classic outdoor games

8/2/2019 Classic Outdoor Games

1/12

ALL THEU L SALL HEC ASS .IC S


2/12

' 0 ' ~ '"

E F IR ST RU LE TO ALL F IELD GAM ES is tryno t to have too m any ru les o r too m any bound -a rie s . T he bes t gam es con tro l th em se lv es andw ork fine in w eird -sh aped , tree -filled spaces . M osto f th e gam es lis ted here qua lify on bo th sco res .T hose th a t don 't a re so no ted . If a re f is recom -m ended , it's becau se th e gam e is (a ) te rrifica llypopu lar and (b ) p rone to a rgum en ts . K id s a re fana t-ic s abou t " fa ir" and ru le -h eavy gam es o ften b reakapart in squabb les . If you 're w ise , you 'll avo idgam es lik e tha t w henever possib le .

St'cks &How Many? 8 m inimum ;I S pace? A big yard or soA ges? 3-10 I Ref? Not really, but an announcerA PARTICULARLY GOOD GAM E FOR TH E 5 - AN D 6-year-olds, Two te am s C 'S tick s" a n d "S to n e s" ) fo rm ands tand in tw o lin e s fa c in g ea ch o th e r , o n ly a few fe e tap a r t. B eh in d e ach te am -b y ab ou t 30 g ia n t s tep s -is asa fe lin e . T h e re f th en y e lls "S tick s" -an d th e S tic k stak e o ff a f te r th e S to n e s w ho h ig h ta il it fo r th e ir sa fe -lin e . A ny th a t g e t c au g h t h av e to sw itch s id e s . T h en th eyre fo rm th e ir lin e s a n d d o it aga in .


3/12

sweater GrabHow Many? 6 minimum / Space? A front yardor so / Ages? A nyone who's mobile. T he biggestcan play with the littlest/ Need a re f? Not reallyTW O TEA M S FO RM U P , FA C IN G EA C H O TH ER ,abou t 2 5 g ian t s tep s apa rt. C a ll th em the red andb lu e team s. A sw ea te r s its in th e m idd le b e tw eenth em . O n each team , everyone num bers o ff .T hen som eone w ho 's no t p lay ing ho lle rs " O N Eand TH REE !" (o r w ha tev e r). T ha t m ean s #1from the red team and #3 from the b lu e teamdash fo r th e sw ea te r. S ay you 're #1. Y ou haveto g rab th e sw ea te r and tak e it to th e O T H E R t eam' slin e w ithou t g e ttin g tagged by #3. G ood lu ck .

T e H u gHow Many? 5 is m inimum, much more is much betterSpace? Very little / Ages? It doesn't matterNeed a re f? Nope

TH IS IS A G RO UP A NT I-G RA VITY G ATH ER IN G .E verybody fo rm s a tigh t c i r c l e (H ow tigh t? Y ou r no se isp ressed in to th e back o f th e person 's h ead righ t in f ron to f you ). O n a sign a l, ev e ry one sits d ow n very ca re fu llyon to th e lap o f th e person beh ind th em . (T he W orldR eco rd S itdow n? 1,215 .)


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isH ow M any? 6 minimum / Space? Depends onthe group size. F rom a vacant lot up to a soccerfie ld / Ages? Have to be able to catchRef? NopeL IKE BASKETBALL OR SOCCER , ULT IM ATE IS H IGH -en e rg y , n o n -s to p . T h e id e a is to a d v an c e a ten n is b a lld ow n a fie ld a c ro ss a n en d lin e -b u t o n ly b y p a ss in g .Y ou can n ev e r ru n o r e v en m ov e o ff a p iv o t fo o t w ith th eb a ll in h an d . T h e g am e is n o n -co n ta c t. If y o u h av e th eb a ll, y o u 'v e g o t te n se co n d s to g e t r id o f it. T he d e fen sec an g e t in y ou r fa c e , sc re am , h o lle r , w av e a rm s-b u t n oto u ch in g . I f a p a ss fa lls in c om p le te , it g o e s o v e r to th eo th e r s id e . If it 's in te rc e p te d , it g o e s o v e r . I f som eo n eh o ld s o n to th e b a ll lo n g e r th an 10 se co n d s , it g o e s o v e r .P asse s c a n g o fo rw a rd , s id ew ay s o r b ackw a rd s .

