Pickle Football

Setup and Equipment:

— One mat is set up in front of each wall - these are safe bases

— 4 people are designated as "its" - they may throw (shoulders or below) or tag players.

— Yarn balls are generally used in this game.

— A container of footballs is set in the middle circle, where the tagged players go.

 

Rules:

— The four "its" start the game in the center circle of the gym.

— The rest of the players stand on one of the mats to start the game.

— Players run from one mat to another and try not to get tagged.

— Players may rest on a mat for five seconds and then they must go to a new mat.

— If they are tagged, they go to the pickle jar (center circle)

— Players get out of the pickle jar by passing and then receiving a football from one of their classmates. They may not be tagged while throwing a football.

— Play continues for 1:30 -2:00 minutes, or sometimes the length of a song. then new "its" are picked.

— For all tag games, we play a game song for the duration of one turn, then transition music (i.e. Jeopardy Theme) is used to remind students to pick "new its" for a game.

— When this song is played the students who want to be "it" come up to the black line in front of the front wall , then sit cross-legged and raise their hand. The "old its" hand the ball (tagger) to someone waiting patiently for a turn. The transition music is set for about forty seconds.

—The "new its" go to the center circle to begin a new game.

— The "old its" go to the opposite wall to begin the next game.

— This sequence for picking "new its" continues until nearly all of the students are beginning the game on the opposite wall.

— When the game nears a conclusion the teacher can then adjust the number of people that are "it" so that everyone that wants a turn is able to have one.

— Note: You can shorten up games and allow more turns by ending one of the "game songs" early and jumping to the transition music.