Name & Purpose Ultimate Everybody’s It: Campers vs. Counselors is a high-energy team tag game. Everyone can tag and be tagged β but only the other team. Sit when tagged, but keep your arm up: tag a passer-by from the ground and stand right back up. It builds hustle, tactical awareness, and camper-counselor connection.
a.k.a. CvC Tag, Everybody’s It Extreme, Team Everybody’s It
Age Band / Group Size / Time / Space Ages 8β16 | 15β60 players | 15β25 minutes | Large open field
Materials Two sets of coloured bibs or pinnies β one colour per team. (e.g., blue = Campers, orange = Counselors)
Quick-Run Card
- Campers on one side, Counselors on the other. Each group wears their team colour.
- On ‘Go!’, everyone is IT β but tag the other team only.
- Tagged? Sit down immediately. Raise one arm and keep it up.
- From your seated position, tag anyone from the other team who comes within reach. If you tag them β stand straight back up!
- Play for 5 minutes. Call ‘Freeze!’ Count standing players per team. Most standing = winner. Play 3 rounds.
Setup & Boundaries Mark a large rectangle β at least 20 m Γ 15 m for 30 players. Scale up for bigger groups. Both teams start on opposite short ends of the rectangle. Counselors wear one bib colour; Campers wear another. Brief: ‘You can only tag the opposite team. If tagged, sit and arm-up. You can still tag from the ground. Tag someone from the ground and you stand back up.’ Set a 5-minute round timer. Play 3 rounds, swap bib sides between rounds.
How to Play At ‘Go!’, both teams rush toward each other and begin tagging. A player is tagged when a player from the opposite team makes clear contact on their shoulder, arm, or torso. Tagged players sit where they are and raise one arm. They remain active: seated taggers can reach out and tag any standing player from the other team who comes close. A seated player who tags a standing opponent from the other team stands immediately and re-enters. Teammates cannot rescue seated players β only the seated player’s own successful tag lets them stand. Play until the timer sounds. Call ‘Freeze!’ Count standing players. Log the score. Rotate: swap bibs for a second round so Counselors wear the Camper colour and vice versa β or simply reset and go again.
I-OPt Roles Three simultaneous roles every round:
- Chaser (Active): Sprint across the field, tag opponents, and avoid being tagged. Full movement.
- Ground Defender (Seated Active): Sit after being tagged, arm up, and focus entirely on re-entering the game by tagging opponents who come near. Strategic patience.
- Anchor (Low Movement): Stay near your half of the field, pick off opponents who venture close, and minimise time seated by avoiding the central battle. Works for lower-energy players or those managing minor aches. All three roles exist simultaneously throughout the game.
Inclusion Supports
- Players who use wheelchairs can play fully β the seated tagger mechanic is a natural equivalent. All players on wheels are active from their position.
- Reduce the field size for smaller or less mobile groups.
- Counselors can voluntarily play at reduced speed to keep the game competitive.
- Add a ‘shadow’ rule: each Counselor tags only one Camper per minute β useful if Counselors are significantly faster.
Stewardship Collect bibs after play. Spend 30 seconds together: ‘What did the counselors show us by playing this game alongside us β not above us?’ Reflect on what it means to share a field as equals.
Consent Pre-brief: Tagging is shoulder/arm contact β no grabs, no pushing. Counselors must match energy to age group. Ask players: ‘Is everyone comfortable with shoulder-level contact? Thumbs up?’ Mid-game check-in: After round 1, ask both teams: ‘Is the pace okay? Any adjustments?’ Opt-out/Re-entry: Any player steps to the sideline by raising both hands. They re-enter by pulling their bib back on and stepping back into the field.
Risks & Mitigation
| Risk | Likelihood | Mitigation |
|---|---|---|
| Counselors over-power campers physically | Medium | Brief Counselors to dial back speed/force; add shadow rule |
| Collision in the centre of the field | Medium | Brief eyes-up movement; avoid crowding; scale the field |
| Player becomes frustrated staying seated | Low | Remind: seated tag is a skill β celebrate seated re-entries |
| Disputed tags | LowβMedium | Brief: if in doubt, play on β counselor calls if needed |
Warm-Up Suggestions
- ‘Camper Says’: Campers give Simon Says commands and Counselors follow β flip the usual dynamic.
- Speed-tag drill: count how many shoulder tags you can make in 30 seconds (both teams, non-competitive).
- Team huddle: 30-second chant or cheer for each team before the round.
Debrief What? ‘What happened when you were sitting down? Did you feel out of the game?’ So what? ‘How did the ground-tag mechanic change the way you thought about being ‘out’?’ Now what? ‘When have you felt sidelined in real life β and what did it take to get back into the action?’
Cleanup & Reset Collect all bibs. Remove cones. Check the field for personal items. Celebrate both teams.