H ow M any? 2 or more / Space? Indoors is fineAges? AnythingA TRULY GREAT INDOOR /OUTDOOR GAM E FOR W HICHy ou r eq u ipm en t n e ed s a re a s fo llow s: A ro lle d -u p so ck .E v e ry o n e la y s d ow n on th e ir b a ck s -h e ad to h e ad .S om eb o dy 's g o t th e ro lle d -u p so ck . T he ir g o a l? B o nksom eo n e e lse o n th e n o se w ith a so f t, p e rfe c tly a c cu ra telit t le lo b . I f th e to s s is o ff th e m ark , th e v ic tim canca tch it . I f it 's n o t, if i t 's a p e rfe c t n o se -b o n k , th e v ic timh a s to le t it g o . B a ck an d fo rth it g o e s , b o n k to b o n k .Body Parts Version: F o r th o se w ho lik e to k e ep sco re ,e lim in a te c a tc h in g an d a ss ig n p o in ts to v a r io u s b o d yp a r ts (a s in .. . a lob that lands on the left leg = 8 points,one that lands on the right ear = 20 poin ts ... etc . )


5/12

LAI VANILLA TAGY OU K N OW TH E R U LES A LR EA DY :S om ebody 's IT andth e re s t g e t ch a sedand tag ged . F irs ttag g ed is th e n ex t IT .U n fo rtu na te ly , P la inV an illa T ag can tu rn in to a tea s ing k in d o f g am ew ith th e s low es t k id s a lw ay s b e in g IT . F o r n ew ,im prov ed m ode ls o f T ag , ch eck ou t som e o f th e se v a ri-an ts . A ll o f th em need a t le a s t a fro n t y a rd to ru na ro und in and w o rk b es t w ith 4 p lay e rs o r m o re .oSON

SO M EO N E IS C H OSEN A S IT .E v e ry on e pu ts th e ir h and s on th e irch e s ts ( th e IT p e rso n can u se a h and totag ) an d tak es o ff . If th e IT p e rso n tag sy ou , n o m a tte r w he re th ey tag you , y ouh av e to pu t y ou r h and th e re an d nowyou 're an IT to o . S oon ev e ry on e is ru n n in g a ro und w ithth e ir h and s on w e ird p a rts o f th e ir b o d ie s . L a s t p e rso ntag g ed is IT fo r th e n ex t ro u nd .FREEZE TAGA PLA YER W H O IS TA GG ED M U ST IM M E D IA TELYfre eze and s it d ow n . T h ey can b e un fro zen on ly if t heya re to u ch ed by ano th e r free p lay e r. T unn e l V aria tio n :F ro zen ty p es s tay s tan d in g and can b e un fro zen on ly ifth e u n freez in g p lay e r c raw ls b e tw een th e ir leg s . (W o rk sw ell fo r th e u nd e r-6 c row d.)o lAGA G REA T V AR IA TIO N ,BU T IT N EED S A R E F A N D Ala rg e r , b ir th d ay -p a rty -s ized g ro up . S ta rts o u t th e reg u la rw ay , w ith o n e p e rso n as IT , b u t ev e ry p e rso n w ho g e tstag g ed jo in s h and s w ith th e IT p e rso n , fo rm in g th e"Blob ." A s th e B lo b g e ts b ig g e r , th e fie ld h a s to g e t sm all-e r (h en ce th e re f) u n til o n ly on e p e rso n is le f t lo o se ,b e in g ch ased by a B lob o f fiv e o r s ix ( o r w ha tev e r) .


