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Fun Basketball Games for Kindergarteners

Basketball was first created by James Naismith in December 1891. Naismith was a Canadian-American clergyman, educator and physician. He set out to create a sport at the request of a superior, who said he should invent a sport that could be played indoors during winter months. The first ball ever used for basketball was a soccer ball, and goals were wooden peach baskets affixed to the walls. Many U.S. colleges adopted the sport between 1893 and 1895.

H-O-R-S-E
- H-O-R-S-E is an all-time favorite game with a simple setup. All you need is two or more players, a ball and a hoop. The first player will choose a spot to shoot from and take a shot. If the shot is made, the second player must shoot from the same spot, shooting the same way as the first player did. You repeat this until each player has a turn. The first player to miss the shot will receive a letter, if it is his first missed shot, he receives the letter "H." As the game continues, players take turns, and as they miss shots, they receive another letter until one player has five missed shots, receiving all five letters of H-O-R-S-E. To make the game more challenging, players can shoot behind the back, off to the side, close their eyes or shoot one-handed.
Twenty One
- The basketball game "Twenty One" is a variation of the card game and requires two or more players. While this can be a competitive game, the rules are simple. The first person to reach 21 points wins. Before starting the game, determine where the designated "three-point line" will be and this can be determined depending on how much room you have around your hoop. To start the game, the first player will start out dribbling the ball attempting to score. The other players try to prevent that person from scoring. If no score is made, that person can attempt to shoot on a rebound. If that shot is missed, the opponent may rebound the ball and attempt to score. The player who has the ball may shoot at any time from any place. The ball must first be "cleared," dribbling the ball past the three-point line before attempting to score. Turns can be repeated until one of the players scores 21 points. Scoring methods can vary, but the most common scoring system is two points for any shots made taken within the three-point line. A person may shoot outside the three-point line, and if the shot is made, the player is awarded three points. During the entire game, typical basketball rules still apply. If a player double-dribbles or fouls, the ball must be given to the defensive player and that player has to dribble from behind the three-point line.
Around the World
- Around the World may be played with two or more players. In Around the World, players must take shots from in and around the key. When a successful shot is made, the player will then move onto the next location and continue, as long as all shots are made at each destination. When a player misses her shot, she can use a "chance," meaning that she has a chance to repeat the shot. Players only receive one chance per game and may only use it one time. The player can choose to take that "chance" or pass and save it for a later shot. If the player chooses to use her "chance" and makes the shot, she will continue onto the next shot. However, if that player misses her "chance" shot, she has to start over from the beginning of the game. The locations should be pre-determined. If you're playing outside, use chalk to mark the locations. If you are playing inside, use markers, such as small cones, to mark the spots. The first player to make each shot from each location is the winner.

Kids Games