Batter, Batter to Catcher, and Catcher to Bowler.
Now introduce the frisbee, or "Marble Pot" - referred to now as MP.
The MP is used as another way the batter can protect his/her wickets. The MP is placed 6" inside from the wickets. If the batter has the TIP of their bat in the MP then there is can be no outs called if wickets are knocked over by the Bowler. Basically, the batter does not have to swing if they don't like the pitch, or they think the pitch is going to knock over one/two wickets.
Now take your groups of three and combine them with another group of three and have them sit with a partner to form 3-partner pairs within that group of 6.
Equipment per partner group:
Two "UltraFoam No-Bounce" ball, and four wickets
- sand-filled base for pins used outdoors
- hard surface, such as tennis court, would be ideal
Two "Super UltraFoamBats"
Two Frisbees
Following skill-drill activities:
With a field set-up of two wickets, MP, and a bat positioned about 25 feet from another set of wickets, MP, and bat, assign the following positions:
one partner group as Bowlers, one as Batters, and one as Outfielders.
The Bowlers split up to each take up a position behind a set of wickets. The Batters split up to each take position of a batter, and the two Outfielders are separated to either side of the mid-field of the established wickets.
The OBJECT: THE BOWLERS AND OUTFIELDERS WORK TOGETHER TO GET THE TWO BATTERS OUT 3 outs to cause rotation.
They do this by bowling the ball to knock over the set of wickets 25' away. The other Bowler acts as the catcher. The catcher picks up the ball and bowls back to the other set of wickets 25' away, and so on until three outs, or the Batter scores 10 runs. Base-running skills are introduced here!
- Now, you might be asking, what creates 3
outs?
o A caught pop fly = out
o A knocked over wicket = out
o Remember, a knocked over wicket is from a bowled ball, a thrown
ball, and/or a wicket knocked over by the batter in the process
of batting or running
A ball placed in the MP is an automatic 3 outs
- runs are created by a the two Batters when
one of them hits a bowled ball and
the two Batters are then able to run and exchange positions (they
carry their
own bat with them while they run!). Each exchange = 1 run.
You can play in groups of 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12. However, the more groups you have the more standing around. In my class of 24 students I typically do groups of six for 4 field set-ups. If I have more students then I would suggest groups of 6, 6, 6, and 8 for example.
With a group of 8 you will have two sets of Outfielders, with each set facing each other perpendicular to the line of play between the Batters and Bowlers - 20' apart from each other. This just means that with rotation Outfielders will rotate twice.
With uneven teams I do the following rotation:
On first rotation: 2 Bowlers, 2 Batters, and 3 Outfielders. Bowlers rotate to Batters, Batters rotate to Outfielders, and then the 3 Outfielders do rock-paper-scissors. The two winners rotate to Bowlers. The non-rotating Outfielder stays put. The two rotating Batters-to-Outfielders do rock-paper-scissor with the winner joining the non-rotating Outfielder to make a set.
On next rotation the two Outfielders rotate to Batters, while the remaining Outfielder rotates to the emptied Outfielder position awaiting the result of the 2 Batters-to-Outfielders results of rock-paper-scissor.
I know, sounds confusing but actually try itit does work fairly.
Anyways, hopes this helps. Any questions e-mail
me at: dpersse@blaine.k12.wa.us
Thanks for attending this presentation, and best of luck!
Dan Persse