Aliens and Jedis
Watch: https://drive.google.com/a/topsfieldps.org/file/d/0B-xTeJRZV623ajBaalM0NXNVb2s/view?usp=sharing
Equipment: soft foam Frisbees; and foam sticks.
Formation: About 6 taggers holding a foam Frisbee (they are the bad guys “the droids”
Other players scattered around holding a foam noodle (the light-sabers) the good guys, the Jedis!
Description:
- Taggers toss the soft Frisbees at the running players trying to tag them.
- Frisbees have to be tossed at the players in a way that will not hit their faces… not aimed at faces at least.
- Players will block the frisbee with the noodles at hand.
- Whenever a player is tagged – if the Frisbee touches their bodies - he/she switches with the tagger.
Amoeba Tag
Watch how it's played: http://safeshare.tv/w/bfIaWlxdkT
another example: http://safeshare.tv/w/KlHgaiOwIT
Equipment: None
Description: 4 students to a group (or 5 maximum if necessary), one person is the tagger; the 3 remaining students hold hands, forming the amoeba, in a circle form; the tagger chooses one person in the group to tag. The tagger runs around the group trying to tag the one he chooses, and the remaining players protect that player by trying to maintain their bodies between the tagger and the target person – while always holding hands. Once that player is tagged, they switch places (tagger and tagged).
Things to remember: Tagger cannot go through the middle, they must work around the outside of the group. The group works together to keep the tagger from tagging their group member. The amoeba should try not to travel far from the area they choose to play.
Asteroids
Watch how it's played: http://safeshare.tv/w/WLNfZJrljV
Equipment: one ball to each player
Formation: it begins with players in a circle formation, holding a ball
Description: at the teacher’s command, “Asteroids,” players toss the ball very high over their heads; they will pick any ball up, then, with bowling action - rolling the ball - will try to tag other players on their legs (from the knee down); when tagged, a player sits down until the person who tagged him/her gets tagged and has to sit down; sitting-down players (the ones who were tagged) are still actively participating by trying to roll balls that come to them, at the running players. In which case they may get back up and run again.
No overhand shots.
Brownies and Cookies
https://drive.google.com/file/d/17-Esz70QTHAA5m4rIQxU4UJsDt6zkckE/view
Charades
Watch how it's played: http://safeshare.tv/w/mLqmzLzyxS
No equipment
Description: divide the class into two groups; one group sits while the other is given something to act out without using words or making any sounds – only movements; the group sitting down tries to guess what the other is trying to depict.
After a few chances to guess it (ask children to raise their hands if they think they know what the charade is), the groups switch places and a new charade is given to the other group while huddling around the instructor, who quietly tells them the new subject to act out.
Cross Fire
Watch how it's played: http://nicertube.com/x2tfgbus
Equipment: 2 foam balls
Formation: divide the class in two groups - or boys and girls
Description: the game begins with a large circle of players (not holding hands) while the other half of the class goes in the middle of the circle.
The outer-circle players are given a light, foam ball, which will be kicked, low, always close to the ground, with the object of hitting the inside ones below the waist level.
Players in the middle may jump, dodge, duck, etc., not to be hit. A player who is hit from the waist down, joins the circle and help the others, until only one player is left. Game re-starts with players assuming the opposite position they started at.
Things to observe: the ball must not be kicked hard. The goal is that players in the middle of the circle be touched by a ball not “whacked” by it; the ball is kicked back and forth among the players in the outer-circle without the need to stop it then kick. Ask the players in the outer-circle to give a good continuity to the game to make it more exciting. Watch for fairness. Make sure that when a player is hit he/she leaves the center and joins the ones around the circle.
Dunk or Hop
Watch how it's played: http://safeshare.tv/w/QZlvKllnSo
Game set up: http://safeshare.tv/w/babdLMTXyP
Skill: shooting, sack hopping,
Equipment: 1 sack; 2 cones; 1 rubber ball; 2 buckets; several hula-hoops.
