Sharks and Minnows

Name and Purpose

• Sharks and Minnows is a classic crossing game that builds agility, creative movement, and quick thinking.
• Players practise listening, physical coordination, and spatial awareness as the field fills up.

a.k.a.

• Ocean Chase, Cross the Deep

Age / Group / Time / Space

• Ages 8-16 | 10-40 players | 10-20 minutes | Large open field or gym with two marked end zones

Materials

• Cones (4-8) to mark end zones and boundaries
• Optional: flag belts for a no-contact tag variation

Quick-Run Card

1. Mark two end zones. One player starts as the Shark in the centre.
2. Shark calls a group (by clothing, feature, or fun fact) and a movement style.
3. Named players cross using that movement. Shark chases in the same style.
4. Tagged players become Seaweed and sit where tagged; they can tag passers from the ground.
5. Seaweed who tag 3 players may stand and rejoin as free Minnows.

Setup and Boundaries

• Mark two end zones with cones (players are safe inside end zones)
• Signal: 1 whistle = pause; 2 whistles = stop and gather
• Check for uneven terrain or hazards before play
• Choose calling criteria that are visible and inclusive (e.g., clothing colour, not personal attributes)

How to Play

1. One volunteer or counsellor starts as the Shark in the centre of the field.
2. All other players are Minnows and stand in one end zone.
3. The Shark calls out a visible descriptor and a movement (e.g., “Everyone wearing something red, skip across!”). The Shark then chases using the same movement style.
4. Tagged Minnows become Seaweed and sit where they were tagged. They can tag players who come within arms’ reach while seated.
5. Re-entry rule: any Seaweed who tags 3 passing Minnows may stand and rejoin as a free Minnow.
6. Play continues. Shark can call groups or call all players at once.
7. After 10-15 minutes, counsellor signals end of round and names a new Shark.
8. Note: calling criteria must never be based on gender, body type, or anything that singles players out negatively. Use clothing colour, shoe colour, or fun self-selected attributes.

I-OPt Options

• A (Active): Sprint across, dodge Shark and Seaweed
• S (Support): As Seaweed, encourage other players and call out openings
• Q (Quiet): Walk-pace crossing; focus on finding safe routes
• O (Observer): Watch from the end zone; join at the next call

Inclusion Adaptations

• Flag-belt variation: Shark and Seaweed pull flags instead of tagging by touch
• Players with mobility differences can cross along the outer boundary at their own pace

Stewardship Moment

• Collect cones after play and check the field for litter
• Reflection: “What did the Shark have to think about to be effective?”

Consent

• Pre-brief: “This game involves being tagged by touch. For those not comfortable with physical tagging, flag belts are another option.”
• Mid-game check: After the first round, pause. “Thumbs up, sideways, or down. How is everyone going?”
• Opt-out/re-entry: Any player can step to the sideline. They re-enter at the next Shark call.

Risks and Mitigation

• Gendered calling: original game used boys/girls calling; removed and replaced with clothing-colour or self-selected descriptors only
• Seaweed tagging from ground causes trip hazard: ensure Seaweed players are spaced out and visible to runners
• Aggressive Shark chasing: remind Shark that a light touch counts; flag-belt variation reduces this risk

Warm-Up Suggestions

• “Colour Dash”: counsellor calls a colour and players touch something that colour then return
• “Movement Zoo”: players cross the space mimicking an animal; good practice for movement calls

Debrief Questions

• What? “What movement was hardest to do while being chased?”
• So What? “How did you decide when to run and when to wait?”
• Now What? “Where else do you have to make quick decisions with incomplete information?”

Cleanup and Reset

• Collect cones and flag belts
• Check field for any equipment