Name & Purpose Pizza Makers is a cross-the-field tag game with a food twist. Two Pizza Makers stand in the middle of the field and call out toppings. Players assigned that topping must run to the other side without getting tagged. Tagged players join the middle. The energy builds as the Pizza Maker team grows.
a.k.a. Topping Tag, Cross the Kitchen, Pizza Run
Age Band / Group Size / Time / Space Ages 8β16 | 12β50 players | 10β20 minutes | Large gymnasium or open field
Materials Cones to mark two end lines and the central zone. Optional: a bib or coloured vest for the initial Pizza Makers so everyone can spot them.
Quick-Run Card
- Mark two end lines on opposite sides of the field.
- Pick 2 Pizza Makers β they stand in the central zone.
- Divide remaining players into 3 toppings: mushroom, cheese, and tomato.
- All players start on one end line.
- Pizza Makers call a topping β those players run to the far end line.
- Tagged players join the Pizza Makers.
- Call ‘Pizza Time!’ and everyone runs at once.
Setup & Boundaries Mark two parallel end lines β at least 15 m apart for a medium group. Mark a central zone between them (roughly 3 m wide) where Pizza Makers stand at the start. All Toppings begin on one end line. Pizza Makers stand in the central zone but can move anywhere between the two end lines once play starts. Assign toppings by counting off in threes, or let players choose. Limit to 3 toppings so the pattern is predictable but the moments of running are frequent. Brief: ‘You are safe on the end lines β you must cross when your topping is called.’
How to Play Pizza Makers confer quietly and call out a topping. Players with that topping sprint from their current end line to the opposite end line. Pizza Makers (and any previously tagged players who joined the middle) try to tag runners before they reach the far end line. Tagged runners join the middle team and become Pizza Makers. Pizza Makers call toppings one at a time, building suspense and strategy β they can call the same topping twice. When Pizza Makers call ‘Pizza Time!’, all remaining runners must cross at once. The last two un-tagged runners become the Pizza Makers for the next round.
I-OPt Roles Three simultaneous roles throughout every round:
- Runner (Active): Sprint across the field when your topping is called. Full movement.
- Pizza Maker (Tagger): Stand in the centre, call toppings strategically, and tag runners. Medium movement β you control the pace.
- Strategist (Thinking Runner): Watch the Pizza Makers’ pattern and choose your timing and route across the field. Same movement as Runner but deliberate rather than reactive. All three exist simultaneously in every game.
Inclusion Supports
- Players with lower mobility can be permanent Pizza Makers (by choice) or stay at the edge of the central zone where shorter tags are possible.
- Use a walking-only rule for the first round with younger groups.
- Allow a ‘safe’ end-line zone wider than usual for players who need more time to stop safely.
- Reduce the crossing distance for groups with mobility challenges.
Stewardship After play, spend 30 seconds: collect cones as a group and stack them together. Reflect: ‘We made dozens of decisions about when to run and when to wait. What was one decision you made that you are proud of?’
Consent Pre-brief: Tagging is a light shoulder or arm touch β no grabbing, no blocking with the body. Ask: ‘Is everyone comfortable with that? Any concerns before we start?’ Mid-game check-in: After round 1, ask: ‘Is the crossing distance okay? Any collisions we need to fix?’ Opt-out/Re-entry: Any player who wants a break steps to the sideline. They re-enter as a Pizza Maker (joining the middle team) at any time by raising a hand and stepping in.
Risks & Mitigation
| Risk | Likelihood | Mitigation |
|---|---|---|
| Collision during mass ‘Pizza Time!’ crossing | High | Stagger start positions on end line; brief eyes-up running |
| Pizza Makers cluster and block path unfairly | Medium | Brief: taggers must stay mobile, cannot form a wall |
| Player confused about their topping | Low | Repeat toppings clearly; hold up fingers (1, 2, 3) for each group |
| Runner slips turning on field | Medium | Check surface; wet grass = move game indoors |
Warm-Up Suggestions
- ‘Order Up!’: call food items β if it is a pizza topping, everyone jumps; if not, stay still.
- Sprint intervals: run from one line to the other twice at 50% speed to warm up legs.
- Topping quiz: ‘Who has had mushroom on pizza? Run to this side!’ Fun and gets everyone moving.
Debrief What? ‘What topping was called most often? Did you notice a pattern?’ So what? ‘How did you decide when to sprint versus when to hold back?’ Now what? ‘When do we make snap decisions in real life β and when is it worth pausing to read the situation?’
Cleanup & Reset Stack cones. Check both end lines for personal items. Celebrate the final two Toppings who were never tagged.
