Hoop Toss | Target Games for Primary Students

Corn toss/hole is a fun game which is taking the world by storm! Its also a game that is great for all ages and has the ability to be easily modified to challenge all primary aged students. Corn Toss allows students to play cooperative target games with minimal resources and in almost any area indoors or out! Here is my version of the game ‘Hoop Toss’- keeping all the fun and uniqueness of corn hole but making it appropriate and playable for primary school aged students. This is a simple game to set up for daily fitness, warm up activities, brain breaks and even for P.E lessons focused on Target Games. Students can modify the game to suit their abilities and appetite for challenge and they can work in small groups or in pairs.

If you want to learn more about why target games are amazing for all year levels, read our indepth article discussing target games!

What Do You Need?

Hula hoops
Bean Bags

How To Play?

Students will line up behind a cone marker
15 steps away from the marker will be a Hula-hoop
Students are asked to underarm toss their bean bag and try to land it, inside of the hula-hoop
Students get a point for every bean bag they throw into the hoop
Bean bags need to land inside of the hoop and not on or outside of the hoop
Students who reach the score of 3 first will win the game!

What Is The Goal Of The Game?

To land the bean bag in the hoop
To display accuracy in throw, work cooperatively with others and to understand and abide rules and scoring systems in minor games.

How Can You Modify It?

Make It Easier!

Stand closer
Put two hoops close together as the target

Make it Harder!

Stand further back
Throw with non-preferred hand
Throw with one eye closed

What Are The Main Skills Being Utilised?

Fundamental Movement Skills:

Throw (Manipulative)
Collecting (Manipulative)
Roll (Locomotor)
Bending (Stability)

Tactical Skills/ Social Emotional Skills:

Taking turns
Adjusting power of roll and throw
Accuracy and aiming (Placement, control)
Cooperative play, supporting teammates
Following rules and structures of a game
Critical thinking through decision-making
Handling victory and defeat graciously

Why are Target Games important for your students?

Target games require precise aiming, enhancing hand-eye coordination. (Source: “The Effects of Target Games on Hand-Eye Coordination,” ResearchGate)
Playing demands concentration, improving focus. (Source: “The Impact of Target Sports on Concentration,” Journal of Sports Sciences)
Target games promote movement, contributing to better health. (Source: “Benefits of Physical Activity in Youth,” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Strategic planning in target games enhances critical thinking. (Source: “Cognitive Benefits of Target Games,” Frontiers in Psychology)
Playing in teams fosters social skills and teamwork. (Source: “The Social Benefits of Team Sports,” American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry)
Achieving goals in target games enhances self-esteem. (Source: “Self-Efficacy and Performance in Sports,” Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology)
Target games provide lessons in sportsmanship and resilience. (Source: “Teaching Sportsmanship in Physical Education,” SHAPE America)
Target games can be adapted for inclusivity. (Source: “Inclusive Physical Education,” Human Kinetics)