Submitted by: Jordan Tobin, 2026 HPEC Membership Conference Grant Recipient
Forwards and Guards
Each team has FORWARDS and GUARDS- 2 teams with 2 different
colors of pinnies. One color for guards, one color for forwards.
FORWARDS: Your job is to try to score. Pass the ball
to your teammates and try to score by bouncing the ball off the floor onto the
wall.
GUARDS: Your job is to defend the wall- stationed
right against their own team's baseline/wall, guards are restricted and cannot
move more than one step forward . Protect your wall and try to stop the other
team from scoring.
HOW DO WE SCORE?
To score, your team must:
Throw the ball. Players cannot run or walk while holding the
ball
The ball must bounce on the floor first.
Then it must hit the other team's wall.
It must hit the wall below the guards' shoulders.
HOW DO WE DEFEND?
Guards try to block or catch the ball before it hits their
wall. They can not move from the line in front of the wall.
When your team scores: The team that scores switches
guards to forwards. You do not switch until you score.
FORWARDS become GUARDS.
GUARDS become FORWARDS.
Everyone gets a chance to attack and defend!
- You can only take 3 steps with the ball.
- You cannot enter the crease as a forward, and the ball
must bounce off the floor to score (cannot directly throw it).
Variations: You can have a few different colors of teams-
one of the colours can be waiting off and then you can mix up the teams. Each
colour will remember how many points they got in that round.
Yoshi (from https://www.youtube.com/@physedgames)
Invasion and strategy tag game where two teams try to cross
the gym or field and get all their players onto the opponent’s safe zone, often
called an "island" or mat
How to Play and Rules
● Setup: Split the playing area in half with a center
line. Place an exercise mat or mark a designated safe zone (end zone) on each
opposite end wall or baseline. Divide the group into two equal teams, each
starting on their own side.
● Objective: Be the first team to successfully move
every single team member across the centerline and into the opposite team’s
safe zone.
● Getting Tagged: When players cross the centerline
into enemy territory, they can be tagged by the opposing team. If tagged, they
must immediately sit or crouch down right where they were caught.
● Rescuing Teammates: A sitting player can be saved
if a teammate safely runs across the centerline without getting tagged and
reaches them. Once linked (holding hands, linking arms, or high-fiving
depending on the exact house rule), both players get a free walk back to
their own half and are immune to being tagged during that walk back.
● Safe Zone Rules: Players who have already made it
safely onto the opponent's mat can leave the mat to rescue trapped teammates,
but the moment they step off, they are active and can be tagged out
again.
● Calling "Yoshi": If the game stalls,
slows down, or takes too long, the teacher or leader can shout out "Yoshi!"
This special call allows all currently seated or trapped players to stand
up and make a free sprint or rush for the opposite safe zone, turning the end
of the round into an exciting race. Students sitting must first go to their
side and then to the island
Adapted from website: https://physedgames.com/
and https://www.youtube.com/c/physedgames
P.E. Games - Yoshi https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=suFRXDX2KpU
