Name & Purpose Safe-Pass Tag builds fast decision-making and teamwork. Players must share a single safety object to keep each other safe from the Tagger. The game rewards communication and quick passes over solo heroics.
a.k.a. Chicken Tag, Hot Potato Tag, Object Tag
Age Band / Group Size / Time / Space Ages 8β16 | 10β40 players | 10β20 min | Medium outdoor field or gym (~20 m Γ 20 m)
Materials
- 1 passable object (rubber chicken, foam ball, or beanbag)
- 4β8 boundary cones
Quick-Run Card Pick 1 Tagger. Give the object to any runner. Tagger chases. Holding the object = safe. Pass it anytime. Get tagged without it = swap roles with the Tagger. Keep every player moving at all times.
Setup & Boundaries Mark a clear boundary with cones. All players start inside. Choose one Tagger. Hand the safety object to any runner. Walk the group around the boundary so everyone knows the edges before play begins.
How to Play
- Call “Go!” β the Tagger chases the group.
- Any runner holding the object cannot be tagged.
- Runners pass the object to each other at any time β shout a name, make eye contact, toss it safely.
- If a runner is tagged without holding the object, they become the new Tagger immediately. The old Tagger joins the group as a runner.
- No time limit β rotate Taggers naturally. Run 10β15 minutes then call a water break.
I-OPt Roles Players choose their style β all three happen at once:
- Strategist (Searcher): Holds the object and moves toward teammates who need it, directing traffic.
- Sprinter (Performer): Runs hard to draw the Tagger away from the object-holder.
- Connector (Relater): Calls teammates’ names, signals open passes, keeps communication flowing.
Inclusion Supports
- Players with mobility differences can be designated “Safe Keeper” β they hold the object and stand in one spot; runners must come to them to collect it.
- Allow any style of movement: walking, rolling, skipping.
- Offer a brightly coloured object for players with visual processing differences so they can track it easily.
- Buddy pairing available for players who want a partner.
Stewardship After play, pick up all cones and the object together as a group. Take 30 seconds: ask players to look at the field and leave it cleaner than they found it β pick up any litter they spot on the way in.
Consent Pre-brief: “This game involves running near each other and passing an object. You will not be grabbed or held. Anyone can step to the sideline at any moment β give a thumbs-up when you’re ready to re-join.” Mid-game check-in: After the first Tagger swap, pause 10 seconds β ask “Thumbs up if you’re good to keep going?” Opt-out/re-entry: Players tap their own shoulder to signal a rest break. They re-enter by catching a pass β no permission needed.
Risks & Mitigation
| Risk | Likelihood | Mitigation |
|---|---|---|
| Collision between runners | Medium | Set clear boundaries; remind players to look where they run |
| Object thrown too hard | Low | Demonstrate a gentle underhand toss before play begins |
| Tagger frustrated by long chase | Medium | Use a 60-second Tagger time limit if one person stays it too long |
| Player excluded from receiving passes | Low | Counsellor joins play briefly and models inclusive passing |
Warm-Up Suggestions
- “Warp Speed”: group passes any object around a circle as fast as possible, counting aloud to beat their own record.
- 60-second scatter jog inside the boundary to get legs moving.
Debrief What? “What did you do when you had the object and the Tagger came close?” So what? “How did passing the object feel different from trying to survive on your own?” Now what? “Name one situation outside camp where sharing something helps everyone stay safe.”
Cleanup & Reset Collect cones. Retrieve the object. Stack cones in a bag. Reset takes under 2 minutes. Object goes back to the equipment shed.
