Homerun Derby

Home Run Derby
 
Home run derby is a fun activity that you can do at the elementary level that is very exciting for the students and gives each student regardless of skill level and chance to succeed. For this game, students will be split into teams of 4 to 5 depending on class size. For each team, there will be 1 adjustable tee, 1 bat, 2 buckets, 4 whiffle balls, 1 foam ball (we call this the super ball because it flies further), and one cone/poly spot for students to sit behind when the hitter is swinging. Set the tee about 20 feet (depending on age group) from a fence with the cone/poly spot about 10 feet behind the tee. To start the game, have one student from each team go around the fence so that they are on the opposite side of the fence to be a fielder, one student in front of the fence to be a fielder with an empty bucket beside them, and one-hitter at the tee with a bucket with the 4 whiffle balls and 1 foam ball. The rest of the students will be behind their teams’ cone cheering for the hitter. This activity is on the teachers’ command so when the teacher yells “Ready, Swing”, the student who is hitting will try and hit the ball over the fence. Once the hitter hits the ball the fielders will field the ball whether it is in front of the fence or over the fence and put the ball into the empty bucket beside the inside fielder. Once the fielders have successfully put the ball into the bucket the hitter will then tee another ball up and wait on the teacher's signal to swing again. The hitter will hit the 4 whiffle balls first and the “Superball” last. Once the hitter hits all of the balls and the fielders have put them in the bucket the inside fielder will take the bucket to the tee, grab the empty bucket and take it back to the fence. Once they have completed that it is time to rotate. The hitter becomes the inside fielder, the inside fielder becomes the outside fielder, the outside fielder will go to the back of their teams’ line behind the cone, and the first person in line behind the cone will become the hitter.
 
Variation: One fun twist that you can put on this game to add motivation for the students is by adding points for various things. The point system is as follows:

• 1 point for the team that’s fielders get the ball into the bucket the quickest (this one is tricky because you have to keep an eye on each team)
• 2 points if a student successfully hits the ball over the fence (homerun)
• 5 points if the hitter hits a home run and the outside fielder successfully catches the home run in the air (robs the homerun)