Scratch

Game on! Bring sport into your Code Club

Sports have a way of bringing people together — whether you’re cheering from the sidelines, playing with friends, or sharing stories about your favourite team. That same sense of excitement and teamwork can make coding feel even more engaging for young learners. That’s why our learning team have created four new Scratch projects inspired by sports from around the world.

In these projects creators can enjoy cricket, kabaddi, and South Africa’s traditional game of jukskei, or design custom kits for any sport. The projects invite young coders to explore global games while building their programming skills. Each activity blends creativity, culture, and fun, giving learners the chance to code and play in meaningful new ways.

So, get ready to bring some sporting energy into your Code Club. Game on!

Exploring the new projects

Project one: Cricket

In this cricket game, you’ll programme the bowler to send the ball towards a randomly chosen stump, shrinking it as it travels to create a sense of depth and realism. The game will call out where the ball is heading, giving players just enough time to move their bat and try to score runs.

What creators will learn

Creators will use broadcast messages to coordinate bowling, batting, scoring, and wickets. They’ll animate the ball’s movement with loops, conditionally update variables to track balls, wickets, and scores, and trigger different outcomes depending on whether the bat connects. Complete the extra challenge to make the bails leap from the stumps for a dramatic wicket!

An illustration for a cricket-themed project featuring a young girl with curly hair smiling and pointing, and a male player in cricket attire holding a bat. The background includes colorful elements associated with the sport.

Project two: Kabaddi

Create a fast-paced tag game inspired by kabaddi that originated in India, where you must cross the line, tag opponents, and make it back safely, all while keeping your breathing going by tapping the space bar! Complete the extra challenge to make the opponents behave more unpredictably for even more excitement.

What creators will learn 

Players will animate movement using arrow keys, track lives and tags with variables, and use broadcast messages to coordinate opponents, wins, and losses. Opponents are created as clones and creators use loops and conditional logic to detect contact, manage the kabaddi countdown timer, and trigger different outcomes depending on whether the player tags an opponent, runs out of time, or gets surrounded. 

Illustration of children playing kabaddi, featuring characters in vibrant sports attire, engaged in a dynamic running and tagging scene. The background is a cheerful pink with elements indicating playful competition.

Project three: Jukskei

Jukskei is a traditional South African throwing game where players try to knock over a wooden peg by throwing wooden pins (skeis) at it. It takes skill, aim, and timing.

What creators will learn

Creators will build animations triggered by broadcast messages and controlled with key presses. They’ll use condition-controlled loops to program sprite movement and sound effects, and update variables when conditions are met to keep track of player scores.

Illustration of a smiling person holding a wooden pin for jukskei, with targets in the background.

Project four: Kit chooser

Many young people love showing support for their favourite teams, and designing custom kits gives them a fun, creative way to express that passion through code.

What creators will learn

Using Scratch, young people will create their own kit chooser where they can design custom sports kits, change colours with their own creative flair, and even add a toggle button to switch between styles.

A graphic showcasing a sports kit designer with two purple jerseys displayed, one highlighted with an arrow pointing towards its back. A color palette on the right offers various options for customization.

Three top tips for mentors

1. Bring cultural connections into the session
Ask creators if they’ve played or watched the featured sports, or if these games are popular in their communities. If they’ve not heard of some of these sports, why not show them some videos?

2. Celebrate different ways to play and participate
Many creators will relate to these sports in different ways: some may play them, others may follow teams, and some might enjoy the social or creative parts. Encourage them to personalise their game with their own rules, team colours, or sounds to reflect the way they engage with sport.

3. Support experimentation and iteration
Remind creators that sports and coding both reward practice. If something doesn’t work the first time (a ball overshoots, an opponent behaves oddly, or a variable doesn’t update), that’s part of the process. Guide them to debug step-by-step and celebrate each improvement as a skill gained.

Ready, set, code! Try these sport-themed projects in your Code Club and bring a burst of energy, culture, and creativity to your next session.

Get ready to code: This is our Code Club!

We’re kicking off a new season of coding fun with three new ‘This is our Code Club’ projects for registered Code Clubs that are all about creativity and storytelling. Get ready to bring your club’s story to life through code!

