Fun and Games

Fun and Games!



Name Focus / good for… Explanation Equipment Safety / points to note

Under / over Warm up Participants line up behind each other and Ball The line will ‘walk’ so

pass a ball over their head then the next make sure there is

person passes it under their legs and so on. enough at the front and

When the ball reaches the last person the keep moving players

last person runs to the front and starts down.

again. The game ends when everyone has

been to the front. Can be made competitive

by doing it in teams.

Side to side Warm up As above but the ball is passed round the Ball As above

side of each player.

Relays Warm up activity,  Straight running race to a cone and back Various e.g. Define boundaries / end

competition, lots of  Include obstacles such as going through a cones, balls, points, make sure there

people in limited hoop or over a bench bean bags, is plenty of room

space  Balance a bean bag on their head, no hockey sticks, between teams, only 1

holding it in place, start again if they hoops person from each team

drop it should be running at

 Skill practice – e.g. dribble a football any time

round cones, hockey dribbling, bounce a

ball etc

 For very energetic kids – number 1 runs

round the cone and back then number 1

and 2 run there and back, then number

1,2 and 3 etc so the first person will run

as many times as there are people in the

team

 Use your imagination!

Sharks and fishes Warm up, fun, team 1 person is the shark and stands in the None Define the boundaries,

work middle of the hall / area. The other people ensure the shark is

are fishes and stand at one end. When the gentle when catching

shark shouts ‘swim’ the fish have to run past the fish (i.e. no

the shark to the other end without being grabbing or hitting)

tagged. If a fish is caught they become a

shark and can help to catch the other fish.

The last person to be caught starts as the

shark in the next game.

Domes and Good fun Place plenty of marker cones on the floor – Lots of Very competitive!

dishes half facing upwards (dishes) and half facing marker cones Spread the cones out as

downwards (domes). Teams have one minute much as possible to

to try and turn over as many cones as they avoid kids bumping into

can – one team makes domes the other each other, be very

makes dishes. At the end count up who has strict with stopping

most. signal (kids will try to

cheat and continue

turning cones!)

Robbing the nest Fun, team work, Split group into equal teams and spread Cones or balls Very competitive!

skill practice teams around the hall / space. Place lots of or bean bags Referee may need to be

balls, bean bags, cones whatever in the very strict and add

centre area. When the whistle is blown one extra rules. Watch out

person from each team runs to take an item for loose equipment on

from the middle and returns to the team so the floor

the next person can go. When all the items

have been taken the game stops and each

team counts how many they have. Only one

item can be taken at once.

Progression – as above but when the items

have all been taken from the centre teams

can rob each other’s nests for one minute.

Circle and hoop Cooperative game Everyone stands in a circle and holds hands. Large hoop Be aware if anyone is

A large hoop should be placed somewhere wearing large earrings

around the circle within the link (so the or jewellery items that

hoop could only be removed by someone the hoop could get

letting go of hands). The hoop is passed caught on, or bulky

around the circle by people stepping through items of clothing

it, no hands allowed!

Ball passing Cooperative / team Everyone stands in a close circle and passes Ball Encourage sensible

work game the ball around the circle as fast as they behaviour – adding a

can. Everyone must touch the ball. Can be competitive edge can

made competitive by splitting into 2 circles make people rush and

and racing each other get silly.

Bench game Cooperative / ice Everyone stands randomly on a gym bench. Gym bench Watch for people falling

breaker activity They have to re-arrange themselves off, no shoving or

according to names (alphabetical order), pushing, some people

birthdays, height etc without stepping off may feel uncomfortable

the bench being in such close

proximity to strangers

Human knot Cooperative game Everyone stands in a circle and puts out None Be aware of hands and

their right hand, they hold someone else’s arms at funny angles!

hand. Do the same with the left hand making Do not force anything,

sure it’s a different person to the first. You hand holds can be

are now in a big tangle! By working together adjusted but not let go.

stepping over, going under, turning round Beware of personal

untangle to make a continuous circle. space issues

Progression – attempt to do without

speaking

Blind fold trail Communication Working in pairs, one partner is blindfolded. Blind folds, Do not make the trail