Formation: Divide the group in two teams, here named A and B (or simply divide the teams into Boys and Girls; it works well in this game giving that there are no differences in abilities between genders); one player (shooter) stands between two cones at one open end of a large oval-shaped circle of hoops on the floor; this shooter holds the ball and has a sack on the floor next to him/her.
Inside the circle of hoops there are two buckets; one about 10 feet from the shooter and the other 20-30 feet away. The circle of hoops should not be too close to the buckets.
Teams are in alternating places in the hoops – meaning, if a player from Team A is the first shooter (meaning, the player standing between the cones), the first player to his/her right inside the hoop will be one from Team B; then follow a pattern, A, B, A, B, and so on.
Description: Following the formation described above, the player between the cones (Team A) tries to throw the ball into the closer bucket. If the ball goes in, this player scored a point for his/her team, and advances to the hoop on the right and all other students advance (rotate) to the next hoop up on their right.
The student in the last hoop becomes the next shooter (Team B).
If the shooter missed the bucket, he must get into the sack and hop around the outside of the hoops where the students are standing in. Meanwhile, players from Team A try to get the ball in the bucket before the shooter who is hopping reaches the cones.
Team A players must have two feet inside the hoop when shooting the ball in the bucket. If missing they can come out of the hoop (after someone shoots only), then keep trying before the shooter completes the lap, but always shooting from inside the hoop.
Once the shooter reaches back at the cones (which in this case is a point for his team – team B – because team A could not prevent him from scoring), he/she advances to hoop on the right and everyone rotates again.
Therefore, if the shooter belongs to Team A, only Team B can throw the ball in the bucket if the shooter fails; and vice versa.
Points: points are awarded in the following manner:
Only a shooter can score. If the shooter, at his/her initial attempt shoots the ball in the bucket, his/her team gets a point. If he/she finishes the sack lap before the other team shoots the ball in the bucket, it is also a point.
However, it is NOT a point when the opposite team is shooting the ball from inside the hoops during the sack lap. They simply prevent the shooter from scoring a point for his/her team. Now they rotate counterclockwise, and a player from the opposite team has a chance to score.
Things to remember: players in the hoops, shooting into the bucket, must have both feet inside when shooting; make sure the shooter is hopping and not running inside the sack during the lap; game continues until everyone has had a chance to be the shooter.
Farmers and Chickens
Watch how it's played: http://safeshare.tv/w/tKfHtIkUKi
Equipment: several tennis balls; 6 cones
Formation: about 1/3 of the class are farmers; 2/3rds are chickens.
Description: this is a tag game. Farmers are taggers. Chickens are the ones who start the game with two “eggs” (tennis balls), one in each hand.
Farmers want to steal the eggs from the chickens by tagging the chickens on their hands or on the balls that they are holding in their hands. A chicken is only tagged if the farmer has touched one of his/her hands or the ball in the hand.
When a chicken is tagged, he/she gives both eggs to the farmer, in which case they are switching functions and the farmer – who is now holding one egg in each hand – becomes a chicken and can be tagged by another farmer. No tagbacks.
Chickens can go to an area – a circle of cones – to “lay eggs” and rest for about 10 seconds whenever needed (but not too often).
Things to remind them: Not to grab each other in the attempt to tag. Chickens cannot hide the eggs, pretending that they don’t have them – it happens sometimes, and it confuses everyone.
Flat Turtles
Watch how it's played: http://safeshare.tv/w/QJAWzsUtox
Equipment: about 20 hoops, 3 soft balls.
Formation: divide the class in three groups. Each group stands in one particular area where the same amount of hoops as players are set up on the ground in a circle form. One player goes in the center of the circle of hoops; so one hoop is always open.
Description: Think of “monkey in the middle” game with a few extra features; players inside the hoops are passing the ball to each other, striving to pass it well, and quickly. Faking is highly encouraged; players in the hoops run to the open hoop anytime they want to get open and give more choices to whoever has the ball to pass it; there should be only one player in each hoop at a time; the player in the middle “tagger” tries to touch or catch the ball when is passed around – in which case he/she switches with the last player to have touched the ball.
