Kandice Brown
Activity Analysis- Ladderball
Description of Activity:
The rules of Ladderball are easy to understand, but they are lengthy.
Ladderball can be played with 2 to 6 players. Each player of team is given 3
bolas. According to the Official Ladderball rules, bolas are “2 golf balls
attached by a nylon rope” ("Ladder golf official," 2004). Each player’s
objective is to throw their bolas and wrap them around the rungs on the
ladder and reach 21 points before their opponents. They begin five paces
from the ladder; this is known as the toss line ("Ladder golf official," 2004).
Each player completes their turn by throwing all three of their bolas, and
then the next person’s turn begins. When it is not a player’s turn, they can
distract their opponent in any way that does not involve physically touching
their opponent of the ladder.
Scoring of the Game
Ladderball is played until a player reaches precisely 21 points. If a
player scores more than 21 points, then their points are ineligible to win for
that round. Players can get a maximum of 10 points in a round. Each rung of
the ladder represents a different number of points, the top rung is 3 points,
the middle 2 points, and the bottom is 1 point ("Ladder golf official," 2004).
The Official Ladderball Rules and Instructions states: “Players can score an
optional bonus of 1 point by hanging all 3 bolas from the same step or by
hanging a bola on all 3 (1-2-3) steps in one round” ("Ladder golf official,"
2004).
Precautions/Safety Issues
Players must be aware of their surroundings to ensure the safety of
themselves and the other people around them. Players who are waiting turns
should NOT stand behind the player throwing their bola, or next to the
ladder that the player is aiming at. Players should NOT swing their bolas
unless it their turn or use them in ways that are not intended for the game.
The person who is throwing should also maintain control of himself or herself
when throwing their bola so that it does not hit another player. Horseplay on
the ladders is not permitted because you put yourself and others at risk of
getting injured.
Special Considerations
Ladderball can be played by individuals of all ages. However, parental
supervision is recommended for children. In its original form, individuals can
play Ladderball who are able to: read and understand the rules, stand for
the duration of the game, and throw a bola from a distance of 15-40 feet.
Social, Physical, Emotional, and Cognitive Aspects of
Ladderball
Ladderball is a multiplayer game. The participants must communicate
with each other to discuss teams, turns, scoring, etc… They also have to be
able to have muscular endurance and be able to stand for long periods of
time. Another physical aspect of Ladderball that the participants need is to
be able to throw the bolas far enough to get them onto the ladder. Each
player must also remember the rules of the game as well as the scoring
method. They have to use their memory to know when it’s their turn to
throw their bolas. Players also have to recognize colors as well as shapes,
directionality, and distance. While playing Ladderball, players need to be
able to maintain control of their emotions. Players must refrain from sudden
outburst and suppress their frustration and anger.
Task Analysis: Throwing the Bola
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Find Bola
Bend over and extend dominant arm/hand towards bola
Grasp bola with dominant hand
Return to an upright position
Walk toward throwing line
Once at throwing line, aim at the ladder
Extend dominant arm and propel backwards
In a fluid motion, swing arm forward
9. Release bola
Adaptations for the Activity
For those individuals with difficulty judging distance, size, speed, or
position, the CTRS can modify the activity by decreasing the space
between the two ladders. The CTRS can also increase the space
between the rungs on the ladder and use bigger balls to make larger
bolas. Another modification the CTRS could do is tie a brightly
colored string on the base of the ladder so that the participants can
see the distance between the two ladders. For individuals with a loss
of stamina or endurance, the CTRS can change the length of the time
that the participants are standing, the length of the game, or allow
participants to be seated while throwing their bolas. The CTRS can
adapt Ladderball for individuals with decreased fine motor
manipulation by using assistive equipment to help the individual grasp
the bola, make bigger bolas so the individuals so picking up the bola is
less difficult, and making bolas with thick handles. All of these
modifications allow the individual to be able to play the game and
provide room for them to grow and improve to eventually be able to
play the game as it was originally intended.
References
Ladder golf official rules and instructions. (2004). Retrieved from
http://www.laddergolf.com/ladder-golf-official-rules