6/12

How any? 2 or more / Space? A yard or soAges? 10 and upA GREAT W AY TO JAZZ UP A GAM E OF BASIC CATCH .T he id e a is s im p le . P la y e rs lo c k th em s e lv e s in to p o s it io nb y n a il in g o n e fo o t to th e g ro u n d

(n o t li te ra lly , b u t y o u g e t th eid e a ) . T h en th e to ss e s g o b a c ka n d fo r th in th e n o rm a l m an n e r .Any to s s th a t fo rc e s th e c a tc h e rto m ov e h is o r h e r n a ile d fo o t

g iv e s th e c a tc h e r a p o in t. A ny to s s th a t sh o u ld h a v eb e e n c a u g h t, b u t w asn 't , g iv e s th e th row e r a p o in t .

I l J im t a t c h IFOR ADVANC ED PLAYERS , MAKE EACH TOSS A SKY -h ig h th row . T h en , c o u n t th e n um be r o fs te p s th a t th e c a tc h e rh a s to m ak e ( if a n y ) ino rd e r to m ak e th eg ra b . F o r e a c h s te p ,th a t 's a p o in t fo r th ec a tc h e r . N o te th a t th eth ro w e r a n d c a tc h e r , ifth e y w an t, c a n b es ta n d in g r ig h t n e x t toe a c h o th e r . I f th e c a tc h e r c o u ld h a v e m ad e th e c a tc h -b u t d id n 't- IO p o in ts fo r th e th row er . I f th e th row w asu n ca tc h a b le - IO p o in ts fo r th e c a tc h e r .


7/12

H ow M any? 5 is m inimum, more the merrierSpa c e? Inside is fine, or some kind of defined outsidespace with good h iding spots / Age s ? Doesn 't matterTH IS IS TH E R EV ER SE V ER S IO N O F PLA IN V A N ILLAH id e an d S eek . I t 's a tr ied -an d -tru e s le ep -o v e r sp e c ia l.O n e p e rso n g o es o ff to h id e , th e re s t s tay b eh in d . M er aco un t o f 100, ev e ry o n e sca tte rs to lo o k . If y o u 're o n e o fth e lo o k e rs , an d if y o u fin d th e h id e r , y o u h av e tosq u eeze in to th e sam e h id in g spo t an d k eep q u ie t. D ittofo r th e n ex t o n e w ho flnds th e tw o o f y ou ...u n til e v e ry -o n e is sq uo ze in to th e o n e sp o t, an d on ly o n e lo ok e r isle f t lo o k in g . A g rea t ch an ce fo r th e g ig g le s .

sH ow M any? A t least 4Spa c e? A fa ir-s ized yardAge s ? 3-7 / Re f? NopeA C LA SS IC L IT IL E G IR LS ' B IR TH D A Y PA RTYA C TM T Y .O n e p lay e r is th e scu lp to r . S h e go es from p lay e r to p lay -e r, ta k in g e ach by th e h and an d sp in n in g th em on th el awn . As sh e sp in s , sh e a sk s "C o ffee , te a , o r m ilk ? " Ifth ey say "co ffee ," th a t m ean s m ax im um speed ; " te a "m ean s m ed ium ; "m ilk " m ean s s low es t. W hen th e sp in -n e e is flu n g lo o se , th ey h av e to freeze in to som e w e irds ta tu e po s itio n . T h e scu lp to r th en g o es from sta tu e tos ta tu e try in g to m ak e th em lau gh . N o fa ir to u ch in gth em , o r y e llin g in th e ir e a r . L a s t o n e to h o ld ou tis th e n ex t scu lp to r.


8/12

H ow any? A t least 8 / Space? Somethingapproach ing a soccer field w ith well- definedboundaries / A ges? 5 and up / Ref ' It h elpsIF Y OU H AV EA BIG PLA Y IN G SPA C E , A N D A FA IR -sized g roup o f k id s , and th e re 's an adu lt w illing to se ttled ispu te s , C ap tu re th e F lag is a good cho ice . I t 's v e rypopu la r , a lth ough a little h eavy on th e ru le s .