Also: if the ball goes out of the circle, the “tagger” can chase the player going to retrieve it, and either touch the ball or tag that player, in which case, they also switch roles. The player going to retrieve a ball that ran away, tries to run back quickly to any open hoop, in which case he’s safe again.
Things to remind them: Players in the hoop should not run away deliberately with the ball to cause the tagger to chase them. They run only in the occasion that the ball needs to be retrieved; remind them not to “hog” the ball for too long when passing it around; no hard/rough passes to each other.
Four-Game Station
In this station there will be four games taking place at the same time. The class is divided in four groups (use gym groups) and they will rotate every 3-4 minutes to the next game.
Watch: drive.google.com/file/d/0B-xTeJRZV623WHR6NkY2emJZbjQ/view?usp=sharing
Game 1: Human Tangles
Equipment: same number of fabric flags or bandanas as the number of players
Formation: divide the class in groups of 5-6 players (on Field Day we’ll be using our gym groups – only one group will be playing this game each time.)
Description:
- Each group stand in a small circle
- Each player will be holding the end of two flags, one in each hand
- The other end of his/her flags are held by two different players (in other words, the flag being held by your left hand is held at the other end by one player standing across, and the flag held by the right hand is held at the other hand by another player in the group.
- Once all players are all holding two flags and each player is connected to two other players standing across in the circle formation, the group (which is now all tangled up), will try to untangle itself without ever letting go off the flags.
- Players work together, talk to each other and try to figure out the best way to untangle themselves – without any push or pulling.
- Sometimes it’s simply impossible to untangle a group given the starting formation they choose. In that case, they may start all over.
- Players go over, around under each other and the flags in the attempt to untangle the group.
Equipment: None
Description:
- 4 students to a group (or 5 maximum if necessary), one person is the tagger
- The 3 remaining students hold hands, forming the amoeba, in a circle form.
- The tagger chooses one person in the group to tag
- The tagger runs around the group trying to tag the one he chooses, and the remaining players protect that player by trying to maintain their bodies between the tagger and the target person – while always holding hands.
- Once that player is tagged, they switch places (tagger and tagged).
- Tagger cannot go through the middle; they must work around the outside of the group.
- The group works together to keep the tagger from tagging their group member.
- The amoeba should try not to travel far from the area they choose to play.
Equipment: none
Formation: small group of 5-6 students (gym group on Field Day)
Description: Students will build a sort of sculpture using their bodies, in which each players stands in a sort of balance stunt, and is connected to at least one other player in the group.
- They will use their creativity to try to build intricate formations with their bodies.
- Absolutely no hand or head stands
- No standing on top of each other or pyramids.
- After a static formation of a 5 seconds duration they begin to build another balance statue shape.
Game 4: Human Machines
Description:
- Students are divided in 3 groups.
- They invent a machine of their choice using everyone in the group.
- Everyone must be moving (preferably, each in a different way)
- Everyone must be connected somehow.
- They must work together as a team and listen and discuss ideas with each other.
- The instructor needs to look out for ideas and “machines” that may not be very safe.
- No climbing on top of each other (i.e. piggyback, pyramids, etc.
Guard the Chair
Watch how it's played: http://safeshare.tv/w/DqmSHtsRPk
Equipment: 3 chairs; about 18 hula-hoops; 3 foam balls
Formation: the class is divided in three groups. Each group is placed in a separate area where a chair and hula-hoops are set up. The chair is in the middle and hoops around it about 8 feet away from the chair. Players stand in a hula-hoop.
One player is the Guard and places himself always between the chair and the player in the circle, who is holding the ball.
Description: The Guard protects the chair as the players try to hit it with the foam ball. The guard does not need to catch the ball, simply hit it away from the chair. Players go retrieve the ball, run back inside the hula-hoop, to shoot at the chair, or pass to another player. Players must have both feet inside the hoop in order to shoot. Players must shoot the ball down so as to not hit the guard on the face.
