Great idea Mike. Here's a website: http://www.egadideas.com/ that I found recently that's been great for game ideas this summer. The site has been around for a while so many of you may have heard of it but I feel it bears mentioning. We had been rotating among the same few games (soccer and capture the flag mostly) this summer and they had been boring me and probably half the boys on a given night and this site helped alot. I went through the list a few weeks ago and copy and pasted some I thought would be good for my outpost into a word document to leave at the Church for reference. Below are games that caught my idea - usually required little setup/equipment. There's also quite a bit of fun games/activities that require some props. There is also an indoor section of games that is pretty good. Blackhole soccer works well for small groups for example and an older boy or leader could even be an all time goalie.
-Ed B ============================================================================ ================ Black Hole Soccer This game of soccer works best with 2 teams of 3-6 players each. Two cones are placed in the center of a field about 10 to 15 feet apart. Each team tries to score a goal by kicking the ball through the goal in different directions. It's a great way to play soccer without a lot of space required. We play with only 2 special rules: You can not run through the goal, and the ball must go across the goal on the ground. Having the 2 goalies standing in practically the same spot all game is often amusing. ============================================================================ ================ Blob (tag) The Blob begins innocently enough as a mere individual playing a game of tag. As soon as she catches someone, she joins hands with him. Now he's part of the Blob, too, and they both set out hand-in-hand in search of victims. Everyone the Blob catches (only the outside hand on either end of the Blob can snatch at players) joins hands with it and becomes part of the lengthening protoplasmic chain. And thus the insidious Blob keeps growing. Unlike your run-of-the-mill mad scientist created Blobs, this one is not content merely to ooze along, seeking its prey. It gallops around the field, cornering stray runners and forcing them to join up. (You'll have to agree on boundaries for this game; some people will go to any lengths to avoid meeting with an untimely end at the hands of the primordial slime). Moreover, the Blob can split itself into parts and, with its superior communal intelligence, organize raiding parties on the lone few who have managed to escape. The thrilling climax occurs when there's only one player left to put up a heroic last-ditch stand on behalf of humanity. But alas, there is no defense against the Blob, and humanity succumbs. (If that seems unfair, well, that's the plot.) ============================================================================ ================ Buddy Pick-Up This game is like British Bulldog with a twist. Two people are chosen, and stand in the middle of a field. Everyone else stands at one end. When the people in the middle yell go, everyone must try to run to the other side of the field. Instead of two in the middle just tagging as they run past, they must pick the person up off the ground. If they can get their victim completely off the ground, the person caught must join them in the middle trying to catch others. The game continues until there is only one person left who has not been caught. If playing more than one round, the last people caught (usually the last few running are caught at the same time) are the ones who start in the middle. ============================================================================ ================ Capture The Flag Divide your group into 2 teams, you also need to divide your playing area into 2 equal parts. (We use a field for the younger youth and the entire camp ground for the older youth). Each team has to designate an area to be used as a "jail" which can be guarded from 5 feet away. Each team also has to hide their flag from the other team. Once the game has started, opposing team members can challenge each other from across the line dividing the teams -- they can pull each other over by any means possible. Once the person has been pulled over onto the opposite side, they are escorted to jail. Players can also rush or storm the opposite by running over the line to try and find the flag -- but if you get caught -- off to jail you go. (* Here's a hint -- the more people you get in jail the easier it is to rescue them, touch finger tips and stretch your line as close to the dividing line as possible *). Once a team member has picked up the flag and stands still he/she can not be tagged. Only when they begin to run can they be tagged out. Then they must drop the flag where they were tagged. After the opposite team's flag has reached it's opponents side--the game is finished. ============================================================================ ================ Capture The Flag Modified Normal capture the flag rules are followed, except if a player is tagged, they must go to the middle "neutral" zone. In this neutral zone there is a jailer or two. These jailers should be well versed in scripture or have a Bible handy. The players must recite a Bible verse to get out of jail. You can add rules such as a verse may only be used once and so on. We told them that John 3:16 and "Jesus wept." were off limits. Our youth love capture the flag and this requires them to use a little of their scripture knowledge as well. [Ed. Note: Make sure you have an alternative means for unchurched kids to get out of jail (e.g sing a song, make up a poem, etc.)] ============================================================================ ================ Capture The Flag with a Twist Divide your group into 2 teams. There has to be a main point where people from each team if hit with a water bomb must go for 1 minute. Each team also has to hide their flag from the other team. Once the game has started, they have to get the flag from the other team. Using water bombs as the defence for your two teams. Once a person has been hit by a water bomb, they are escorted to jail. Players rush or storm the opposite team by running to try and find the flag -- but if you get hit -- off to jail you go. Once a team member has picked up the flag they have to run back to where there flag is without being hit. If they are hit with a water bomb they must drop the flag where they were hit. After the opposite team's flag has reached it's opponents side--the game is finished. ============================================================================ ================ Cardboard Crossing This game works best outside on the church lawn or in the church parking lot. Break the kids up into several teams (7-10 kids per team) and give each team two large pieces of cardboard. The kids have to cross the lawn, never touching the grass, by keeping the entire team on the pieces of cardboard as they cross. The first team to cross wins. ============================================================================ ================ Duracell Kickball The game is played much like kickball. The players are divided into two teams. One team takes the field and the other team is the kicking team. One at a time, the members of the kicking team kicks the ball and runs the bases. However, the goal of the fielding team is to return the ball to the pitcher. Those on the kicking team continue to run the bases until the ball is in the pitcher's hand. Once the ball is in the pitchers hand, the runners stop whereever they are. On bases, between bases, etc. If a runner reaches home they receive a point for their team and continue on to first base again. Once everyone on the kicking team has had a chance to kick the ball and run the bases, the teams switch. If you have more than 10 people on a team, the runners are out of energy after only one or two innings-- Thus the name Duracell Kickball. ============================================================================ ================ Everybody's IT! This game has been more succesful in our youth ministry than any other game. The kids can't get enough of it. The concept is this: Everyone is it. Anyone can tag anyone else. When you are tagged, you have to sit on the ground, until the person who tagged you is tagged by someone else. When they are tagged, they sit down, and anyone that they tagged are free, and can get back up and continue to tag others. If two people tag each other at the same time, they both sit down for 30 seconds, and then are free to continue. When the game has been played for about 15 or so minutes, scream "ELIMINATION!" This turns the game into an elimination round. Once you are tagged, you are out, and have to stand outside of the boundaries. Continue to shrink the boundaries down as the amount of players remaining decreases. Eventually, two people are left, and then one wins. This game keeps everyone moving, and is best in a courtyard. Set boundaries are a must. ============================================================================ ================ Fetch! GET: Timer. Large Playing field. Anything that is meant to be thrown (Frisbee, baseball, Soccer... etc.) THE GAME: Divide into groups. Send kids in the field. Leave team leaders on perimeter of field. When time starts, leaders throw items out into field as far as possible. (Don't throw to teammates) People in field FETCH! items and bring them back to leader/score person until time is up. The game plays with people FETCH!ing items for points until time is up. ============================================================================ ================ Football Rip Off This simple game can get crazy in a real hurry. All you need is a football and two large garbage cans. Place the garbage cans on each end of the field and divide students into two groups. The object is simple. Get the football into the opposing teams garbage can, while guarding your own garbage can from being scored on. Only rules: No biting or scratching! Players can throw, kick or run with the ball. Players can be tackled, pushed, or just about anything (within reason of course) to accomplish the task at hand. Kids love it and can be a great game played in the snow! If your students have a ton of energy, this game is for them! ============================================================================ ================ Scissors, Paper, Stone Race This game is great fun in a beach. Divide into 2 teams(any number, preferably 8-15 in each team). Draw a vertical line from one team and then a horizontal one and then a vertical line that will reach the other team. When game starts, both the first player in each team will run along the lines (they are running along the vertical lines, as if in a race) and then they will turn into the horizontal one where they will meet each other. When they meet each other, they will play scissors, paper, stone. The loser have to run back and the winner will continue along the line. Once the scissors, paper, stone is played and a winner is decided, the team that lost its first player can sent out its second player. In this case, the second player from the team that lost the first player will rush up to intercept. They will again play scissors, paper, stone when they meet each other. This carries on until the game time is over. The objective of this game is to get as many players from one team to the other side (the opponent team). This can only be done if you can run fast, as well as being able to win all scissors, paper, stone encounter whenever the opponent intercepts. ============================================================================ ================ Stick Have you ever been sitting around waiting to do something? Has your bus been late? In College some of us guys on the track team came up with this very simple game. All it requires is a stick. Just get your group in a circle (works best with 5-10 students) and throw the stick to people. There are only a few rules: 1) It must be thrown underhanded. 2) It must only be caught in one hand. 3) It must be deemed "catchable" by the group If the person catching it doesn't catch it, they lose one hand (and can only catch with the other hand) Once someone has lost both hands, they are out. It's a ton of fun, and you can play it anywhere at anytime, even indoors on a stage! -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] Hey Guys & Gals, Though these are all important topics and many need to be discussed, if not vented and ranted about, we are getting off topic for the Rangernet again. Perhaps one should start a Yahoo group called Ranger Vent or something that doesn't involve the actual use of this board to discuss non-Ranger topics? It's free and doesn't cost anything. I just mention this because we know from experience that it's too easy to get off on a tangent and talk about things that do not necessarily need to be discussed on the Rangernet. I just wanted to put that out there. Iron Mike _______________________________________________ The Golden Rule is my daily rule. To send mail to everyone on the RangerNet mailing list, send it to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Only list members may post. To subscribe or unsubscribe, please visit http://lists.rangernet.org/mailman/listinfo/rangernet