F irs t s tep is to se t u p th e s id e and end lin es . M arkth em w ith sw ea tsh ir ts and su ch . S e t-ou t a rec tangu la rf ie ld w ith endzones and a d iv id in g lin e in th e m idd le .T h e "flag s" (tw o m o re sw ea tsh irts) g o in th e back o f th eendzones , on e p e r. T h e team s fo rm up and each occupyth e ir h a lf o f th e fie ld .

T h e ob jec t is to dash th rough the oppos ing team ste rrito ry , s tea l th e ir f lag , and g e t it b ack ac ro ss th e m id -lin e w ith ou t be in g tagg ed . If y ou 're tagg ed , o r go ou t o fbounds , y ou hav e to go to ja il (ano th e r sw ea tsh ir t som e-w here nea r th e endzon e ) and can 't b e re lea sed un le ssone o f you r un tagged team m ates to uch es you .

A BO U T TH E EN DZ O N ES : Y ou can 't ev e r go in to you row n endzone . Y ou r opponen t can go in bu t on ly if he o rshe is th e re to s tea l you r flag . N oone is a llow ed to hangou t in an endzone . Y ou have to g e t th e flag and go .sH ow M any? 5 is m inimum, more the merrier / Space?Someth ing complicated like a h ouse + trees + shrubs +yard + dogs etc./ Ages? Doesn't matter / Ref? NopeA C L A SS IC A FT ER -SC O U T -m ee tin g k ind o f gam e. P lay sw e ll a t n igh t. N eed s an ou t-d oo r sp ace w ith lo ts o f goodh id ing p laces .

Tw o team s fo rm and sp lit up . T he cop team has aja il ( tree ) and gu a rd s it. T h e robbe rs tak e o ff. T h e irg oa l is to ram b le a round and avo id cap tu re . If th ey g e ttagged , th ey go to ja il w he re th ey can be freed on ly byth e tou ch o f a free team m ate . W hen a ll th e robbe rsg e t caugh t, s id es sw itch .


9/12

nHow Many? A t least 6 / S,pace? A fa ir-s izedyard or (ideally) a gym / Ages? Keep themsimilar. N ot a good game to mix ages andabilities / Equ'ipment.? A t least one soft,big playground ball / Re,f? A lmost a mustTH IS GAM E H AS TH E D ISADVAN TAGE OF N EED IN G Are f . A nd th e k id s sh o u ld a ll b e , m o re o r le ss , th e sam eag e . N ev e rth e le s s , it is b ig tim e popu la r w ith th e row dyc row d. A fte r a ll , th e w ho le g am e rev o lv e s a ro u n d p lu n k -in g you r o p pon en t w ith a b a ll.

Mark o ff som e kind o f p re tty b ig sp ace , d raw a m id -lin e , an d to ss d ow n a sw ea te r som ew he re to m ak e th e" ja il ." T eam s fo rm and sp lit u p o n e ith e r s id e an d a b a llis to ssed o n to o n e s id e o r th e o th e r . N o o n e is a l low edto c ro s s th e m id lin e e v e r .

A t th e w h is tle , w ho ev e r h a s th e b a ll tr ie s to th row itac ro ss th e lin e an d p lu n k an o pponen t (rem em be r, w esa id u se a b ig , SO F f ba l l an d n o a im in g fo r th e h ead !) .If n o o n e is h it, p l a y goe s on . If som eone is h it , th a ts ome o n e has to go to jail. If th e th row is c au g h t, tw oth in g s h ap p en : O n e , th e th row e r g o e s to ja il; a n d tw o ,if som eon e is lan g u ish in g in ja il from th e ca tch e r 'ste am , th a t p e rso n is fre ed .Sharks iU l M I N N O W SHow Many? A t least 6/ S pace? A fair-sized yard /Ages? A nyth ing goes / Ref? Not reallyA G O OD N O -R EF -N EED ED GA M E. S IMPLE RULES , Theon ly d isad v an tag e is th a t y o u n eed a g o od op en sp acew ith d e fin ed s id e lin e s an d en d lin e s (m ark th em withswea t e r s if you h av e to ) . S om eon e is p ick ed to b e th e"sh a rk ." H e o r sh e se ts u p in th e m id d le o f th e fie ld a n dcan ru n an yw he re in b o u nd s (c an 't c ro ss an en d lin e ) . A llth e o th e r p lay e rs ( th e "m in n ow s" ) g a th e r b eh in d o n eend l i n e o r th e o th e r . A t a s ig n a l, th e m inn ow s d a shth ro u g h th e fie ld . I f th e sh a rk tag s th em , th ey b ecom e ash a rk to o . If th ey g e t th ro u g h to th e o th e r lin e , th ey w a itfo r th e n ex t go . P re tty so o n , th e re a re a lo t o f sh a rk s inth e m id d le an d o n ly a few m in now s w a itin g b eh in d anen d lin e (th is is a to ug h g am e on m in n ow s). W hen th ela s t m in n ow is c au g h t, s ta r t o v e r w ith a n ew sh a rk .