If successful, the player who hits the chair, switches with the guard.
Guess Who
Watch: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-xTeJRZV623WEJqMnp1d1QtT0U/view?usp=sharing
Equipment: 4-5 safe balls
Formation:
- groups of 4 students
- 1 student sits with head down and eyes covered
- 3 others, with one ball, standing around the player sitting down
- The player sitting down, with eyes (not mouth) completely covered, will count to 10 slowly and loudly
- The other players are jogging, circling this player in the same direction and passing the ball to each other as they jog.
- After the count of 10, standing players stop running and passing the ball
- The player sitting down waits for a couple of seconds, and still with eyes shut, will guess who’s holding the ball.
- If correct, these players switch places
- If guessing wrongly, the player sitting down performs 3 push-ups, and repeats the whole process again, until guessing it right.
- Good/safe ball passing
- Somewhat quiet during the count so they can hear the sitting player counting
- The “guesser” should not peek before guessing!!
- If too much time goes by without switching players, the “guesser” may invite someone to switch with
Half-Dozen Eggs
Watch how it's played: http://safeshare.tv/w/zNZeobogyp
Equipment: foam balls
Formation: divide the class in 3 groups; each stands in a circle.
Description: group members throw a ball (an egg) to each other, randomly, and promptly; if the ball is dropped, the group has to perform 1 jumping jack; if the ball is dropped a second time, the group performs 2 jumping jacks; then proceed, with 3 and so on, until the ball is dropped 6 times.
The group then, performs 6 jumping jacks, and forms a train (holding on to each other’s waist) and chug around the “country side” to go buy more eggs (singing a song if desired) – and having a great time moving around the area in a train form.
Once they return to their spot, the game is restarted as previously until 1/2 dozen eggs are broken again.
Things to remember: the “egg” is to be passed nicely enough so as not to hurt anybody and to make the catching impossible – players are not supposed to toss it on the ground on purpose. A different player is the conductor each time.
High Ten Tag
Watch: drive.google.com/a/topsfieldps.org/file/d/0B-xTeJRZV623NHFBTG5yMWs2WXc/view?usp=sharing
Equipment: 3 pinnies
Formation: None.
Description:
- Four players are chosen as taggers, they wear a pinnie.
- The remaining are scattered around the area.
- Taggers chase the players, whom, when tagged, have to freeze standing up with arms crossed and feet spread apart.
- Other players should save a frozen player by approaching him/her and performing the following 3 steps:
- a handshake,
- crawling under his/her legs in a figure “8” shape
- Then, both players jump and clap each other’s hands in the air, as in a “high 10”.
- After a few minutes switch taggers so others have a chance to be taggers.
Hula Hut
Here is a video that shows how to play this game:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jdJnZEgRD0RQfFWAu-co_e5NS59Uns8e/view
Equipment: 24 hoops and 10 balls.
Divide the group in two teams.
Human Tic-Tac-Toe
Watch: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-xTeJRZV623NzgxZHJhRWN0bnc/view?usp=sharing
Or: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-xTeJRZV623SGdYTlgtd09nME0/view?usp=sharing
Equipment: 18 hula-hoops; 12 flags, or bandannas (6 of one color, 6 of another); 4 cones
Formation: Divide the class in four teams (for field day, I use the “gym groups” that have been playing together all year long)
The game is played in two distinct areas, where two teams play against each other
- Each team is standing in line next to the other.
- The first three players in line each hold on flag
- About 20 yards away from the players, there are 9 hoops set up on the ground in a grid formation, as in “tic-tac-toe”
- The object of this game is to set down the flags in a row of three, vertical, horizontal, or diagonal line, before the other team accomplishes it.
- On the “go” the two players in front of the line (each holding a flag of their team’s color) run toward the grid and place the flag down inside one of the hoops.
