Unplugged Life: Our Favorite Backyard Games!
GAME RULES:
Find the Set Up HERE
Server (Royalty) must put one foot behind the service line
Everyone must Hit UNDERHAND
Ball must bounce ONCE and only ONCE in your square before your strike it (including on the serve)
If someone makes a mistake you rotate up and that person goes to the back of the line (outside the #1 square)
Server takes care of any arguments (unless it involves the server – then vote as a group, or play rock paper scissors)
Inside lines are out, Outside lines are in Why? Because inside lines are shared, while outside lines are not shared so you know who’s square it bounced in.
You can move anywhere outside the square or in your section of the square
If it bounces in your square you MUST strike it
Server Must Ask “Are you Ready” before serving
No Carrying, Stalling or Holding – you must Strike or Hit the ball
YOU ARE OUT IF:
The ball in your square bounces 2 times or you hit it before it bounces
You hit the ball out of bounds
You hit the ball to an inside line
You hit the ball Overhand
You hit a ball that was another players ball (it bounced in their square and you hit it before it bounced a 2nd time)
A ball bounces in your square an you are unable to get to it before it bounces a second time
Some other game variations that we sometimes learn:
VARIATIONS:
Around the World: Server must call “Around the World.” You can go to the right or the left, they must go around the square in a circular rotation. Anyone can say “reverse” BEFORE you strike and go the opposite direction, if you don’t say it before the strike the server can call you out (ie. If you call it while you are hitting the ball). If Server calls “Around the World No Reverse” you can’t reverse it
War or Battle: Server must call “War” or “Battle” and declare their opponent. War – Server wars with one person (2 square) until someone misses. Battle – Starts just like war, but someone can call “BREAK” before they strike the ball and then switch to battling with a different player in another square.
Cherry Bomb: You are allowed to use overhand hits (except on the serve) Underhand hits are also still allowed.Manhunt
Set Up: Divide the playing field OR hiking trail in half and designate two small “zones” on both sides to hold people who are tagged. There can also be a designated circle on each side where the flag is placed.
Each team tries to take the other team’s flag and return across the center line without being tagged.
When guarding the flag zone or the holding zone, a defender must be at least 2’ away from the zone boundaries.
If a player is tagged while on their opponent’s side they are must go to the holding zone on their opponent’s side.
If a player who has stolen the flag is tagged, the flag is returned to the flag zone, and the player goes to the zone.
A player can be freed from the holding zone when a teammate crosses the center line and tags the player; both players then receive a free walk back to their side.
A player can only free one teammate at a time.
If an opposing player can get both feet into the flag zone without being tagged, they can remain there without safely (without getting tagged) before attempting to cross the center line.
Variations
Limit the number of players allowed in the circle at one time.
Allow a player in the circle to throw the flag to a teammate.
The flag must still be carried over the center line however.
The players in the tagged zone can join hands and reach out of the zone to make it easier to be freed.
Similarly, all players in the holding zone are freed when a player makes it across to rescue them.
For extended games, allow players to hide their flags in plain sight in a designated area.
How to Play:
Play begins with the pitcher rolling the ball smoothly to home plate. The kicker must kick from behind home.
If the ball is kicked and rolls out of bounds before going past first or third base, it is called a foul and the kicker must try again.
Kickers must run the bases in order and may stop at any base and wait to run again at the next kick. There, however, must be only one runner on a base and they must remain in order. No runner can pass the person in front of them.
A run is scored for the kicking team when a base-runner touches all 4 bases, in order, without being called out at any time.
A runner advances one base on an overthrow to the base player.
Teams switch sides after three outs or nine runs are scored. Outs are granted when:
The pitcher controls the play of the game. Play begins with the pitcher rolling the ball to the person up to bat, the kicker. Play stops when the ball is thrown to the pitcher.
The kicker kicks a fly ball and it is caught before it touches the ground. Note: When a fly ball is in the air, the base runners must remain on base until after the ball is caught (called tag-up) before they can advance to the next base.
The base player has control over the ball and a foot on the base before the base-runner reaches the base.
The base-runner is tagged on his/her body by a fielder with the ball before s/he arrives at the base. Note: If the base-runner must advance because of another runner or kicker behind, it is called a force-out and the fielding team only has to tag the base to call an out. If there is no runner or kicker behind, it is not a force-out and the fielder with the ball must tag the base-runner.
One base-runner passes another.
A base-runner intentionally interferes with a fielder who is trying to recover the ball.
Three fouls by an individual kicker equal an out.
If a ball is touched by a member of the fielding team before it bounces, it is a fair ball.
For safety, there is no sliding or throwing of the ball at a player. (or do… depending on the age and skill level of the kiddos)
At the end of the game, have each team do a cheer for the other team, and have teams form lines to high five each other!
Playing Area: Dodge ball can be played indoors or outdoors. The ideal playing area is a rectangle identical to a volleyball court that's 60 ft long by 30 ft wide.
The court is divided in half by a center line. An "attack line" is marked 10 ft from the center line on each side of the court. The attack lines are parallel to the center line and extend the full width of the court. There is also a 4 ft-wide "neutral zone" extending across the playing area at center court to separate both sides.
