Lap Pass

Name and Purpose

• Lap Pass is a cooperative circle game where players pass a ball around the circle using only their laps and knees.
• Builds teamwork, body awareness, and the ability to work together without verbal communication.

a.k.a.

• Knee Roll, No Hands Pass

Age / Group / Time / Space

• Ages 8-16 | 8-30 players | 10-20 minutes | Seated circle, indoors or outdoors

Materials

• 1 rubber playground ball per group
• Optional: additional balls of different sizes for added challenge
• Flat seating surface (chairs, benches, or ground)

Quick-Run Card

1. Sit in a circle with knees touching.
2. Place a rubber ball in one player’s lap.
3. Pass the ball around the circle using only laps and knees. No hands.
4. Count how many successful passes the group completes before a drop.
5. Add a second ball or try changing direction for more challenge.

Setup and Boundaries

• Seated circle, knees close enough to touch the neighbours on each side.
• Signal: leader clap = pause the pass.
• Players keep hands resting at their sides or in their lap behind the ball.
• Check that the seating surface is stable and level.

How to Play

1. Everyone sits in a tight circle with knees touching their neighbours on each side.
2. Place a rubber ball in one player’s lap to start.
3. That player tilts and shifts their knees to pass the ball to the next player’s lap without using their hands.
4. The group works together to pass the ball all the way around the circle.
5. Count how many passes are made before the ball drops. The group sets its own record and tries to beat it.
6. Add a second ball moving in the same direction, or try reversing direction, for added challenge. The group decides together when they are ready.

I-OPt Options

• A (Active): Focus on precision passing and try to set a group record.
• S (Support): Coach neighbours quietly, encourage steady pacing.
• Q (Quiet): Focus on your own movement, keep calm and controlled.
• O (Observer): Watch from just outside the circle, count passes aloud for the group, step in when ready.

Inclusion Adaptations

• Players in wheelchairs can participate by holding a tray or cushion across their lap to catch and pass the ball; hand-free passing rule still applies.
• Players with limited leg mobility can use a scoop made from a folded towel held between their knees.

Stewardship Moment

• Ball is washed and stored after use. No single-use items.
• Reflection: ‘How did you have to adjust when the person next to you moved differently?’

Consent

• Pre-brief: ‘This game involves sitting close together with knees touching. For those not comfortable with close contact, sitting slightly farther apart and using a small board or tray across the lap is another option.’
• Mid-game check: After the first pass-around, pause. ‘How did that feel? Ready to add a second ball?’
• Opt-out/re-entry: Any player can step back and count passes from the side. Rejoin by taking an open spot in the circle.

Risks and Mitigation

• Ball dropping and rolling away: a soft rubber ball stays close. Staff retrieve quickly.
• Knees bumping uncomfortably: remind players they only need knees close enough to pass. No pressure to stay tightly pressed together.
• Competitive frustration over drops: reframe drops as useful data. ‘What would help us get further next time?’

Warm-Up Suggestions

• ‘Knee Tap Rhythm’: everyone taps their own knees twice, then their neighbours’ knees once. Repeat to build comfort with close seating.
• ‘Slow Tilt’: practice tilting side to side in rhythm before the ball is introduced.

Debrief Questions

• What? ‘What helped the ball keep moving? What made it harder?’
• So What? ‘What does it mean to cooperate with your body instead of your words?’
• Now What? ‘When do you need to be extra aware of the people right next to you?’

Cleanup and Reset

• Return balls to storage.
• Wipe down balls if used on wet or dirty ground.