- The player then, runs back to his/her line, high-fives the next one up in front of the line
- Next player does the same as the prior one, placing his/her flag strategically for the third one, runs back, high-five the third player
- The third player tries to finish the row of flags. If unable, he/she runs back and high-fives the fourth player, who can go to the grid and move one flag out to another spot.
- The games goes on until one team wins, having a row of three flags.
Jailbreak Ball
Watch how it's played: http://nicertube.com/wnn3xamh
Equipment: one ball-on-a-string (a tether ball) for each group. Several bean bags, a hula-hoop for each group.
Formation: Groups of 5-6 students; one student spins the ball; one guards the jail (hula-hoop) located near the place where the ball is being spun; and the remaining players stand around the spinner.
Description: one student sits in the middle of the circle spinning a ball-on-a-string over his head but allowing the string to be long enough so the ball is rolling on the floor around himself while spinning.
The guard stands aside. The spinner is spinning the ball and players are jumping over.
When someone gets hit, he goes to jail – inside the hula-hoop - while the others jump over the ball and try to toss a bean bag to his hands to save him. If the jailed player catches it in the air while with one foot at least inside the hoop,, he is free.
More than one player may be jailed at a time. The guard tries to intercept the bean bags, and tosses it back. When a player goes to jail, he leaves the bean bag at the spot where he was jumping.
If they all go to jail, all players switch places and re-start the game.
Jump and Catch
Watch how it's played: http://safeshare.tv/w/soeLpOYiXy
another example: http://safeshare.tv/w/dQOBBAlJfJ
Equipment: long jump ropes; and foam balls.
Formation: divide the class in groups of 4 players
Description: Normally, this game will be played with 4 players in each team; two players turn the jump rope; one player jumps; the last one (the thrower) stands in front of the one who is jumping and tosses the ball to this player.
The jumper will try to catch the ball while jumping. The thrower will throw the ball 5 times, and the jumper is supposed to catch at least 3 out of 5, in which case the group gets 1 point. If catching all 5 the team gets 2 points. The jumper is supposed to keep jumping after catching the ball, or at least complete one more attempt for the point to be validated.
After 5 throws they all rotate positions; and someone else will be the jumper. Everyone gets a chance to be the jumper. The group scores points together.
Things to remind them: The thrower waits for one full jump before tossing the ball to the jumper; rope turners should turn the rope slowly, and wide, so as not to make too difficult for their teammates; remind them that each person is important for the success of the group, and they all should do their part as best as they can.
King Caesar
Watch how it's played: Part I: http://nicertube.com/ue4n8h2o Part II: http://nicertube.com/m9uq3m4c
Equipment: 12 cones
Formation: chose 1 student to start as a “king” or “queen”. That student goes in the middle of the playing field.
All other students go inside one of the “castles” (there are 3 castles represented by a square of cones; castles are place away from each other, enough to provide a reasonable running area in between.
Description: King Caesar (Queen Italy) begins the game in the middle of the area. Players being in a castle of their choice are safe as long as they are in the castle. Players may leave one castle to go to another whenever they feel they can make it there safely. Captured (tagged) players help the King/Queen to capture more “soldiers.”
If the King/Queen invades an empty castle the players freeze in place. King/Queen names one player and tries to tag that player before he/she can enter this castle that the King/Queen just captured.
If the named player enters the castle without being tagged, he/she becomes the new King/Queen. If tagged, the named player goes back to the spot that he/she was when frozen, and the King/Queen challenges another player to enter the castle without being tagged.
If too many players are unsuccessful in this attempt, the King/Queen simply names another player to be the next King/Queen and the whole process restarts.
Things to remind them: no sliding into the castles. It’s too dangerous and runners coming from different directions can get hurt. When a King/Queen takes over a castle, players freeze in place; not constantly moving toward de King/Queen to be picked next.