How to Play: There are ENDLESS VERSIONS OF THIS GAME. The basic idea is that there is a non-zero number of balls, and if you are hit with a ball you are out. Kids can come up with as many rule variations based on theme or skill level they want. Here are some fun options:
Dodgeball is played with 2 teams of 6 players if the game is played indoors and 10 players for outdoor competition.
The object of the game is to knock all of your opponents "out" of the game without being eliminated yourself.
Starting Play: The game begins with the "opening rush."
All 6 dodgeballs are lined up along the center line; 3 on one side of the center hash mark and 3 on the other side.
Players position themselves behind their respective end lines.
On the official's signal, both teams run to center court to get their balls.
Eliminating Players
A player is "out" if:
He gets hit by a ball below the shoulders – The ball may not hit the floor or wall first.
She drops a ball that’s thrown to her.
His ball is caught by another player.
She steps out of bounds – During play, players may only leave the playing area to retrieve a ball, and they may only leave through their end line. They must also re-enter the game through their end line.
He crosses over the neutral zone – Players may step safely into the neutral zone, but they may not step over the neutral zone line on the opponent’s side of the court.
She slides or dives head first into the neutral zone.
A ball hits him and another teammate (they are both out).
She gets hit by a ball rebounding off of a ball lying on the court.
He hits an opponent in the head with the ball.
Blocking - Players can defend themselves by blocking a ball coming at them with another ball, but they have to maintain control of the ball they are blocking with. If they drop the ball, they are "out."
There are 3 types of dodgeball games, each with slightly different objectives:
Elimination Game: The game is played until all members of one team have been eliminated. The first team to knock out all of its opponents is the winner.
Timed Game: The game is played for a pre-determined amount of time or until all members of one team are eliminated, whichever comes first. If there are players remaining when time expires, the team with the most players still on the court wins the game.
Scored Game: A scored game can be played either as an elimination game or a timed game. Teams earn points for the number of players still "in" at the end of each game.
Bombardo, Dr. Dodgeball, Gaga, and many more!
Hide and Seek
This is another classic game with so many variations that it is hard to know what the original version is!
Basic: Seeker counts while the other’s hide, the Seeker finds the hiders, the last one to be found gets to be it! (or gets to pick who is it, depending on what the winner wants)
Basic with Base: Same rules, except the hiders can try to escape their hiding spot to tag a base selected before the game starts.
Sardines: One person hides while everyone else counts. They split up and look. Once a seeker finds the hider, they hide WITH the hider. The last seeker to find them all loses!
Fox and the Goalie: Also known as Manhunt, Fox and the Goalie involves one person hiding, everyone else seeking. Instead of the game ending when the fox is found, however, it is not over until the Fox is CAUGHT by the seekers. This can be played with a base, but is often just “go until you’re out.”
TIPS
All you need is a ball. Kickball is about the right size, but smaller is fine for small hands. If you are playing with smaller children, a softer ball is preferred.
All the kids stand in a circle with plenty of space to swing their arms. One person has the ball.
To throw the ball AND catch the ball, you have to be airborne. Therefore, the game starts with the initial ball thrower jumping in the air and throwing the ball to another person. (do not spike the ball unless it is agreed upon beforehand, it’s not fair)
The person who is being thrown the ball has to jump in the air, catch the ball, and throw it to another person before they hit the ground.
Once a person is “out” you do not close ranks, but continue to throw with that space empty. That way it becomes harder to throw it to another person as the game goes on
A person is out if:
They are the catcher and fail to catch the ball while they themselves are airborne.
They are the catcher and fail to throw the ball before they hit the ground.
They are the thrower and fail to throw to another person.
They commit an illegal throw: The throw is too hard, too high, too wide.
The winner is the last one in the circle
Double Dutch
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Depending on age, this game can be quite complex! But the basic idea is this:
Volleyball is a game played by two teams, usually of six players on a side, in which the players use their hands to bat a ball back and forth over a high net, trying to make the ball touch the court within the opponents’ playing area before it can be returned.
To prevent this a player on the opposing team bats the ball up and toward a teammate before it touches the court surface—that teammate may then volley it back across the net or bat it to a third teammate who volleys it across the net. A team is allowed only three touches of the ball before it must be returned over the net.
Here is an amazing article with graphics where they get more technical: ARTICLE
How to Play:
Divide everyone into two to four groups; each team sits on a boundary line.
Give each player a number, each group should have a one, a two, etc.
Place the “bacon” in the center of the playing area and assign each team one goal line at either end of the playing area.
The adult calls out a number and all students with that number run to pick up the “bacon.” Once they get better at this, you can start saying things like “all even/odd/prime numbers!” or even “the sum of…. 3 and 1!” but make sure everyone is relatively aware of how to do simple math or what even/odd/prime numbers are.
The person who gets the “bacon” first tries to run across his/her team’s goal line without being tagged. The person whose number was called who did not get the “bacon” should try to tag the other player before they get across the goal line.
Once someone is tagged or gets across their goal line, the round is over. Everyone who played in the round give each other high-five’s and they go back to the boundary line with their teams.
IF YOU ADD MORE GAMES LIKE THIS IN THE COMMENTS, WE WILL ADD THEM TO OUR BIG LIST!! Please help us collect fun outdoor games for our kids to play. After all, OUTDOOR IS BEST! Whole body play is good for number sense, emotional resilience, physical health and fitness, sensory issues, and attention spans! Also they’re just super fun.
Hurray!
LJ