10/12

tALL O F THESE RELAYS NEED A REF, IF ONLY TO BLOWth e wh istle , but they are each of th em tried and testedtrue. B ig tim e fun.AIEBAI, RY OUR GOAL? RUN TO TH E H ALFW AY

l in e . P ic k u p a b a se b a ll b a t th a t 'sly in g th e re , p in i t b e tw ee n th eg ro u n d an d y o u r fo re h e a d a n d sp ina ro u n d it 10 tim e s , k e e p in g it v e r t ic a l .T h e n w ob b le b a c k to th e f in ish .

W E H E A D R E L A YY OUR GOAL? CARRY A PAPER CUP OF W it ERa n d ru n to th e h a lfw ay lin e w he re y o u r p a r tn e ris ly in g o n h e r b a c k w ith a sp o r t-d r in k b o tt leo n h e r fo re h e a d (n o h a n d s a llow ed ) . Y o u

v e to p o u r y o u r c u p o f w a te r in to th e b o t-t le a n d g o b a ck fo r a n o th e r c u p fu l. W h enit 's fu ll , g ra b i t a n d h e a d fo r th e f in ish .

AN OTH ER RACE FOR PA IRS . TH Etw o p la y e rs m u s t k e e p a b a llo o n in th ea ir , b a t t in g it b a c k a n d fo r th , a s th e y

ru n to th e f in ish . Y ou c a n p la y w ith n oh an d s fo r a d d itio n a l c h a lle n g e .


11/12

C

TH IS R ELA Y IS RU N IN PA IR S . A BA LL(o r sw ea te r) is s tu ck b e tw een th eb ack s o f tw o p lay e rs . N o han d s .T h ey h av e to " ru n " th a t w ay w ith -ou t d ropp ing -> o r b ack toth e s ta rt th ey go .

__ OONOSS PRO BA BLY TH E BEST R ELA Yeve r in v en ted . P lay e rs fo rm

tw o lin es on e s tep ap a rt.Y ou r p a rtn e r is th e p e r-son s tand ing d ire c tly infro n t o f you . O n th e firs tro und , to ss a w a te r b a l-

lo on to you r p a rtn e r . If it 'sc augh t and d oesn 't b reak -o r if

it h its th e g ro und an d do esn 't b reak -th en each o f yo u h a s to b ack up one s tepand try ag a in . A b rok en b a llo o n m ean s y ou 're

ou t. W inn ing te am is th e la s t o n e w ith an in ta c tba l l oon .

TH IS IS TH E 0 LY N O N -RU N N IN G re layh e re . Y ou 'll n eed a tray o f ic e cub es .P lay e rs fo rm in to p a irs an d tak e ani cub e . T h e ir g o a l? M e lt it.R ule s? N o pu ttin g in tom ou th s and no b reak in git u p ..O th e r th an th a t,an yth in g go es .


12/12

I eII e 5 1I ssicsl g~ r C ops and R obbers M IN OWK inds o f T ag

S ta ues

U a ,- I~.na S ix R e lays

o S o ck B on -ea_cr r

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KLUTZ~455 Portage AvenuePalo Alto, CA 943061997 Printed in U.S.A.

$4,.95peelotf

l 0 4 2 3 9 8$ 4 . 9 5 L J

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