Konta Way
Watch how it's played: http://safeshare.tv/w/OYzafLJRco
(A children’s game from Papua New Guinea; from Orlick's book)
Equipment: 2 foam balls
Formation: the class is divided in groups of 3 players; players stand shoulder to shoulder, holding hands.
Description: two balls are thrown into the playing area. Groups run freely around the field trying to kick a ball through one of the other groups. Meaning, trying to make the ball go between two players, or between someone’s legs. A point is scored each time the above happens, whether the ball goes through from the front or from behind another group.
Balls can only be kicked, but can be blocked by any part of the body to prevent another group from scoring.
A point is only scored if all players are holding hands. Upon breaking up, a team has to reassemble before continuing playing. The ball cannot be trapped by any player – they can’t step on it to prevent others from kicking it.
Magic Broccoli
Watch: drive.google.com/file/d/0B-xTeJRZV623SEJtVC1EYmxWaEE/view?usp=sharing
Equipment: 2 tether balls; 2 green bean bags; 2 small hoops
Formation: Divide the class in 2 groups; there are two places with the same equipment to play this game
- One player spins the tetherball, sitting on the ground
- One player guards the “magic broccoli” which is inside a hoop about 20-30 feet away from the tetherball
- The remaining players circle around the “spinner”
- The spinner is spinning the tetherball from a sitting position (keeping the hand that spins the ball above the head, with the string long enough so players don’t jump too close)
- Players around the spinner try to jump over the spinning ball without getting touched by the ball
- Whenever hit by the ball (which has to be spun in the ground though), that player runs to the magic broccoli and tries to touch it without getting tagged by the guard.
- If successful, this player can go back to the game.
- If tagged by the guard, the player becomes the new guard, and the former guard can go join the game, jumping over the tetherball
- Every few minutes, they pick a new spinner.
Mega Soccer
Watch how it's played: http://safeshare.tv/w/IZULBrpGuB
(played in the gym)
Equipment: 1 foam ball; pinnies
Formation: the class is divided in two teams, and each team divided in equal number of goalies and forwards.
The game is played in the gym and goalies protect the entire back wall behind them, keeping themselves from crossing over a line on the floor that crosses the gym in front of them. This line is placed about 6 feet from the wall. Forwards don’t go into the goalies’ area – they play between the two lines on the floor.
Description: the game is played like soccer, but the entire wall is the “net”. If the ball hits the wall behind the goalies, from the height of their heads down it’s a goal. The game re-starts from the center again.
Goalies can use any part of their bodies, but do not punt to return the ball. They throw it with their hands, passing the ball to a teammate who's playing as a forward. If a goalie crosses the line to catch a ball, the other team gets a free kick from the center of the gym.
Forwards cannot use hands, and don’t go into the goalies’ area. If a forward touches the ball with his/her hand, the other team gets a free kick as well from the center. Every few minutes, goalies and forwards switch places.
Observations: Be firm with the rules. It sends them the message that they have to be followed to make the game fair for everyone.
Mosquitoes, Salmon and Bears
Watch how it's played: http://safeshare.tv/w/xumjNPOgqQ
Equipment: two row of cones; or lines on the floor
Formation: Divide the class in two groups. Each group goes to opposite sides of the playing area
Description: The idea of this game mimics rock, paper, scissors. Therefore, Bear beats Salmon, Salmon beats Mosquito, Mosquito beats Bear (believe it or not!).
The group huddles and the captain decides on one of the three options: mosquitoes, bears or salmons; they all go together, in a line formation next to each other to the center of the playing area and face the other team, row facing row, and on the count of three they demonstrate what they are: Salmons make “fish-face” and swerving motions with hands; Mosquitoes spread arms on their sides shaking hands, making buzzing noise; Bears raise their arms up and growl ferociously.
The winning team chases the other; a player tagged before he/she can cross the line of cones at the end of the field, has to joins the other team; the game proceeds as above.; in case of a tie during the face off, they go back, huddle and play it again.
Observations: remind the players to be quiet when huddling; everyone needs to be included when huddling; they should go together to the middle when facing the other team.
