Snowball Fight Yukigassen: A Drop-Ball Game for Physical Education

This game idea brings Yukigassen, a team sport from Japan, into the sports hall as a snowball fight in physical education. Snowballs become softballs, and ice blocks become gymnastic mats. The two teams try to knock out as many members of the other team as possible and steal the opposing team's flag. Everyone can run with the ball in their hand and pass it to each other; anyone who is hit sits on the bench.

This is included in the material

• Foreword on the sport, which is now played in many countries and even has an official world championship
• Game description with course of play, throwing rules, and scoring system
• Floor plan for setting up protective walls, team flags, and team benches
• Material list with softballs, small and large mats, flags, cones, as well as bibs or team bands
• Possible variants and a tip for people in wheelchairs

Tips for using the material

• Three rounds: The game can be played over three rounds of at most three minutes each; a stolen flag brought to your own team bench earns extra points and ends the round immediately.
• Team meeting: Between rounds, a team meeting is a good idea, where the teams can discuss their joint tactics.
• Change the rules: The game can be played with a step rule, with more or fewer balls, with two or without team flags, as well as with differently set up obstacles or a smaller or larger playing field.
• Zombie ball variant: Anyone who has been knocked out can return to the field as soon as the person who hit them is knocked out.
• People in wheelchairs can, for example, receive a protective shield with which they can deflect the balls.

These skills are promoted

• Accurate throwing at members of the other team
• Dodging and catching thrown balls
• Tactical action in the team when passing the balls and stealing the opposing team's flag

You can find more throwing games in the Snowman Fight in Physical Education and the Zombie Ball Variants, additional winter games for the sports hall in the Winter Challenge in the Sports Hall.