Two young girls engaged in a coding activity, smiling and collaborating while working on laptops, with a colorful 'This is our Code Club' graphic in the background.

These three new exclusive projects are designed to help creators bring their Code Club’s story to life. The best part? When you share your finished projects with us, you’ll get a special sticker pack, including brand new glitter stickers! You have until Friday, 24 October to share your projects with us.

For registered Code Clubs, full details can be found in your inbox. Search for “This is our Code Club”. Not a Code Club? Register today to unlock access to these exclusive projects!

Let’s explore the projects and how you can use them in your Code Club.

Our flatgame | Scratch

Our flatgame is a one-of-a-kind project that mixes video games with poetry! These games are simple — creators can quickly make a full game and focus on their ideas instead of complicated game mechanics.

Young people start by creating their own physical assets — sketches, drawings, or even cut-outs of things they love about their Code Club. Next, they’ll use Scratch to build a simple scrolling game where a player moves around their amazing creations. It’s a fantastic way to turn your ideas and artwork into a playable game.

An illustration showing hands pointing at a digital tablet displaying a green circular shape, surrounded by colorful craft materials and the text 'This is our Code Club — Our flatgame'.

Tips to get started 

  • Creators can work together and share photos. One person could focus on the text and storytelling while another handles the visuals.
  • Break the project into multiple sessions. The first session could be all about discovery and idea generation, including writing stories, drawing, and taking photos. The second session would then be for building the game in Scratch.
  • You could take the photos and upload them as new sprites in a starter project for each group. Creators can then remix the project, duplicate the sprite with all the pictures, and choose the ones they want to use.

What creators will learn

This project is about creativity and self-expression. Creators will learn the workflow of video game design and asset creation, and get to use Scratch to add movement, text, and sound effects.

Our beat | micro:bit

Ready to get musical? Our beat is a hands-on digital music project where you’ll build and code your very own Code Club theme tune! Using the BBC micro:bit and the MakeCode editor, you’ll create melodies, bass lines, and drum loops.

You can start with our unplugged warm-up activity to explore rhythms and sequences without a screen, then use the MakeCode simulator to test out your tunes before bringing them to life on a real micro:bit.

Illustration promoting the 'This is our Code Club - Our podcast' project, featuring a character playing drums, with musical notes and a BBC micro:bit in the background.

Tips to get started

  • Use the MakeCode simulator first to get creators to test and refine their tunes. This is especially helpful if you don’t have enough micro:bits for everyone.
  • Encourage pair programming: one person can write the code while the other suggests melodies or tests the playback. Make sure they swap roles so everyone gets a chance to try both coding and creating music.
  • Begin with a simple melody on one micro:bit, then add more features like play and pause buttons. This progression is built into the project, but managing creators’ expectations will help them see their music evolve instead of trying to do everything at once.

What creators will learn

This project is a great introduction to programming concepts like sequences, loops, variables, and conditional statements. Creators will also explore how radio communication works between devices and learn real-world debugging and problem-solving skills.

Our podcast | AI

Let’s make your club podcast stars! Turn your unique stories into a show that celebrates everything that makes your Code Club special. Play the Scriptville example podcast to get everyone excited and to give them a feel for what they’ll be creating.

Illustration of two children recording a podcast in a colorful setting. One child wears headphones and sits at a computer, while the other raises a hand in excitement. A microphone and sound wave graphics complement the scene.

Tips to get started

  • Start by introducing the concept of podcasts and asking creators what they listen to or if they’ve ever made one.
  • This is a collaborative project. Everyone’s voice will contribute to the final podcast, so there’s no pressure on one person.
  • Encourage them to write about their experiences. Stories about things that have happened in the club make for great listening! They can use the writing prompts to help, and remind them to use only first names in the podcast.

What creators will learn

Creators will learn to work with artificial intelligence (AI) tools and see their potential in new and different ways. By creating and sharing their own podcast, they’ll bring their stories to life and experience the process of collaborative creation, where their individual contributions come together to form a shared outcome. They will work with plain text files, workflows, and organising files, and have experience with digital publishing.

For registered Code Clubs, full details can be found in your inbox. Search for “This is our Code Club”. Not a Code Club? Register today to unlock access to these exclusive projects!