Pop Up Tag
Watch how it's played: http://nicertube.com/vdb54usw
Another example: http://nicertube.com/zw432fep
Equipment: none
Formation: The players scatter around the gym in position for the “go.” Everyone is a tagger.
Description: on the “go” any player can tag another player. When tagged, a player sits down and has to remain seated until the one who tagged him/her gets tagged. In which case the first one can get up and play again.
The important thing here is to remind them to keep watching the player who tags them, so they know when to get up again. In this game, players constantly tag each other at the same time. In this case, they play Rock, Paper, Scissors to decide on who has to sit.
Things to remind them: If someone is tagged slightly before, as they are trying to tag each other, there’s no need for Rock, Paper, Scissors. Fairness in this case solves the problem.
Raviolis
Watch how it's played: http://safeshare.tv/w/UNsJuyXFPV and http://safeshare.tv/w/rmxKqfKsur
Equipment: bean bags, 3-4 pinnies
Formation: 4-5 taggers, and the remaining players are the raviolis (with a bean bag on their heads)
Description: The game starts with “raviolis” speed walking (according to their ability) balancing a bean bag on their heads; they are safe while with the BB on their heads. When it falls off, they pick it up and run away from taggers, also looking for another ravioli who who has dropped the bean bag already. When finding one, they trade bean bags, put it back on their heads and are safe again. The game proceeds as above.
However, when a ravioli is tagged before he’s able to trade the BB with someone, he becomes a tagger. There are no tag backs.
Scramble Tag
Watch how it's played: http://safeshare.tv/w/FXbtqFlsaX
Equipment: Several pieces of equipment appropriate for safe tossing and catching; pinnies.
Formation: Choose 4 taggers (they wear the pinnies); 3 players who start without a equipment; and give one item to each remaining player.
Description: Taggers – the goal of the taggers is to tag only the players who are holding an item, in which case, the tagger gives this player his/her pinnie, and the player gives the tagger his/her equipment – they switch functions.
The 3 players who start without a item – They are the “life-savers”; these players will be running around and will catch an item being thrown to them by one of the other players who are being chased by the taggers. So, these are the players who can save the others from being tagged. Once they catch an item they can look for someone else to pass it to. If an item is left unattended on the ground when someone forgets to catch them,, ask the ones without anything to pick them up.
Players – these are the ones starting with an item. The taggers will chase them. They can run away from the taggers or simply throw this item to one of the life-savers. When tagged holding an item they become a tagger and tag someone else (no tag-backs). Each player can only have one item at a time.
Super Hoop Tag
Watch how it's played: http://safeshare.tv/w/CyzmZkNMKy
Equipment: 20 hula-hoops; 3 beach balls.
Formation: spread the hula-hoops on the floor and all but 3 students go in one of them; 3 students are the taggers and hold a beach ball.
Description: the game starts with the players in the hula-hoops, hula hooping, and the taggers spread around them.
Each time a hula-hoop stops or falls from their hips, the player has to move to another hula-hoop in which case the taggers may try to tag him (tossing the soft beach ball at them) before they step into another one. If tagged, a player becomes a tagger, and the previous tagger then will be hula-hooping.
Things to remind them: The beach ball has to be tossed as a "bounce-pass" in basketball, so as not to go directly toward someone's face; taggers cannot baby sit next to a hula-hooper; every time a hula hoop stops the player has to move to another one. Taggers may throw the beach ball, but can only tag from the shoulder down. Face and head are not allowed.
Task Tag
Watch how it's played: http://safeshare.tv/w/PZcKvqdHVU
Equipment: same number of different objects as the number of taggers per game.
Formation: The whole group plays together; 4 to 5 taggers are chosen to start, each carrying a different object; objects must be non-threatening ones, such as balls, bean bags, frisbees, etc.
Description: each object represents a different task - which is decided beforehand by the group, naming the tasks relative to each object.
