Works with Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini, or your own local model: paste this prompt and your AI will co-facilitate this exercise with you.

Help me prepare and run the exercise below. First ask for my participant count, time, setting, access needs and intended result. Check these against the stated limits. Use the supplied rules and materials. Explain any proposed changes before using them, and label them as adaptations. Do not invent source claims or require personal disclosure. Give me one step at a time when I say start. I manage the people, physical activity and clock; do not claim to observe the room. Ask me what happened before choosing a next step.

Reference revision: 11175d5c3d233934ad45fa4072ec3a89c6153993dc2c22fedac8d009f4179494

# Ultimate Ball

Two teams pass a soft ball down a marked field without running while holding it. Teams score points by catching the ball in the opponent's end zone.

**Time:** 20 minutes. UWT suggested standard 20-minute session based on Playworks physical activity format
**People:** 6 to 24. Two opposing teams of equal size (3 to 12 players per side)

## Choose this exercise

**Purpose:** Practice non-contact passing, field spacing, and immediate transitions between offense and defense.
**Use it when:** Use in large indoor gyms or outdoor fields during physical team activity sessions or energizers requiring active movement.
**Skip it when:** Skip when the playing space is small, when running or pivoting is unsafe, or when participants require seated or low-exertion activities.

## Materials and tools

- 1 medium soft foam ball (such as a dodgeball)
- 8 to 12 field marker cones
- 2 sets of scrimmage vests or pinnies in different colors (enough for half the participants)
- 1 whistle or loud audio signal for the facilitator
- 1 flip chart and marker for scorekeeping (optional)

## Before participants arrive

1. Use cones to outline a rectangular playing field with two designated end zones at opposite baselines.
2. Verify the surface is clear of trip hazards, wet spots, and obstacles.
3. Place pinnies and the ball at the center sideline.

## Say this to open

Today we are playing Ultimate Ball. It runs like Ultimate Frisbee, but uses a soft ball. You advance the ball by throwing it to teammates downfield. When you catch the ball, you cannot run. You must plant one foot and pivot. If the ball touches the ground, gets knocked down, or is intercepted, possession switches immediately. No physical contact is allowed. Keep at least an arm's length from whoever holds the ball.

## How to run it

### 1. Form teams and explain rules (4 minutes)

Divide participants into two equal teams. Hand one team pinnies. If numbers are odd, invite one person to serve as sideline scorekeeper or referee. Review the four core rules: no running with the ball, use a pivot foot while holding the ball, immediate turnovers on drops or incomplete passes, and zero physical contact. Have captains play Rock Paper Scissors at midfield; the winner chooses to throw off or receive.

### 2. Throw-off and first half (7 minutes)

Teams line up on their baselines. The defensive team throws the ball downfield to the offensive team. An offensive player catches or picks up the ball where it lands, establishes a pivot foot, and passes to a moving teammate. Defenders stay an arm's length away and try to swat down passes. Any drop, knocked-down pass, or interception causes an immediate turnover at that spot. Scoring happens by catching a pass in the opponent's end zone. Play runs for 7 minutes.

### 3. Halftime switch and second half (6 minutes)

Pause the game. Teams switch ends of the field. The team that received the opening throw now throws off from their baseline to start the second half. Play resumes under the same rules until the game clock expires.

### 4. Debrief and cool down (3 minutes)

Gather at midfield. Collect pinnies and ensure everyone hydrates. Pose one or two debrief questions to the full group, taking two or three volunteer responses before concluding.


## Debrief questions

- What passing strategy made it easier to move the ball downfield without running?
- How did your team coordinate the instant switch from offense to defense after a dropped pass?

**Finished output:** A completed multi-point team passing game with an agreed final score.

## Remote

This is a full-field running and catching game that requires an in-person physical space. It cannot be run online. For a remote team coordination exercise, select a structured turn-taking verbal activity instead.

## Hybrid

Not suitable for hybrid delivery. Remote participants cannot take part in physical field running and catching safely or meaningfully.

## Access and participation choices

- Participants who prefer low-exertion or non-running roles can act as sideline scorekeepers, boundary spotters, or stationary throwers near the end zone.
- Players can request a two-step allowance upon catching the ball to help with stopping momentum safely.
- Anyone may step out to the substitution bench at any stoppage without explanation.

## If the session gets stuck

**Players take running strides after catching the ball.**

Blow the whistle and stop play. Return the player to the spot where they caught the ball, require a planted pivot foot, and allow play to continue.

**Defenders crowd the thrower too closely or make physical contact.**

Enforce the arm-length buffer rule. Award the thrower an uncontested pass if a defender makes contact.


## Terms used here

- Pivot foot: Keeping one foot planted firmly on the ground while the other foot steps in any direction to aim a throw.
- Turnover: An immediate switch of team possession when a pass hits the ground, is swatted down, or is intercepted.

## Sources and adaptation

Observed in the Playworks Game Library under the title Ultimate Ball.

Retained the core Playworks mechanics: pivot foot rule, no running with the ball, immediate turnovers on drops or swatted passes, no physical contact, and end zone scoring. UWT added explicit team formation steps, a structured 20-minute timeline with two halves, a second-half alternate throw-off, safety buffers, non-running participation roles, and debrief questions.

[Playworks](https://www.playworks.org/game-library/ultimate-ball/)

Current run sheet: https://unitedwetransform.com/exercises/ultimate-ball/