Ready to start creating? Explore the ‘This is our Code Club’ projects and showcase your Code Club story for the rest of the world! We can’t wait to see your projects.

Mentor voices: Chidi shares the joy of coding alongside Deaf creators

Codeant Technology Hub is a Nigerian organisation with the mission to foster educational empowerment through programming. Working across Imo State, they partner with Code Club to nurture a community of curious, lifelong creators.

Codeant took up a valuable opportunity to set up a club with a group of Deaf young people and learn alongside them. For many of the young people, the club was the first time in their lives that they had used a computer.

A mentor helps a child with a laptop in a classroom, under the banner “Mentor voices” from Code Club Nigeria.
Meet Chidi

Codeant’s Co-Founder, Chidi Duru, shares insights from his time leading a Code Club for Deaf creators.

What were your first thoughts and feelings when you started planning your Code Club?

I was excited about the opportunity to unlock a new world for the young people — coding, creativity, and problem-solving. But I also felt the weight of the challenge: how do I teach coding to kids who are learning to use a computer for the first time, and who communicate differently?

I also knew there could be issues with the available infrastructure: old or slow computers, power outages, and limited access to the internet or learning aids. I was determined, though, because I believe that inclusivity in tech starts with giving everyone — regardless of ability — a fair chance to learn and grow.

How did you make your Code Club accessible for Deaf creators?

I approached it with simplicity, clarity, and accessibility in mind. First, I broke down the Code Club Introduction to Scratch project path into visual step-by-step guides so the creators could follow along independently.

To support communication, I have an experienced sign language teacher working with me, and I’m learning it myself.

A group of young creators seated at desks with laptops, attentively participating in a coding lesson. A male instructor is standing beside a projection screen, explaining coding concepts to the creators, while a female teacher uses sign language.
Sign language teacher supporting the Code Club

I also integrated live demonstrations and visual storytelling. For example, instead of saying “Make the cat move 10 steps”, we use real-life gestures and visual cues, like arrows and body movement, to help understanding. We use other non-verbal cues, like raising hands to ask for help, thumbs up for “I’m ready”, and applauding (by waving raised hands) to celebrate achievements.

These simple adaptations have made the learning environment more inclusive, interactive, and fun for everyone.

What’s it like to see the creators finish a project?

The joy is unmistakable, even without words. Their expressions say it all: wide smiles, excited gestures, clapping, and proudly showing their screens to their peers. 

Seeing them go from hesitant to confident, from passive observers to active creators, is incredibly fulfilling. You can feel their sense of ownership and pride — it’s not just about finishing a task, but about building something of their own for the first time. That confidence boost is priceless.

A group of young people, including Deaf youth, engaged in a coding club session at a table with laptops, focused on their computers and printed materials in a classroom setting.
Creators working on their projects

Do your creators solve problems in unique ways that could help others?

Absolutely. Because they process information visually and often non-verbally, they naturally approach problems in creative, out-of-the-box ways. I’ve seen them troubleshoot by mimicking sprite movements with their hands or by physically demonstrating what the code should do.

Their ability to focus on visual logic and spatial awareness is something all learners could benefit from. It’s a reminder that coding is not just about syntax — it’s about thinking, creativity, and expression.

Most importantly, they are learning that they can do hard things, and that mindset will
serve them for life.

How has this experience changed your ideas about teaching, accessibility, and tech for young people?

I have come to deeply appreciate the power of inclusive teaching, how adjusting methods to meet learners where they are can unlock so much potential.

Technology should be a leveller, not a divider. This experience has shown me that with patience, the right tools, and empathy, every child, regardless of ability, can become a tech creator. Accessibility is not an add-on — it’s a foundation for equitable learning.

A group of young people engaged in a coding class, seated at tables with laptops in a classroom setting. The environment is bright and informal, showcasing a diverse group of participants learning together.
Welcome to Code Club!

What message would you share with others who are starting a Code Club for creators with diverse accessibility requirements?

Start small, but start. You don’t need to have all the answers, just the heart to try and learn alongside your students. Inclusion is not about perfection, it’s about presence and persistence.

These creators have so much to offer. With your support, they will show you what is possible when tech truly becomes for everyone.

Inspired by Chidi to start your own journey with Code Club? Join our warm and welcoming community of mentors today!