For example: noodle= 3 jumping jacks; frisbee = 3 chicken dances (there's must be chicken dance!); etc.
Tasks should be appropriate, safe, at a level easily performed by all players; define one area where the tasks will be performed; taggers are the ones carrying the object; once a player is tagged, s/he goes to that area, performs the task according to the object in hand, and goes back to the game.
Observations: Taggers have to tag gently, never swinging the object at someone or hitting them.
Ten Seconds of Life
Watch how it's played: http://safeshare.tv/w/HgosctyAfz
Another example: http://safeshare.tv/w/tWEwRsSqfm
Equipment: about 10 small hoops; 10 different pieces of equipment; 4 pinnies
Formation: 4 taggers; spread hoops around the area, each with one different piece of equipment in it; remaining players spread around the area.
Description: on “go”, taggers may chase any player who is not playing with any equipment; players, run around until they find an open hoop and perform the task equivalent to the equipment inside the hoop for no more than 10 trials; after which they have to replace it inside the hoop and run again until finding another equipment available; if tagged while running, a player switch places with the tagger; taggers may not baby-sit players. No tag-backs.
The Flusher
Watch how it's played: http://safeshare.tv/w/KzhaZHInXp
Equipment: 3 to 4 pinnies
Formation: 3 to 4 taggers; 1 “flusher”; the remaining players are runners
Description: this is a tagging game. When a runner is tagged by a tagger, s/he sits, with one arm stretched out – they become little “toilets,” that have to be flushed in order to join in the game again!!
The “flusher” is the saver and goes around flushing players who have been tagged, by lightly pushing the stretched out arm down. The player who has been saved gets to get up and run again. Taggers cannot tag him/her while getting up; they should tag players who are running already. Taggers may not tag the flusher.
After 2-3 minutes choose new taggers and new flusher.
Throwing Sevens
Watch: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XzlnaP3sLOQRlHCRcNRDOPINsn-HtBZm/view
Equipment:
- A few balls in the middle of the playing area
- The game starts with players performing 7 jumping jacks (or seven movements of your choice)
- After the jumping jacks, they go to the center and challenge another available player (who has also finished 7 jumping jacks), with tossing and catching a ball 7 times in a certain way without dropping.
- They take turns challenging each other with different tossing and catching ideas.
- If dropping the ball during these 7 tosses, a player goes out to perform jumping jacks again
- Game proceeds this way.
- The player who is challenging another, also has to toss 7 times in demonstration; and if dropping the ball he/she performs 7 JJ before returning.
- Emphasize creativity in the ways they toss the ball. They can toss from sitting, lying, kneeling positions, etc., while spinning, jumping, one hand, two hands, while clapping, and any other ideas
Tom and Jerry
Watch: drive.google.com/a/topsfieldps.org/file/d/0B-xTeJRZV623UGlGSWV0NjBoVjQ/view?usp=sharing
Equipment None
Formation: 2-3 taggers (wearing pinnies) (“Tom”); 2 to 3 “lose mice” (“Jerry”)
The remaining players (also mice – Jerry) pair up and lie down on the ground in groups of two, side by side, spread around the playing area.
Description:
- This game is also known as “cat and mouse”.
- Pairs of “mice” are lying side by side on the ground around the playing area.
- 2 to 3 lose mice are running away from the taggers and to be safe, a mouse can go lie down next to one of the pair of mice, in which case the mouse on the other side has to get up and go find another group to join.
- In other words, when one lose mouse lies down next to a group, the mouse who is on the other side (not the one whom the lose mouse lied next to) is the player who gets up running away from the taggers until he/she finds another group to join.
- In case a tagger (Tom) tags a mouse before he/she can lie down next to a group, they switch places and the game proceeds as before.
- There are no immediate tag backs.
- Taggers should not babysit, standing right next to players switching places, or players who are about to get up.
- At times, two lose mice run and join the same pair, lying on each side of it at the same time, in which case the teacher has to intervene to maintain a group of two on the ground.