Play water dodgeball

You’ll need

Access to water
Buckets
Something to mark lines (for example, chalk, masking tape, or rope)
Sustainable, sponge water balloons (at least two for each player)

Use sustainable water balloons

You should try to play this game with reusable water balloons, such as sponge water balloons that soak up the water, are soft, can be easily cleaned and can be used multiple times.

Before you begin

Use the safety checklist to help you plan and risk assess your activity. Additional help to carry out your risk assessment, including examples can be found here. Don’t forget to make sure all young people and adults involved in the activity know how to take part safely.
Make sure you’ll have enough adult helpers. You may need some parents and carers to help if you’re short on helpers

Setting up this activity

It’s a good idea to tell people about this game in advance, so they can come wearing clothes and suitable shoes they’re happy to get wet. You may ask them to bring a towel, too.
Get the water balloons you're using ready - you could use the sustainable sponge water balloons, which are reusable.
Fill each bucket until it’s about a third full of water – this will help stop the water balloons breaking. Put half of the filled balloons in each bucket.
Mark out the playing area with cones, masking tape, or rope, using the diagram above to guide you. Put the buckets of water balloons in the central zone.

Playing the game

Split everyone into two teams. Each team should stand in their team area, either side of the central zone.
A few at a time, players should run to the central line and pick up a water balloon.
Players should then run back to the return line before throwing their water balloon. They have to take the balloon behind the return line first to make it a ‘live’ balloon and therefore in play. A balloon isn't live until it's passed back beyond the return line.
Players should then throw the water balloon, aiming to hit members of the other team.
If using plastic water balloons, a balloon is ‘live’ until it pops or until it touches the floor and remains unburst. If it's on the floor unburst, it should be picked up, taken past the return line and can be thrown again.
If using sponge, reusable water balloons, a balloon is ‘live’ until it touches the floor or wall or another surrounding surface. If it's on the floor or hits a wall, it should be picked up, taken past the return line and can be thrown again.
If people are out, they can also throw the balloon to any of their team members in the return line to try to get them back in the game and have more players on court.
If a water balloon hits a player on their body, they’re out. They should go to the return area.
If a player steps out of their team's court boundaries, they’re out. They should go to the return area.
If a player throws a water balloon without it going past the return line and being ‘live’, they’re out. They should go to the return area.
In the return area, players should try to catch the balloons their team is throwing. Whenever someone catches a balloon, even if it bursts, they can return to their team's area. They need to go to the return line when returning to play.
Depending on how many water balloons have been prepared, players may only be allowed to throw a limited number of balloons each.
You can pass the balloons between your own players and team, but be careful they don't pop and get you out!
The game is finished as soon as one team’s players are all out, or after 15 minutes has passed.

Tidying up

If you're using plastic balloons, everyone needs to pick up the pieces of balloon left on the floor. This is really important, as leaving them behind would be harmful to the environment.

Reflection

This game was a great chance to be active. Did you enjoy playing? How did you need to move in this game, and did you need to be fast? What about agility? Did you need to react quickly? Was this a fun way to be physically active? What other ways do you like to be active? Why is being active important?

This game also helped you to value the outdoors. Does it feel different doing games outdoors to indoors? How is it different – what differences can you notice with each sense? Is it important to you that you have outdoor spaces to use? How did you look after the outdoors once the game was finished?

Safety

All activities must be safely managed. You must complete a thorough risk assessment and take appropriate steps to reduce risk. Use the safety checklist to help you plan and risk assess your activity. Always get approval for the activity, and have suitable supervision and an InTouch process.

Active games: The game area should be free of hazards. Explain the rules of the game clearly and have a clear way to communicate that the game must stop when needed. Take a look at our guidance on running active games safely.
Contact games and activities: Make sure everyone understands what contact is acceptable, and monitor contact throughout the activity.