I asked my K-8th grade students to share a list of the best Physical Education basketball games for kids that we play. Below are their top five picks, including a video demonstration of each!
Around the Gym Knockout
This fun basketball game for PE is played just like the original knockout game, where you try to get the person in front of you out by scoring a basket before them. However, in ‘Around the Gym Knockout’, when you are eliminated from one goal you move on to the next goal and join that game. In our gym, we use four to six basketball goals at a time. To start the game, we divide up among the goals and each goal is treated as a separate game. Students enjoy this game because they don’t have to wait till the end of the game to keep playing. Once eliminated, they move on to play with a new group of students at the next goal. Check out Around the Gym Knockout in action!
Team Knockout
Evenly divide your students into 6 lines; each line has their own basketball. It’s best to color code your equipment in this game to avoid confusion as seen in the video. On the whistle, the first person in each line takes one shot from their cone. If the basket is missed the students quickly rebound their ball and shoots from everywhere until a basket is made. The first of the six people to make a basket is safe and returns to the end of their line, while the others are out. Once out, the only way back into the game is if your teammate makes the first shot from the cone, all players from that team rejoin the game. **House Rule** If there is one player remaining from a team and they make their first shot by the cone, all players eliminated are back in the game regardless of their team color.
Dribble Tip Over
Scatter cones all over the gym floor, various sizes if available. On signal students dribble around the gaming area tipping or set up cones on the various signals, then switching out with the next person in line. Variation: have two groups of students each with different jobs, picking up or tipping down cones. Check out the Dribble Tip Over basketball games for PE in action!
Pass, Dribble, Shoot, SCORE!
Scatter polyspots on the gym floor surrounding the basketball goals. On the signal, a student in front of each line passes the basketball over their head to the person behind them. The line continues to pass over their head until the last person in line receives the basketball. The last person then dribbles to any poly spot on the floor and shoots the basketball. If the student makes the shot, they pick up the poly spot and bring it back to their line. While the person is shooting the line moves back to make an empty spot at the front of the line for the shooter to start passing the ball overhead when they return. When all the poly spots are taken up, the game is called and a point value is given to each different colored spot (Don’t give point values to the spots until the end, so students will focus on shooting not adding spots). Have the teams add up their spots, and the line with the most points wins the game.
Dribble Mania
Dribble Mania is a great PE basketball game for kids! Students dribble in the gaming area trying to stay in control of their ball. While dribbling with one hand, students use their other hand to knock away someone else’s ball. Students must remain in control of their ball. If a student loses control of their ball their turn is over. When your turn is over the student returns to their line and hands the ball to the next player.
Promoted: ACTION! 4-Point Play
Get four balls in a row by passing and shooting in this strategic, fast-paced basketball games for PE of Gopher’s ACTION™ 4-Point Play! Place the goal at one end of the play area and create a shooting line in front of the goal. At the signal, two players from each team start at the other end and work together to advance a ball towards the goal by dribbling and completing at least four passes before shooting. If the player misses the shot, players rebound the ball and try again. If the shot is made into the goal, the next pair of players take their turn. Teams collect points by connecting four basketballs in a row! The team with the most points after all 42 balls have been scored, wins! Dribble, shoot, and score big when you get four balls in a row!
10 Responses
For the game Pass, dribble, shoot score, what happens if the student does not make the basket? Do they go back to the line? do they shoot again?
You can modify what works best for your class. I only allow one shot to keep the lines moving.
Thanks for the information, it’s very useful for people who love sports
You’re welcome! Basketball is a crowd favorite sport at our school 🙂
Great ideas! Thank you!
I am glad you liked them! I love sharing.
Just Great!
Simple Great!
This is a great article for basketball coaches and players alike! I appreciate how you’ve highlighted various basketball games that can help players develop key skills like ball handling and shooting. Your tips on how to modify the games to suit different skill levels are also helpful. Thanks for sharing these fun and effective ways to improve basketball skills!
All great games that my students love to play during our basketball unit. Our students even play these games on their own during their classroom outdoor recess time.