simple gameS
SCATTERBALL
Scatterball is dodgeball with a
twist. To start, everyone must
have a hand on a Nerf ball.
The ball is thrown up in the
air, then everyone scatters.
Players try to grab the ball
in the air or off the ground.
Whoever has the ball can only
take two steps. After two
steps, the player must throw
the ball, dodgeball style, at
another player. If the ball hits
a player, that player sits down
right where they are. They can
still play, they just can’t move
from their seated spot. If a
player is hit by the ball and
catches it, then the throwing
player sits down. Sitting
players can snag the ball any
time it rolls by, and can throw
it at standing players to try to
get them out. The game ends
when only one player
is standing.
Hint: Scatterball is a good
game for larger groups, but
it’s lacking in action if you
have less than ten people.
RED-HOT POKER
Everyone stands in a circle
and holds hands. Put an
object in the middle of the
circle. Anything works,
including a big 50-gallon
trash can. The object in the
middle is the red-hot poker.
The goal is to try to drag,
push, and pull one another
into the red-hot poker. If you
touch it or break hands, you
are out. Play continues until
only one person is standing.
LIGHTSABER WARS
Each person picks a partner
of the same gender and,
preferably, similar size. While
facing each other, the players
should step forward and place
the outside of their right
foot next to, and touching,
the outside of their partner’s
right foot. Their feet are now
“glued” to the ground and
are not allowed to move. The
players then reach out and
grab the right hand of their
partners. After grabbing
hands, each player extends
their right pointer finger,
which is now their lightsaber.
The point of this game is
to touch the other player
with your lightsaber (finger)
without letting go of their
hand or moving your feet.
If you move your feet or are
touched by the opposing
player’s finger, you lose
the game.
SLAP WRESTLING
Two people stand facing
each other with their own
feet together and about a
shoulder-width span between
them. You must try to make
your opponent move their
feet by slapping their hands
only. Touching anywhere
else, moving feet, falling,
or interfering means
disqualification. Good tactics
are to push their hands,
then pull yours back so they
can’t push you. You can also
pull your hands back suddenly
when your opponent attacks
so they fall forward.
CAT AND MOUSE
Begin by having the entire
group stand in a circle and
hold hands. Pick one person
from the group to be the
“mouse,” and another to be
the “cat.” The person who is
the mouse will move to the
middle of the circle. The
person who is the cat will
move outside the circle. The
aim of the game is for the
mouse to get outside the
circle and avoid being caught
by the cat. The mouse must
stay moving while inside the
circle, but he cannot stay
inside the circle for more
than ten seconds. The cat
cannot come into the circle,
but he can reach into the
circle to tag the mouse. The
circle players have to try to
keep the cat away from the
mouse by letting the mouse
in and out of the circle. They
can also block the cat’s
attempts to grab the mouse
by standing in the cat’s way.
If the mouse is caught, the
mouse becomes the new cat.
The old cat takes the place
of a player holding hands,
and another player becomes
the mouse.
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