Ball Challenges

All participants have their own ball. Start by having them face you, preferably in a semicircle with plenty of space around them. Here are some suggestions for challenges you can give them:

• Lie on your back with the ball between your feet. Throw the ball up in the air with your feet, quickly stand up, and catch the ball while standing.
• Lie on your stomach and try the same (or throw with your arms if it's too difficult with your feet).
• Stand upright and throw the ball backward between your legs and over your head, then catch it in front of your body.
• Try throwing the ball the opposite way: from in front of your body and backward between your legs, and catch it behind/below your bottom with both hands between your legs.
• Roll the ball down your back, kick it forward with your heels, and try to catch it again.
• Throw the ball up in front of your body and catch it with your arms behind your back.
• Throw the ball up in the air and spin around 180, 360, 540, or 720 degrees before trying to catch it.

As an adult, you can organize the activity by having participants 'mimic' you. Show the exercises instead of explaining too much – this leads to more activity and fewer breaks. When you want attention, hold the ball completely still and ask participants to do the same.

Increase the ball's speed and the pace of the movements to make the exercises more challenging.