Lapping the Ball

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To run more laps than the other team

One team lines up with players facing the backs of their teammates. The player at the front of this line holds a stability ball. This group is the “throwing team.”
The other team is in a scattered position in the playing area. This group is the “retrieving team.”

The player with the ball tosses it to a place where there are few retrieving players.
The entire throwing team does jumping jacks while the player at the end of the line runs around the entire team. When the running player returns to her starting spot, she tags the second player on the back. The second player then runs around the entire team, and when she returns to her spot, she tags the third player on the back. The throwing team tries to get as many people as possible to run a lap before the retrieving team completes its task.
The retrieving team gets the stability ball as quickly as possible and forms a line with the player who retrieved the ball at the front with the ball. The retrieving player passes the ball over her head to the player behind. That player pushes it under her legs to the next player, who passes it over her head to the next player, who pushes it under her legs, and so on. Players alternate passing over and under until the last player in line holds the ball. When the last player in line gets the ball, she shouts, “Stop!”
On the shout of stop, the throwing team calls out how many players completed a lap.
The two teams switch roles. JOHN
Have the players continue the game until each team has retrieved the ball three to five times.

Tips and Variations
- Specify various exercises for the throwing team, such as marching or hopping around the group, or counting the number of can-can kicks or sit-ups the entire group can do.
- Specify various challenges for the retrieving team, such as passing the ball down the left side of the line and returning on the right, or over and under to the back of the group and back to the front again, or rolling the ball between the whole team’s legs and returning the ball to the front overhead.