The other partner holds onto the blind cones, too complicated. Make

persons elbow and guides them round a trail benches etc sure the guide partner

/ obstacle course. They should give good for obstacle is going at an

specific instructions. trail appropriate speed and

Progression – No talking allowed, use body gives proper instruction

language and movement to guide your / warning of obstacles

partner

Drawing partners Communication Working in pairs sat back to back. Number 1 Pens and Excellent for enforcing

draws a picture / diagram. They then have paper the need to be specific

to give instructions to their partner to when giving

enable them to draw the same picture. No instructions!

looking! No names of articles can be used to

describe the picture e.g. you cannot say

draw a table, you can only use shapes and

sizes to describe. Compare pictures  Swap

roles

Line tag Warm up Tag game using the line markings on a hall Line markings No running. Gentle

floor. One or 2 people are ‘it’ and try to tag on hall floor tags, no hitting

the other players. Only allowed to move

along the lines and cannot jump lines, only

change lines where there is an intersection

Jelly beans Warm up Kids run round and leader shouts out the None

following commands randomly:

Jelly beans (shake whole body)

Broad beans (stand with arms and legs

outstretched)

Runner beans (run around)

Jumping beans (jump up and down)

French beans (make moustache with index

fingers and say ooh la la!)

Baked beans (crouch down in a ball)

Any other beans you can think of!

Traffic lights Warm up Put green cones at one end of hall, red Green, yellow Leave space between

(Version 1) cones at the other end and yellow cones in and red cones the cones and the walls

the middle. Shout any of the 3 colours and so people don’t crash

the kids have to run that area.

Progression - start to get kids out if they get

it wrong or are too slow.

Traffic lights Warm up, skill Give a command for each colour e.g. green – Green, yellow Make sure there is

(version 2) practice run around, yellow – jump up and down, red and red enough room for what

– stop. Shout out the commands randomly. cones. Sports you are doing and the

Can be used as skill practice for different balls / number of people

sports e.g. green – dribble football, yellow – equipment

stop ball and turn around, red – pass to

another player and so on.

Progression – instead of shouting out the

commands hold up a coloured cone. This will

make the kids keep their head up and

concentrate more

Colours, numbers Warm up, Lay out 3 lines of cones, each line a Coloured Leave plenty of space

and countries concentration different colour. Split the participants so cones between lines. Make

there is roughly the same amount on each sure the participants

line. Shout out 2 of the colours. Participants are spread along the

on these colours swap places. line and watch out for

Progression – add a number to each of the bumping into each

colours so for example, red and 1, blue and other.

2, green and 3. Now shout out a combination

of colours and numbers to swap places

Progression – add the name of a country to

each line so for example, red, 1 and India,

blue, 2 and Britain, Green, 3 and Russia.

Shout out a combination of any colour,

number or country.

Side lines Warm up, Similar to above. Use cones of 2 different Cones of 2 Good game for

concentration colours. Make 2 lines parallel to each other different concentration as

(about 2 metres apart), alternating cone colours participants cannot just

colours. Line the participants up behind follow each other.

each other between the 2 lines. For Leave plenty of room

example, the first participant should be between participants.

lined up with a red cone to their left and a

yellow cone to their right, the second

participant would have the colours the

opposite way round and so on. Shout out

varying commands of red, yellow, left or

right and the participants have to move

either way to touch the relevant line.

French cricket Fun game, team Group stands in a circle, fairly close Cricket bat Make sure the bowlers

work together. 1 person stands in the centre with and a soft ball are not stood too close

a cricket bat; their legs are the wickets. to the batter. Use a soft

People round the outside bowl a ball at the ball so the batter

person in the middle trying to hit the batters doesn’t get hurt. Bowl

legs. Bowlers can pass the ball between each under arm only keeping

other to get the best angle. The batter the ball low. Make sure

protects their legs by using the bat to hit all the people in the

away the ball; if their legs are hit they are circle get a fair turn at

out and the next person bats. bowling and batting.

Kwik (Quick) Fun game Number all the participants in sequence. Stumps or Be aware of ability

Cricket Number 1 bats first, 2 is the wicket keeper similar, 2 level and adjust the

and 3 can be bowler (depending on group it cones, 1 ball game accordingly. If

might be better for the leader to bowl). The and 1 bat indoors the ball must be

batter must run whether they hit the ball or caught with one hand if

not (this can be altered to must run only it comes off a wall.

when they hit the ball). The batter keeps

their own score – to the cone and back is 1

run. They can be caught out or bowled out.

