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Physical Education

Fielding Game

Overview

One team bats, one team fields in a large space. Fielders must communicate and position themselves to prevent runs being scored.

Learning Objective
Students develop fielding positions, communication, and decision-making in a team fielding game.

Resources needed

  • Ball
  • Bat or stick
  • 4 base markers
  • Large outdoor space

Lesson stages

0 / 7 done
  1. 1 Set up a large diamond with 4 bases.
  2. 2 Batting team hits and runs bases — one run per base reached.
  3. 3 Fielding team positions themselves in the space to cut off the ball.
  4. 4 Stop play after 5 minutes — discuss fielding positions.
  5. 5 Ask: where should the fielders stand? Who backs up the throw?
  6. 6 Play for another 5 minutes applying the discussion.
  7. 7 Swap batting and fielding — batting team becomes the strategists.

Tap a step to mark it as done.

Variations

  • Fielding captain calls positions before each batter.
  • Fielders must shout the base they are throwing to before releasing.
  • Add a wicketkeeper or catcher behind home base.
More information

Teach: position, back up, cover, gap, communicate, call. Demonstrate what a gap in the fielding looks like — and how a batter exploits it.

Reduce the fielding team size so each player covers more ground — this increases individual engagement.

Are fielders spreading out intelligently or clustering? Are they calling to each other before throwing?

Stones mark bases. A flat stick as a bat. Any ball works. The space is the main resource.

All fielders chase the ball. Teach that one player fields while others move to cover bases — everyone has a role even when the ball is far away.

Fielding strategy is the most cognitively demanding aspect of cricket and baseball. Teaching it explicitly transforms passive fielders into active, thinking participants.

Activity details
Primary Medium 25 minutes 5 minutes prep Whole Class Outdoor
Topics
Fielding Team Strategy Communication