Gopher’s NowNets are the ultimate addition to any physical education class! They’re easy to set up, versatile, and get everyone moving and practicing skills.
Teachers everywhere are coming up with some awesome ways to use NowNets, and we’ve gathered a few of the best!
To maximize their use and effectiveness, we recommend pairing NowNets with Gopher’s 28” Rainbow Vinyl Cones. If 28” cones are not available, NowNets will work with any cones larger than 12”H.
Get ready to revamp your PE class with these 10 NowNet activities:
1. Balloon Volleyball
Dive into “keepy-uppy” balloon volleyball, thanks to MrHamiltonPE! His setup includes 12 NowNets around the gym, letting up to 48 students play simultaneously with 4 on each court. Talk about action-packed!
1v1 Balloon Volleyball in #PhysEd today! 12 courts and 24 active 1st graders! Love using our @GopherSport NowNets for easy set up and tear down! 🏐🎈 pic.twitter.com/91OpcyidDc
— Kent Hamilton (@MrHamiltonPE) November 8, 2023
2. Pickleball Games:
JagsDenPE’s take on pickleball with NowNets is a game-changer! These courts pop up in minutes, cutting down wait time and boosting playtime, so students can sharpen those pickleball skills in no time.
🏓Students working on some short-handled striking activities this week. Set up these @GopherSport NowNets for the first time and am impressed with how they work. Cones being used for reference are 28”. #physed #pickleball pic.twitter.com/d1Qbu4OdRf
— 𝙅𝙖𝙜𝙨' 𝘿𝙚𝙣 𝙋𝙀 🤾🏽 (@JagsDenPE) November 14, 2023
3. Golf or Bowling Lanes:
Middlebranch-Avondale PE gets creative by setting up safe hitting lanes for Top Golf fun with NowNets! Perfect for both golf and bowling activities, ensuring students stay safe while aiming for those targets.
4. Small-Sided Volleyball Games:
Leah Wheeling’s volleyball activities with NowNets focus on hand-eye coordination. Whether you’re tossing volleyballs or beach balls, NowNets make it easy and fun for students to improve those volleyball skills!
Love our new @GopherSport NowNets for Nitroball today @SimleMiddle @BismarckSchools #learnbps pic.twitter.com/PvfwDOyS1a
— Leah Wheeling (@LeahWPE) October 30, 2024
5. 4-Square Volleyball
Mark Jungmann kicks up volleyball with a 4-square twist! With NowNets set in a cross formation, students get a unique way to practice volleyball in smaller groups.
This week in #physed! #striking #volleyball pic.twitter.com/bQBJRSKsE2
— Mark Jungmann (@Big_Creek_PE) September 29, 2023
6. Pathways Map
Mike Chamberlain’s Pathways Map gets students exploring the gym with movement card task cards! From jumping to crawling around NowNets, this one is perfect for coordination and spatial awareness.
“Pathway Maps” – K-2 Ss traveling throughout the gym following the directions shown on the maps. After each completed map, Ss earned $20 & began again.
— Mike Chamberlain (@mchamberlainPE) October 17, 2024
If you’re interested, here is the Canva template link to print or more your own. https://t.co/RJfiH6SrCO#elempe #physed https://t.co/2QtOUSxcmZ pic.twitter.com/6sNzZVAKsh
7. Clean Up Your Backyard
Stuewe33 uses NowNets for a fun “Clean Up Your Backyard” game! The nets serve as dividers and can be quickly moved, letting you set up and pack down in a flash.
Clean Up Your Own Backyard. A different version of the popular game using scooters, scooter hockey sticks and @GopherSport Now Nets. @OlatheElemPE @KAHPERD pic.twitter.com/IDmllJeKVs
— Chant Stuewe (@stuewe33) August 29, 2023
8. Over, Under, Through
DigitTheAPE shares how they use NowNets in a game of Over, Under, Through. They set up NowNets at different heights, using different sized cones, to challenge students to jump over the NowNets or crawl under them.
Love my new @GopherSport NowNets, donated by @AthleticsK12, here we used it for an Over-Under-Through lesson in #AdaptedPE #PhysEd pic.twitter.com/gXxCZVFQmf
— 🦍Matt Barker ⚽️𝙅𝙪𝙨𝙩𝘼𝙙𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙄𝙩.𝙘𝙤𝙢 (@DigitTheAPE) September 26, 2023
9. Floorball
RoyalOaksPE takes floorball up a notch by adding NowNets. Students use lollipop paddles to hit foam balls under the nets, making for a fun mix of teamwork and competition.
Floorball. Thanks to @pe4everykid for the game idea. #ROSAPE pic.twitter.com/Htq529yFev
— ROSA PE (@RoyalOaksPE) April 19, 2024
10. Nitroball
High school students go all in for Nitroball, using stability balls and NowNets. With volleyball-style rules but a lower net, Nitroball allows for more strategy and success on the court.
Nitro ball with a twist. Use different ball sizes to add to the entertainment. @WHPEOffice pic.twitter.com/GOoJk1erol
— Molly dado (@molly_dado) November 6, 2022
NowNets are a hit in PE classrooms, providing countless ways to enhance student learning and engagement. Whether it’s for skill-building, team games, or individual challenges, NowNets make physical education versatile and interactive. Explore these options and see how you can bring new energy to your PE classes with NowNets!