PATTERING FEET, CHILDREN'S VOICES
ABBY: Do you like having fun and trying something new?
Perfect!
Because today, we’re going to learn some of the skills that we need to play boccia.
SOFT MUSIC
It’s time to meet our wonderful boccia coaches: Rafael Young and Natasha Critchley.
RAFA: We’re here to tell you a little bit about boccia.
Boccia is a ball sport where you’re trying to win by scoring more points than the other side, by getting more balls closer to the white ‘jack’ ball than your opponents.
ABBY: Now, you make it sound really simple with that explanation, but for me playing boccia, I know it takes some real skill.
RAFA: Everyone can do some boccia.
Anyone can join in, that’s kind of the point.
ABBY: That’s amazing, I think that we should all join in, right?
CHILDREN: Yeah!
CHEERING
RAFA: When we play boccia, some of us don’t have the strength and the movement to throw the balls onto the court ourselves.
We use a ramp and we have somebody to help us move the ramp and put the balls on it, to deliver the balls onto the court.
So, we’re going to practise giving instructions and asking people to do things.
Look up at the ceiling.
NATASHA: Lift your arms up as high as you can…
And then back down.
RAFA: Move forwards and then back again.
NATASHA: We’re going to move around in one circle.
CLAPPING
ABBY: Okay, so we have followed instructions and practised our listening skills, but what’s next, Rafael?
RAFA: We need to get some balls moving, we need to get the balls to go, but if like me, you can’t throw the ball then you’re going to roll it down a ramp instead.
SOFT MUSIC
RAFA: Okay, and another one, please.
Thank you.
NATASHA: And I throw the balls onto the court, so we can either throw them overarm, like this…
Or we can throw them underarm and roll them onto the court.
RAFA: We’re gonna have a little bit of a go at controlling how fast they go.
So, try overarm first.
Do you want to try an underarm one?
That’s it, nice and soft.
Good job.
Brilliant, well done.
Good job, guys.
Do you see this line on the floor right here, this one?
So, you’re gonna throw your ball down to the floor just before the line, and then let it roll the rest of the way so that you have a nice, gentle, slow ball that you’ve got lots of control of the speed of.
We’re all going to stay sitting down because in boccia, we always play sitting down so that we’re all the same.
That went way past the line.
Goodness me!
Do you want to have another try?
That’s better, well done.
Make your ball hit the floor before the line on the floor, and let it roll the rest of the way.
Good job, well done.
CHEERING
ABBY: So far, we’ve sharpened our listening skills, we’ve tried our hand at throwing the balls and now, it’s time to practise our aim.
Rafael, what’s the game!?
RAFA: We’re going to practise aiming at our targets.
An easy target is one that’s close to you, or it’s big, or it’s close and big.
First, you need to look at which one you’re going to aim at and then you need to move your body so that you are facing towards the one that you’re going to aim at.
Okay. Yay!
Oh, got in the circle, well done!
We make it harder by going for a smaller circle or a smaller net.
ABBY: That was brilliant!
I’ve had a great time brushing up on some of my boccia skills, but why don’t you give it a try?
CHEERING
PATTERING FEET,
CHILDREN'S VOICES
Watch this film with British Sign Language
Watch this film with audio description
Watch this film with British Sign Language and audio description
Learn how to play boccia with Blue Peter presenter, Abby Cook, and coaches, Rafael (Rafa) Young and Natasha Critchley.
Skills
The activities develop these skills: following instructions, how to throw/roll the ball and practising aim using targets.
Activities
Follow the Leader
This activity practises listening and following instructions. Rafa and Natasha give instructions and the children follow them.
Ball in the Hall
Rafa shows how he can use a ramp to propel the ball. Natasha shows how you can throw the ball overarm or throw the ball underarm and roll it onto the court. They practise throwing and rolling the ball to control the speed of the ball to achieve accuracy.
Target Practice
This activity lets the children practise their aim using different sized targets. It can be made harder by using a smaller target.
Activity card
Download and print the activity card for boccia 5-7
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