🧦 Sock Basketball

What you need

Equipment: Rolled-up socks (5 per player), a bucket, laundry basket or box. Roll 5 pairs of socks into balls for each player and stand a bucket, laundry basket or box at one end. Mark three throwing lines: close (6 feet), middle (10 feet) and far (13 feet).

How to play Sock Basketball

1. The first player stands on the close line with 5 socks.
2. They throw one at a time while the group counts the baskets out loud.
3. After 5 throws, write the score on the board.
4. The player moves to the middle line for 5 more throws, then to the far line.
5. No stepping over the line while throwing. If you do, that throw does not count.
6. A sock that hits the basket but bounces out earns half a point.
7. Next player, same conditions.
8. Final round: one throw from the far line with your back to the basket.

Scoring and wrapping up

Scoring: Basket from the close line: 1 point. Middle: 2 points. Far: 3 points. Backward shot: 5 points.

To finish: Add up the points and crown the Sock Champion. You can also play in teams, adding up all the team members' baskets.

By age

• Ages 5-6: use a big box and just two lines, and count baskets instead of points.
• Ages 7-12: all three lines plus trick shots.

Variations

• Big group: two teams take turns, and each team's total is added up after three rounds.
• Capy twist: Capy's moving basket. An adult slowly walks the basket from side to side while players throw.
• Horse: copy the previous player's trick shot or earn a letter, like the playground game H-O-R-S-E.

Tips for the adult in charge

• Add challenges: left hand only, back to the basket, or eyes closed.
• Let younger players stand a step closer so the scores stay close.

Safety

Keep anything breakable away from the basket and the throwing area.