Instructions
- Read through each section carefully. The goal is to think like a game designer to make sports fair and fun for everyone.
- Complete each part of the worksheet. The sections get more challenging as you go.
- Use the examples provided to help guide your thinking. There are often many right answers, so be creative!
- Try the optional Challenge Question at the end if you want to explore the topic further.
- Check your work against the Answer Key at the end.
Part 1: The Modification Match-Up
Different people have different abilities. To make sure everyone can play, we can modify equipment, rules, or the scoring system. Draw a line to connect the Barrier to Participation on the left with the best Modification Solution on the right. The first one is done for you as an example.
| Barrier to Participation | Modification Solution |
|---|---|
| Example: A player in a wheelchair has trouble dribbling a traditional basketball while moving. | Example: [RULE] Allow the player two pushes of their wheels between each bounce. |
| 1. A player has a visual impairment and cannot see the ball easily. | A. [RULE] The net is lowered, and players must remain seated on the floor while playing. |
| 2. In a mixed-skill soccer game, one highly skilled player scores all the goals, making it less fun for beginners. | B. [EQUIPMENT] Use a much larger, lighter ball that is easier to hit. |
| 3. A group with varied mobility levels wants to play volleyball together. | C. [EQUIPMENT] Use a ball that contains a bell or beeper so it can be tracked by sound. |
| 4. In a tennis game, a younger player cannot cover the court as quickly as an older player. | D. [SCORING] Award bonus points if a goal is scored after at least three different players on the team have passed the ball. |
| 5. A person with less strength and coordination finds it difficult to serve a regular volleyball over the net. | E. [RULE] Allow the younger player's shots to bounce twice on their opponent's side before they must be returned. |
Part 2: You're the Rule-Maker!
Read the following scenarios. For each one, identify the problem and propose at least two modifications (to equipment, rules, or scoring) that would create a fairer and more inclusive game.
Scenario A: The Dodgeball Dilemma
A P.E. class is playing dodgeball. Some students are very powerful throwers and are eliminating others within the first minute. A few students who are less confident or not as athletic are trying to avoid the ball and are not participating actively.
- The Problem: ____________________________________________________________________
- Modification 1 (Type: ______________): ____________________________________________________
- Modification 2 (Type: ______________): ____________________________________________________
Scenario B: The Basketball Imbalance
You are organizing a 3-on-3 basketball game at a local park. The teams are mixed, including a tall, experienced player, two average-skilled teenagers, and a younger sibling who has never played before. The experienced player is dominating the game, and the younger sibling is too intimidated to even touch the ball.
- The Problem: ____________________________________________________________________
- Modification 1 (Type: ______________): ____________________________________________________
- Modification 2 (Type: ______________): ____________________________________________________
Part 3: Design an Inclusive Game
Your challenge is to adapt a classic game, Capture the Flag, to make it fully inclusive for a diverse group of players. This group includes players who run at different speeds, one player who uses a wheelchair, and one player who is hard of hearing.
Describe your new, inclusive version of the game below. Explain the modifications you would make to the equipment, rules, and objective to ensure everyone can participate meaningfully and have fun.
Game Name: All-Access Flag Quest
Equipment Modifications:
(What will you change or add? Think about the flags, boundaries, and communication.)
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Rule Modifications:
(What new rules will you add? Think about movement, tagging, and communication.)
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Scoring / Objective Modifications:
(How can a team win? Is it just about capturing the flag, or are there other ways to score points?)
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
â Optional Challenge Question â
Paralympic sports are a fantastic example of modifying activities for elite athletes. Choose one Paralympic sport (e.g., Goalball, Wheelchair Rugby, Boccia, Sitting Volleyball) and do a quick search online. Describe one major modification to its equipment or rules compared to a non-Paralympic sport, and explain why that modification is essential for fair play.
Paralympic Sport: ____________________________________
Modification: _____________________________________________________________________________________
Reason for Fairness: ________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Answer Key
(Note: For open-ended questions in Parts 2 & 3, the answers below are examples. Your creative and well-reasoned answers are also correct!)
Part 1: The Modification Match-Up
- C. [EQUIPMENT] Use a ball that contains a bell or beeper so it can be tracked by sound.
- D. [SCORING] Award bonus points if a goal is scored after at least three different players on the team have passed the ball.
- A. [RULE] The net is lowered, and players must remain seated on the floor while playing. (This is called Sitting Volleyball).
- E. [RULE] Allow the younger player's shots to bounce twice on their opponent's side before they must be returned.
- B. [EQUIPMENT] Use a much larger, lighter ball that is easier to hit.
Part 2: You're the Rule-Maker! (Sample Answers)
Scenario A: The Dodgeball Dilemma
- The Problem: A major skill imbalance leads to quick eliminations and passive participation from some students. The game feels unsafe or intimidating.
- Modification 1 (Equipment): Use soft foam balls or cloth balls instead of hard rubber ones to reduce fear of being hit.
- Modification 2 (Rule): Instead of being "out," a player who is hit must go to the other team's side. Or, a player can re-enter the game if their teammate catches a ball. This keeps everyone playing.
Scenario B: The Basketball Imbalance
- The Problem: A skill and experience gap is preventing some players from participating and making the game unbalanced and less fun for the group.
- Modification 1 (Rule): Introduce a "three passes" rule, where a team must make three passes before they can attempt to shoot. This encourages teamwork and ball sharing.
- Modification 2 (Scoring): Create different scoring zones. A basket scored by the less-experienced player is worth 5 points, while a basket from the experienced player is worth 1 point.
Part 3: Design an Inclusive Game (Sample Answers)
- Equipment Modifications: Use brightly colored flags and cones for boundaries. Each player wears a pinnie (vest) that must be tagged instead of their body. The player who is hard of hearing can have a teammate who uses a visual signal (like a hand wave) when the game starts/stops, in addition to a whistle. The "flags" could be cones that have to be knocked over or beanbags that have to be grabbed, which are placed on the ground or at wheelchair height.
- Rule Modifications: Create "safe zones" where players cannot be tagged. The player in the wheelchair can be tagged on their chair. Establish a "no-contact" rule for tagging (must tag the pinnie only). To create more roles, designate some players as "defenders" who cannot cross the halfway line, allowing players with less mobility to play key roles.
- Scoring / Objective Modifications: A team scores 1 point for capturing the flag. They can also score 1 bonus point each time their team successfully gets the flag across the halfway line (even if they don't make it all the way back). This rewards progress and teamwork.
Optional Challenge Question (Sample Answer)
- Paralympic Sport: Goalball
- Modification: All players, regardless of their level of vision, must wear blackout eyeshades. The ball has bells inside it.
- Reason for Fairness: The eyeshades ensure that no player has a visual advantage. It levels the playing field completely, making the game based entirely on hearing, teamwork, and spatial awareness, which is the core skill of the sport.