Snake’s Tail

Name and Purpose

• Snake’s Tail builds teamwork, spatial communication, and whole-group co-ordination.
• Players practise moving together, listening to each other, and making quick decisions as a unit.

a.k.a.

• Dragon’s Tail, Worm Chase

Age / Group / Time / Space

• Ages 8-16 | 10-40 players | 10-20 minutes | Large open space, minimum 20m x 20m, indoor or outdoor

Materials

• Optional: coloured vests or ribbons tucked into the back of the tail player’s waistband
• 4 cones for boundary markers

Quick-Run Card

1. Line up single file, hands on shoulders of the person in front.
2. The head (front player) tries to tag the tail (last player). The line cannot break.
3. If the head tags the tail, the tail player moves to the front and becomes the new head.
4. Rotate the head every 2 minutes if no tag is made.
5. With multiple snakes, a head that tags another snake’s tail merges the two snakes.

Setup and Boundaries

• Mark the play area boundary with 4 cones.
• Signal: 1 short whistle = pause; 2 whistles = stop and gather.
• Check the space for holes, wet patches, or debris before play.

How to Play

1. The whole group forms one long snake: line up single file, each player with hands gently resting on the shoulders of the person in front.
2. On “Go,” the head (front player) tries to tag the tail (last player).
3. The snake must stay connected. If the line breaks, all players freeze for 3 seconds and reconnect before continuing.
4. If the head tags the tail, the tail player moves to the front and becomes the new head.
5. If no tag is made after 2 minutes, rotate the head from front to back.
6. Once the group has practised one-snake play, split into two or three smaller snakes. A head that tags another snake’s tail can absorb those players, growing their snake.

I-OPt Options

• A (Active): Play as the head, steering and chasing.
• S (Support): Play in the middle of the snake, helping to communicate direction.
• Q (Quiet): Play as the tail, focusing on evasion with minimal physical output.
• O (Observer): Count how many tags happen; watch from the sideline and join when ready.

Inclusion Adaptations

• Players who prefer not to have hands on shoulders can hold the back of the shirt or a short rope handle instead.
• A seated or walking-pace snake is a valid option for players who need lower intensity.

Stewardship Moment

• No materials needed for the basic version. Reflect: “How do we move together without leaving anything behind?”
• If ribbons or vests are used, collect and store them for next time.

Consent

• Pre-brief: “This game involves light physical contact: hands on shoulders or shirt. For those not comfortable with that, a rope handle or wrist band connection is another option.”
• Mid-game check: After 5 minutes, pause. “Thumbs up, sideways, or down. How is the pace feeling?”
• Opt-out/re-entry: Step sideways out of the line at any time. Rejoin at any point in the snake by calling “In.”

Risks and Mitigation

• Line whipping or players pulled off balance: remind the snake to move at the pace of the slowest player.
• Collision between different snakes: ensure each snake has a spotter who watches for incoming snakes.
• Players at the back feeling left out: rotate positions frequently using the tail-to-front rotation.

Warm-Up Suggestions

• “Mirror Walk”: pairs walk side by side mirroring each other’s pace and direction.
• “Freeze Frame”: the whole group walks as one unit; on the whistle, everyone freezes in place.

Debrief Questions

• What? “What made it hard to keep the snake connected?”
• So What? “What did you notice about how communication changed when the snake got longer?”
• Now What? “Where in your life do you have to move as part of a group and stay connected?”

Cleanup and Reset

• Collect cones.
• Return any vests or ribbons to storage.