March Madness isn’t just for basketball fans—it’s a perfect opportunity to bring competition, teamwork, and excitement into PE class! Whether your students love hoops or just enjoy a fun challenge, these five creative ideas will help your students get more invested in the tournament and provide more fun at your school!
1. Run a 3-on-3 March Madness Tournament
Bring the excitement of the NCAA tournament right into your PE class with a 3-on-3 basketball bracket-style tournament! This format keeps more students engaged while allowing for faster, high-energy games. With multiple baskets, games can be played simultaneously. For younger students, set up Gopher’s AllAround Goals for mini hoops around the gym.
- Divide students into small teams of three or four players.
- Set up a single-elimination or double-elimination bracket based on the number of teams.
- Keep games short (e.g., first to 5 points or a 5-minute clock).
- Use modified rules (such as no stealing, lower hoops, or passing requirements) to keep all students engaged.
- Keep track of winners and update the bracket on a large poster or digital scoreboard.
- Have a “Final Four” showdown during the last PE class of the tournament and crown a champion!
Encourage teamwork, sportsmanship, and strategy throughout the competition, just like in real March Madness.
2. March Madness Bingo Challenge
Turn PE into an interactive challenge with a March Madness Bingo board! This fun activity keeps students engaged with a variety of basketball-themed skills and exercises.
- Download and print off the below Bingo card to encourage guided free-play.
- Give students a set amount of time to complete as many squares as possible.
- They must complete an entire row, column, or diagonal to get BINGO!
- Reward students who complete their boards with small incentives, like extra warm-up activities of their choice.
This is a great way to work on different basketball skills without making every student play a traditional game!
3. Pump Up the Gym with a March Madness Playlist
Music fuels the energy of sports, so why not create a March Madness playlist to get students in the basketball mindset? Whether you’re running drills, warming up, or celebrating a tournament win, a great soundtrack makes everything more fun!
- Put together a mix of upbeat, basketball-themed songs appropriate for kids or use some from the playlist below!
- Use the playlist during warm-ups, drills, or tournament games to create a high-energy atmosphere.
- If possible, let students suggest songs for the playlist to get them even more involved.
Music makes everything more exciting, and this playlist will turn your gym into an arena!
4. School-Wide March Madness Bracket Challenge
Get the entire school involved with a classroom-based March Madness bracket challenge! Each class is assigned a real NCAA team and follows their progress through the tournament.
- Assign a Team to Each Class – Randomly match up each class with a real March Madness team. They will “represent” this team throughout the tournament. Encourage classrooms teachers to get in on the action by decorating their classrooms and supporting their teams!
- Track the Bracket – Set up a giant tournament bracket in the hallway or gym and update it daily. Classes can cheer for their teams as they advance!
- Encourage Team Spirit – Have students wear their team’s colors, create posters, or learn fun facts about their assigned school.
- The Prize: The class with the winning team earns an extra PE period or a fun basketball-themed activity of their choice!
This challenge creates school spirit and keeps students engaged even outside of PE class. Plus, it ties into geography, teamwork, and friendly competition!
5. Pick the Champion & Win PE Teacher for a Day
Give students a March Madness prediction challenge with a special PE-related prize—being “PE Teacher for a Day”!
- Each student picks the team they think will win the NCAA championship.
- As a tiebreaker, students predict the score of the winning team (to keep it easy) or total combined points of the championship game.
- The student with the correct pick (or closest tiebreaker guess) wins the chance to act as the PE teacher for a class period!
- They can choose warm-up activities, select a fun game, or even blow the whistle and give instructions.
This idea adds excitement to the tournament while rewarding students with an experience they’ll never forget. Plus, it helps students learn about sportsmanship and competition.
March Madness is the perfect opportunity to bring basketball-themed energy into your PE class! Whether you’re hosting a 3-on-3 tournament, creating a school-wide bracket challenge, or letting students become the PE teacher for a day, these ideas will have your gym buzzing with excitement.
How will you celebrate March Madness in your PE program this year? Let us know in the comment section below!
