Whether you’re looking for running games for a sports practice, physical education class, a birthday party or just to play in the backyard, here are some games that are always a big hit with kids.
How to Play
Divide kids into two even teams.Each team forms a line on opposite sides of the circle.On your command, one kid from each team starts running around the circle (in the same direction). The goal is to get back to their line and tag (or pass the baton to) the next person on their team without getting caught by the runner on the other team.Once the runner reaches their team’s line, they tag their teammate’s hand and then that kid starts running around the circle, while trying to avoid being caught by the other team’s runner. Kids can also use a baton to pass to the next runner.The first team to get all of their runners around the circle once wins.
How to Play
Write out a list of items that can be found in the area where the kids will be running. Try to make some of the items specific (i.e., a water fountain) and others vague (i.e., something that starts with the letter G). This allows the kids to get creative with their answers.Start with the first item on the list and run to that destinationOnce you get there, move on to the next item on the list
How to Play:
Divide kids into two even teams.Mark the middle of the field or gym with several cones or markers. Place each team’s flag about 50 feet from the middle of the field or gym.When you blow or whistle or say “go”, each team runs to the other side of the field and tries to grab the other team’s flag.If a player is tagged on the opponent’s side of the field, they go to jail (a designated area on the side of the field). You can only be rescued from jail if a teammate frees you.You can play for a designated amount of time and say that the team who captures their flags the most times wins the game. Or, play until one team reaches a certain number of points (scoring one point each time they capture the flag).
How to Play
This game is best played outdoors, in an open area with different landmarks or locations that the kids can run to.On small pieces of paper, a coach or other adult writes down the names of different landmarks in the vicinity, i.e., bleachers, goal post, backstop, equipment shed, long jump pit.Put the pieces of paper in a small bag, such as a brown paper bag or a running belt.One kid pulls out a piece of paper and reads the location. Then they all have to run to that location.Once everyone reaches the destination, a different child pulls out another piece of paper.
Equipment
A rectangular open play area (field or gym) with boundaries marked with lines or cones.
How to Play
Identify 1-4 kids (depending on the size of the group) as sharks. Everyone else will be minnows.The sharks stand in the middle of the field and shout, “Fishy, fishy, fishy, come swim in my sea!”The minnows line up on one end of the rectangle and respond by saying, “Sharky, sharky, sharky, you can’t catch me!” Then the minnows start running across the field to the opposite boundary line and try to avoid being tagged by a shark.If a minnow is tagged, they become a shark and will try to tag other minnows.When there are only one or two minnows left, they become the sharks in the next round.
