Bullseye Pass

Name and Purpose

Bullseye Pass builds throwing accuracy and catching composure under gentle pressure.
Players practise aim, communication, and gracious recovery from mistakes.

a.k.a.

Age / Group / Time / Space

Materials

Quick-Run Card

Players spread out within the boundary area.
One player starts: throw the ball to any other player.
Off-target throw = the thrower earns a point. Good pass dropped = the receiver earns a point.
Play continues until time is called or a player reaches an agreed point total.
Final two players: each puts one hand behind their back and tosses back and forth until one misses.

Setup and Boundaries

Mark a loose boundary with cones so players stay within a comfortable range of each other.
Signal: one short whistle = pause; two whistles = stop and gather.
Check the ground for wet spots or uneven surfaces before play.

How to Play

Players spread out inside the boundary, roughly arm’s-length-plus apart.
The starting player chooses a target and throws the ball toward them.
If the throw is clearly off-target (judge agreed before play: knees to shoulders = catchable zone), the thrower earns one point. If the throw is catchable and the receiver drops it, the receiver earns one point.
Whoever earns the point takes the next throw.
The round ends when time is called or a player reaches the agreed point limit (e.g., three points).
Final two: each places one hand behind their back. They toss back and forth until one misses. That player earns the final point. Lowest total wins.
Celebrate effort and great catches throughout, not just the winner.

I-OPt Options

A (Active): Throw and catch at full pace; aim for tricky-but-fair deliveries.
S (Support): Call points honestly, encourage good throws, help judge the catchable zone.
Q (Quiet): Participate at a shorter throwing distance or use a lighter ball.
O (Observer): Track the score, watch for patterns, choose when to rotate in.

Inclusion Adaptations

Players who find overhead throwing difficult may throw underarm at any time.
Use a larger, slower-moving ball (beach ball) for players who need more time to react.
Shorten throwing distances by grouping players closer together.

Stewardship Moment

Consent

Pre-brief: “This game involves throwing and catching. For those not comfortable with things coming at them quickly, we can use a slower, larger ball or a shorter throwing distance.”
Mid-game check: After a few rounds, pause. “Thumbs up, sideways, or down. How is the pace feeling?”
Opt-out/re-entry: Step to the sideline any time. Raise a hand to rejoin as the next person to catch.

Risks and Mitigation

Hard throws at close range: agree before play that the catchable zone is knees to shoulders. Anything outside that zone is automatically the thrower’s point, no debate needed.
Disagreements over what is catchable: appoint one staff member as the call-maker for the session.
Final two players feeling spotlighted: staff narrate the fun of the challenge, not the pressure of winning.

Warm-Up Suggestions

“Five Tosses”: partners throw back and forth five times. Count how many you catch without moving your feet.
“Soft Landing”: practise catching with “soft hands” (arms slightly bent, absorbing the ball).

Debrief Questions

What? “What made a throw easy or hard to catch?”
So What? “What did you notice about how you reacted when you missed?”
Now What? “Where else in life do you need to recover quickly from a small mistake?”

Cleanup and Reset