Around-the-horn relay game

Setup

1. Make two small diamonds side by side, at least 8 m apart. Bases 10–12 m apart for 7–9 year olds, up to 15–18 m for older juniors.
2. Put four players on each diamond, one at each base: home, first, second and third. Extra players queue behind home and rotate in.
3. Do an arm warm-up and some easy partner throws before the race.
4. Use soft balls for younger players. All throws stay inside the team's own diamond.

How it runs

1. On “Go!”, the player at home throws to first, first throws to second, second to third and third back to home: one lap.
2. Each team counts its laps out loud. First team to three laps wins, or count laps in 60 seconds.
3. A dropped or missed ball is fetched by the player it was meant for, who runs back to the base and carries on. No skipping a base.
4. After each race, everyone moves one base around so they all throw from every spot.
5. Next race goes the other way: home to third to second to first.

Coaching points

• Receiver shows a target before every throw: glove up, body facing the thrower.
• Catch with two hands, then turn the glove-side shoulder towards the next base.
• Feet first: point the front foot at the target and step towards it.
• Throw to the chest. A good throw is faster than a hard throw that gets dropped.
• Talk: call the name of the player you're about to throw to.

Common mistakes

• Throwing before the receiver is ready and looking.
• Catching and spinning the wrong way, so the throw goes off line.
• Rushing until throws sail over heads, which costs more time than it saves.
• Players creeping off their base to shorten the throw.
• Throwing harder each race; keep the arm safe with easy, accurate throws.