Protect the Castle

A good way to introduce children to dynamic striking - Protect the Castle allows children to build their own castle using anything you may have around your home, and defend it as they learn to strike a rolling ball!

Set up

Provide equipment for your child to build a 'castle' with - such as buckets, bottles, beanbags, boxes, chalk or printed pictures on a wall. Your child will be the batter (with a cricket bat), and you can be the roller (with a ball - size dependant on ability). Alternatively, if playing with two or more children, rotate through positions. The batter stands in front of the castle, protecting it, with the roller standing a few meters away at a cone, facing the batter.

 

How to play
Step 1:
  • Allow 1-2 minutes to build the castle
  • When the castle is built, you (the roller) rolls the ball at the castle, attempting to knock it down (the ball must stay along the ground)
Step 2:
  • Your child (the batter) attempts to hit the ball, protecting their castle
  • Swap over if the castle is knocked over/hit, after 5 turns, or after a few minutes
Step 3:
  • Keep playing and see how well you can protect your castle!
Variations
Make it easier
  • Use a large ball - a soccer ball may be too heavy so try a foam dodgeball or a spiky ball
  • Roll the ball slowly
  • Increase the distance between the roller and the batter
Make it harder
  • Use a smaller ball, like a tennis ball
  • Allow one bounce (if the playing surface allows)
  • Roll the ball faster
Activity information
Age: Year 1, Year 2, Year 3, Year 4, Year 5, Year 6
Equipment: Cricket bats, Balls, Variety of objects
Skill focus
Explore these skills for teaching tips
Skill teaching

To assist your child with the correct striking technique, remind them of the following teaching cues;

  1. Hands together
  2. Ready: stand side on to the ball (use markers to assist)
  3. Eyes on the ball
  4. Step & Swing – step with the front foot towards the target
Physical literacy tips
  • Build the story - the batter is a knight defending the castle, and the roller is a dragon breathing fireballs!
  • Let your child select the equipment to use for their castle
  • If your child is not having success hitting a moving ball, first let them practice hitting the ball along the ground by themself