Can’t be out on their first go. Rotate players

so each takes a turn at wicket keeping (and

bowling)

Non-stop cricket Fun game. Useful if Similar to above but the group is split into 2 Stumps or Be aware of ability

there are lots of teams. The batting team sit on a bench or similar, 2 level and adjust the

participants the floor to the side and behind the stumps. cones, 1 ball game accordingly. If

The batter can be got out same as above but and 1 bat indoors the ball must be

as soon as they are out the next batter must caught with one hand if

take their place, as the bowler does not stop it comes off a wall.

bowling. Teams swap roles when all the

batting team is out.

Cats in the Warm up Set out a relatively small square area and Soft ball and The ball must be aimed

corner section off the four corners. 1 person is on means of lower than chest

and stands in the middle with a large soft sectioning off height. Use a soft ball

ball. The other players stand in any of the areas (e.g. and no throwing too

corner areas. When the ‘it’ player shouts cones or use hard. Make the area a

‘cats in the corner’ everyone has to move to line markings) suitable size for number

a different corner while the ‘it’ person tries in the group

to hit them with the ball. If someone is hit

they can either lose a life or swap with the

person in the middle.

Balloon Skill practice and Group split evenly. Have 1 or 2 large mats Mats, gym Ensure enough space is

volleyball development (or enough individual mats for each person) bench, allowed for the number

on both sides of a gym bench. The players sit balloons, of players. If

or kneel on the mats and use a balloon (volleyball progressing onto proper

instead of a ball. Base the game on net and volleyball try to show

volleyball and add rules or adapt when volleyball) correct technique for

necessary. hitting the ball

Progression – build up to a full game of

volleyball with a proper ball

Run around Skill practice Can be done for badminton, tennis or table Enough Make sure there are no

tennis. Players line up behind each other, rackets or obstacles or

roughly same number on each side of the bats for each obstructions at either

net. First player hits the shuttle cock over to player. side / edge of the net

the player on the other side then runs anti- Relevant or table for when

clockwise round to the other side and joins equipment players are running

the back of the queue. Each player can only depending on round. All players must

hit the shuttle once before running round. sport run in an anti-clockwise

Progression – If a player misses or sends the direction. When players

shuttle out of play they are out. As the are out they must

number gets fewer, players have to run remain out of the way.

faster until there are 2 players left. The

final 2 players play for a winning point.

Team gates Fun, skill practice. Can be used for hockey, football or Cones, bibs, Referee needs to watch

Useful for a large basketball. Split into equal teams. Each ball and any carefully and stop any

number of team should be given a goal line with goal other relevant play that gets too

participants in markers. The team stands linking arms on equipment enthusiastic. If playing

limited space their line and must not come off it. Team depending on hockey ensure that

members should be numbered. Place a ball sport hockey sticks are not

(and 1 hockey stick for each team) in the raised above knee

middle of the area. Call out a number; that height.

number for each team comes out to the If play is going on too

middle and tries to score a goal in any goal long impose a time

apart from their own. When a goal is scored limit.

players return to their team, whichever

team scores gets 1 point.

Circuit stations Fun, skill practice. Either make up the stations yourself or give Random bits If you are doing a

Useful for a large bits of equipment to the participants and get of equipment; fitness circuit make

number of them to come up with something. use what’s sure the participants

participants in Could be as simple as seeing how many times available. have a good warm up

limited space. you can bounce a ball on a bat. Use your Mats, cones before starting or start

Improve fitness imagination! with gentle circuits. To

Fitness circuits could include star jumps, progress you can

step ups, push ups, skipping etc gradually increase the

time spent at each

station

Parachute games Good fun. Can also As a warm up you can tell a story about Parachute, Cat and mouse should

be used to keep going out to sea in a ship. Start in the calm balls, bean be played with care.

group in confined harbour and gradually get further out to sea bags Participants should

space with maybe a big storm – i.e. start shaking/ remove their shoes.

waving the parachute gently and gradually Make sure the cat is

build up. reasonably gentle and

Mushrooming – has to be a coordinated only crawls rather than

effort of taking the parachute really low and stands.

then lifting above everyone’s head. Tell The ‘shark’ should also

people to swap places, for example if they tug at peoples feet

have blonde hair, if they have brothers or gently.

sisters etc.

