7 per team in jail (hoops on opposite side). Race to free all 7. Throw to jail → catch → throw back across → catch on your side = freed. Max 2 balls in hand.
Coach Odom’s Exact Procedure:
Kids start by touching the wall on both sides of the gym.
Choose 7 volunteers on each team to go to jail (place them in hoops on the opposite side of the gym).
The game is a race to get all 7 people out of their jail.
To free a teammate: Throw them a ball. They must catch it, throw it back across the gym, and it must be caught again by their own team on the other side.
Once freed, they can return to their team to help free others.
Players can only have 2 balls in their hands at a time.
Pro tip from Coach Odom: The game moves fast when teams communicate and make clean catches.
2nd: Use 4-5 people in jail instead of 7. Softer balls. Teacher helps model the throw-catch-throw sequence. Shorter games with quick resets.
3rd-4th: Full 7 in jail. Add strategy (who throws to jail, who receives). Can introduce “only one ball per side at a time” for more challenge.