Adapted Tchoukball

There was an article about Tchoukball in this months JOPERD journal. I have also attended Tchoukball workshops and this game is a lot of fun, and helps teach invasion games' strategy. You can access information about Tchoukball simply by typing in "Tchoukball" in google. You can even see a video on you tube. Click here

Equipment: One playground or gator skin type ball for each group of 8 to 12 players; two targets for each team; cones, spots, or floor lines to divide the games and mark a restricted area (Tchoukball calls this a forbidden area); pinnies or some other way of designating team members.

The game:

• Divide the class into groups of 8 to 12 players. Each group will then subdivide into two equal teams.
• Assign each team to an area in the gym, field or play space, and divide each area with floor markers. If using a gymnasium, use the width of the gym to provide each game with more room.
• Assign two targets for each team. Tchoukball uses rebound nets and a forbidden area, but you can substitute the rebound nets with basketball backboards, large hula hoops hung high on opposite walls, anywhere on opposite walls above a taped line, or even (especially if using an outdoor field) two students on opposite ends.
• Use cones, poly spots, or floor tape to mark off a restricted area in front of each goal. The size of the restricted area should be decided by the teacher or the players in each individual game. A shot may be taken from the restricted area, but the ball may not rebound into the restricted area, and catches must be made outside the restricted area.
• To begin the game, choose to see which team gets the ball first. That team begins the game in the middle of the play area. One person begins with the ball in his or her hands. When in possession of the ball, you may not move. You can only pass or shoot.
• Each team must make three passes before taking a shot. The fourth person catching the ball may shoot, but may also continue passing. Count out loud as each pass is made.
• A shot is considered a ball thrown at a target, or in the case of a human target, a pass to the target. As the ball is rebounded off the backboard or wall, the other team must catch it before it bounces. If a catch is not made, the shooting team receives one point. The ball cannot be caught in the restricted area. If the ball lands in the restricted area, the other team gains possession and play continues from mid-field.
• If a pass is dropped or goes out of bounds, possession changes to the other team and continues from where the pass was dropped or went out of bounds.
• If the target is missed, possession changes to the other team and continues from mid-field.
• Possession changes after a point is scored, and begins once again at mid-field.
• The defense may not interfere with the passes. They cannot intercept or deflect a pass. The defense should be moving to ready themselves to catch the ball on a fly when a shot is taken.
• Remember, a shot may be taken at either target. In the case of using a human as the target, that target would then look to pass the ball on the fly to the non-shooting team. This is the only case where you may allow the shooting team to try to intercept or deflect the ball. When not using a human target, there must be no interference with the non-shooting team's attempt to catch the ball.
• Play for a certain amount of time. See which team has the most points when the time is up.

Variations:

1. Use other types of balls and/or targets.
2. Instead of passing by throwing, strike the ball or punch it to each other.
3. Allow catches on one or more bounces. May help younger children.
4. Allow the defense to intercept or deflect the passes.
5. Do not force a certain amount of passes before each shot.
6. Allow a step and a half as in a basketball layup when shooting and/or catching a ball.
7. Using the rules you find by goolgling Tchoukball, you can make up your own rules.
8. Use more than one ball per game.