Cat and Mouse – one person goes under the

parachute (the mouse) and one person

crawls on top of the parachute (the cat).

The people holding the parachute wave it so

that it is difficult to make out the mouse.

The cat has to try and catch the mouse.

Sharks – one person crawls under the

parachute and everyone else sits round the

edge with their feet and legs under the

parachute. The shark goes round and tugs at

people’s feet – the person the shark ‘eats’

screams and disappears under the parachute

and becomes another shark.

Ball games – Place 1 large ball on the

parachute and work as a team to roll the

ball around the edge of the parachute.

Use a few balls and try to knock them off by

shaking the parachute (could also use bean

bags)

Fruit salad Fun game, not Either sat on chairs or stood at a marker Cones or Watch out for people

much space needed cone in a circle. Give each participant the chairs bumping into each

name of a fruit, e.g. apple, pear, banana. other.

One person should be stood in the middle. Can use other

Call out one of the fruits, those people have categories

to swap places and the person in the middle

has to try to get one of the places leaving

someone else in the middle instead. If you

shout fruit salad everyone has to swap

places.

Fruit Basket Fun game, not Place coloured cones around the room and Different Ensure plenty of space

much space needed give them a name of a fruit (red cone = coloured between cones

strawberry, green = apple etc). Shout out cones

commands such as skip to the apple, hop to

the strawberry

Frogs and lily Fun game, Place enough cones around the room for one Cones or Don’t let the game drag

pads energetic each, these are lily pads. The kids are frogs hoops out too long – there will

and have to hop / jump around. When you be a lot of kids ‘out’

shout ‘stop’ each frog has to find a lily pad. early on.

Take 1 or 2 lily pads away each time until

there is only 1 left. Frogs who don’t get to a

lily pad are out

Heads, Coordination, speed 2 lines of kids, (about a metre apart) each Small Watch out for bumping

shoulders, knees child should be facing a partner. Place a ball equipment heads!

and toes / cone / bean bag etc in front of each e.g. ball,

child’s feet. Leader does the actions and bean bag,

words of head shoulders knees and toes, at cone, rubber

some point they say the magic word (e.g ring (enough

Scooby doo) and each kid has to try and pick for one each)

up their object before their partner

CD Player Warm up Shout out following commands: No equipment Tell kids to beware of

Play = walk where they are going

Pause = stop / stand still when running

Fast forward = run forwards backwards

Rewind = run backwards

Eject = jump up and down



Head it, catch it Coordination and Kids should be in circle or horseshoe. Stand Large soft ball Try to make accurate

concentration in the middle and throw a ball to individuals throws and be careful if

giving the command ‘head it’ or ‘catch it’. If anybody is wearing

they get it wrong they lose a life (or are glasses

out). Progression: do the opposite of the

command, e.g. if you say ‘head it’ they

should catch it etc

Catch it, clap Coordination and Similar to above but without heading. Each Any ball

concentration person has to clap before catching ball. If

they forget or clap without the ball being

passed to them then they lose a life or are

out

Rhythm game Concentration, Sitting in circle. One person leaves the room No equipment The person must keep

observation and another is chosen to be the rhythm changing the rhythm so

setter. They choose to clap or click their the guesser has chance

fingers etc and everybody in the circle must of working out who it is

follow. They should change the rhythm

frequently and when the person returns to

the room they must guess who is the leader.

Captains coming Warm up, fun Shout out various commands No equipment Beware of space

Captains coming = everybody stands to

attention and gives captain salute

Climb the rigging = pretend to climb the

ropes / nets

Scrub the decks = bend down and pretend to

scrub the floor

Port = run to the left side of hall

Starboard = run to the right side of hall

Captains ball = find a partner and start

dancing

Lifejacket = find a partner, stand back to

back and link arms

Starfish = stand like a starfish

Any others!

Add your own!!