Super Tee Ball 2

Super Tee Ball
 
Super tee ball is a fun and interactive game that students can play together regardless of their skill levels. I played this game with my students during my student teaching and they absolutely loved it.
 
Equipment Needed (Per game):

• 1 plastic or foam bat
• 1 ball (can be a whiffle ball or foam ball)
• 1 Tee
• 1 Hula-hoop
• 1 poly spot or cone

 
Prerequisite Skills:

• Basic understanding of how to throw, catch, and swing a baseball bat
• Basic knowledge of the game

 
How to play: For this game you will have teams of 4-5 depending on your class size and available space to play. The ideal setup would to have 3 games going on at one time on a small baseball field with one game in left field, one in centerfield, and one in right field. One team will be in the field on defense while the other team will be on offense. On defense there will be one person designated as the “catcher” and will be inside the hula hoop and must always keep at least one foot in the hoop. If the catcher leaves the hula hoop then the offense will get an automatic run. There will be two students in the field in front of the fence and 1 or 2 students on the outside of the fence. For the offense there will be one person hitting at a time with everyone else behind the poly spot or cone that will be about 10 feet behind the tee. The goal of the game is to score more runs than the other team. In order to score a run, the hitter will hit the ball off of the tee, run down and around the hula hoop, and back to the tee. If the hitter can successfully get back to the tee before the defense can field the ball and get it into the hula hoop, then they will get a point. But if the hitter fails to get back to the tee before the ball gets to the hula hoop then they will be out. The fun thing about this game is that the hitter has the opportunity to score more than one point per at bat. If the hitter gets back to the tee before the defense can get the ball in the hula hoop, then the hitter can go for another run by running back down and around the hula hoop and back to the tee. However many times the hitter can run back and forth before the ball gets in the hoop is how many runs they get. Once the ball gets in the hula hoop that attempt is done and the hitter will go to the back of the line to wait their turn to hit again. Once the defense records 3 outs the teams will switch sides.
 
Different rules that you can apply to make it more difficult and safer include:

• Defense cannot run with the ball. They must throw the ball either to a teammate or all the way to the catcher in the hula hoop. If they run with the ball, then the offense gets an automatic run.
• If the hitter slings the bat that is an automatic out
• If someone on offense (not the hitter) is not behind the cone when the hitter swings, then that is an automatic out.
• If the hitter hits the ball over the fence they still have to run until the ball is in the hoop.
• Hitter cannot purposefully knock the ball away from the catcher or any other defensive player. If that occurs, then that will be an automatic out.
• The hitter must hit the ball past the hula hoop (no bunts). If this occurs, they get 2 more chances to do so. If the hitter does not get the ball past the hoop on the 3rd swing then the batter is out.

 
Positions:
 
Catcher: The catcher will be inside the hula hoop. Their job is to catch the ball from their teammates in order to either get the batter out or to stop the batter from scoring more runs. The catcher must keep at least one foot in the hoop at all times. If the catcher leaves the hoop than that is an automatic run for the offense. Encourage the teams to put their best catcher in the hoop.
 
Inside fielder: The job of the inside fielder is to either catch the ball for an out or field the ball and throw it to the catcher. They also can throw it to another fielder that is closer to the catcher for a shorter and more accurate throw. The fielder cannot run with the ball or that will result in a run for the offense.
 
Outside fielder: The job of the outside fielder is to try to rob homeruns. If the hitter hits the ball over the fence but the outside fielder catches it in the air, then it is an out. If it hits the ground before they can catch it they have to get the ball and throw it either to the inside fielders or the catcher in the hoop so they can stop the hitter from scoring more runs.
 
Hitter: The job of the hitter is to hit the ball off the tee and run down and around the hula hoop, and back to the tee as fast as they can. If they make it back to the tee before the defense gets the ball into the hoop, then they can try for a second or third run by doing the same thing (I’ve seen hitters get up to 5 runs from a single hit). If they don’t make it back to the tee before the catcher receives the ball, then they are out.
 
Offensive players not hitting: Their job is to stand behind the cone in a single file line and wait for their turn to hit. They can also tell the hitter whether or not to keep running in order to score more runs for their team.