Pac Man Lines

Name and Purpose

Pac Man Lines is a gym-based tag game played entirely on the painted lines of a basketball court.
Players build spatial awareness, quick thinking, and teamwork as the playing space shrinks.

a.k.a.

Age / Group / Time / Space

Ages 8-16 | 10-30 players | 15-20 minutes | Indoor gym with basketball court lines

Materials

Quick-Run Card

Assign 1-3 Ghosts (1 per 10 players). All others are Pac Man players.
Everyone must stay on the lines at all times.
Ghosts tag Pac Man players by touch. Tagged players sit on their spot as Roadblocks.
Ghosts step over Roadblocks. Pac Man players must navigate around them.
Round ends when 2-3 players remain. They become Ghosts for the next round.

Setup and Boundaries

Use the existing basketball court lines as the entire playing field. No extra setup required.
Signal: 1 short whistle = pause; 2 whistles = stop and gather at centre court.
Before play, scan the floor for wet patches, loose laces, or debris.

How to Play

Everyone stands on any line on the court.
Assign 1-3 Ghosts (based on group size). Ghosts wear bibs if available.
On the start signal, Ghosts chase Pac Man players along the lines.
Tagged players sit down exactly where they were tagged and become Roadblocks.
Pac Man players must navigate around Roadblocks. Ghosts may step over them.
The 2-3 last Pac Man players standing become the Ghosts for the next round.
Second Circle: Tagged Roadblocks can earn re-entry by doing 5 quiet jumping jacks at their spot. Staff calls re-entry when appropriate.

I-OPt Options

A (Active): Run as a Pac Man player or Ghost, moving quickly along lines.
S (Support): Act as a Roadblock coach, calling out open line paths to teammates.
Q (Quiet): Walk the lines at a slower pace as a Pac Man player.
O (Observer): Watch from outside the court and track the last 3 players standing.

Inclusion Adaptations

Walking-pace players can be designated as walk-only Pac Man. Ghosts are reminded to match speed when tagging walk-only players.
Players who cannot sit on the floor as a Roadblock may stand at the sideline instead and still act as a strategic obstacle by holding their arms out.

Stewardship Moment

No materials needed means no waste. Reinforce: the best game supplies are already here.
Quick 30-second floor check at the end: each player scans their section of the court for anything left behind.

Consent

Pre-brief: “In this game you will be moving along the gym lines. If being tagged and sitting on the floor is not comfortable for you, standing at the sideline as a Roadblock is another option.”
Mid-game check: After the first round, pause and ask for a thumbs up, sideways, or down check.
Opt-out/re-entry: Players can step off the court at any time. To re-enter, catch a staff member’s eye and give a thumbs up.

Risks and Mitigation

Collisions at line intersections: remind players to slow at intersections and call “Line!” when approaching.
Sitting players bumped by runners: Ghosts move with awareness around seated Roadblocks; staff position near high-traffic intersections.
Overly rough tagging: define a tag as a gentle two-finger touch on the shoulder or arm.

Warm-Up Suggestions

Walk all the lines of the court silently for 60 seconds to get familiar with the layout.
Pair up and follow your partner exactly along the lines for one minute.

Debrief Questions

What? “What was the hardest part of staying on the lines?”
So What? “How did Roadblocks change your strategy as the game went on?”
Now What? “When does following a set path actually help you move faster in real life?”

Cleanup and Reset