OUTDOOR GAMES FOR KIDS

HIDE AND SEEK

Everyone has played this one. Most parents have played with their kids, since hiding and finding is a
common interest of small children. I've heard of all kinds of variations on this game. Sometimes you
count to twenty, sometimes ten, sometimes one hundred. Sometimes there is a home base that you can
run to and tag, becoming "safe," sometimes you just wait to be found. The general idea is that one
person is "it," that person closes his or her eyes and counts to a certain number without looking and
then he or she tries to find the others. Number of Players: Ideally at least three. Equipment: None.

KICK THE CAN

This game is a variation of tag and hide & seek. One person or a team of people are designated as "it"
and a can is placed in the middle of the playing area. The other people run off and hide while the "it"
covers his or her eyes and counts to a certain number. "It" then tries to find everyone. If a person is
tagged by "it", they go into a holding pen for captured players. If one of the un-captured players
manages to kick the can, the captured players are released. The game is over once all the non-"it"
players are in the holding pen. Number of Players: Ideally at least three. Equipment: A metal can.

CAPTURE THE FLAG

This game is most fun when played with a large group. Split the group into two teams, each team having
a flag or other marker at the team's base. The object of the game is to run into the other team's
territory, capture their flag and make it safely back to your own territory. You can tag "enemy" players in
your territory, sending them to your jail. They can be sprung from jail by a member of their own team
running into your territory, tagging them and running back, with one freed person allowed per jail break.
It is sometimes played that all the people in jail could hold hands and make a chain back toward their
own territory, making it easier for members of their team to tag them. We also played a similar game
called Steal the Sticks. It had almost the same rules, but several sticks were used instead of one flag.
Number of Players: A large group. Equipment: Two flags or other markers.

PARACHUTE

Fun for kids of all ages, this game involves a large round parachute, preferably with handles, with people
holding the parachute all around the edges. It helps if someone is in charge telling people what to do.
Players can just ruffle the parachute up and down a little bit, they can go all the way up and all the way
down, or all the way up and then run underneath, sitting on the edge of the parachute, which can create
a bubble of air with everyone inside. Players can also place light objects such as wiffle balls or beanbags
on top of the parachute, and make them jump by ruffling the parachute. Also, one person can sit in the
middle of the parachute and everyone ruffles it near the ground. If there is a smooth floor and a light
child, the child can sit in the middle on top of the parachute and everyone else can walk partway around
still holding the parachute edge. Then everyone pulls backward, spinning the child. There are countless
variations. Number of Players: Depends on the size of the parachute, but usually eight to ten.
Equipment: A play parachute. These aren't as hard to find as you would think. Try here and here.

TRAFFIC COP

This game works best on a street with little to no traffic, or in a large paved area of some kind. You need
bikes, wagons, pedestrians, scooters or whatever is available. One person directs traffic to make sure
kids don't run into each other. It is more fun than it sounds, and helps kids learn about waiting to cross
the street and about traffic safety. Number of Players: A small group. Equipment: Bikes, wagons,
scooters, anything on wheels.

FOUR SQUARE

This ball game is played on a square court further divided into four smaller squares, numbered one
through four. One player stands in each of the squares, with the highest ranked player in number one,
lowest in number four. You bounce the ball among the players, bouncing once in the other person's
square before that person catches it. When I played this as a kid, we had countless additional rules to
choose from. The person in square one got to choose the rules. Anyone who violates the rules will have
to move down in the ranking, or be eliminated with another player rotating in to square four. Number of
Players: Four, unless you take turns. Equipment: A four square court or sidewalk chalk, a playground
ball.

HOPSCOTCH

Use some sidewalk chalk and make a hopscotch grid. Number the squares from one to nine. Pick a rock
that is good for tossing. Small ones can bounce too much, and larger ones are hard to throw. Start by
tossing the rock onto Square 1. Hop over the rock and hop with a single foot or both feet (to follow the
hopscotch pattern) all the way to the end. Turn around and come back, stopping on Square 2. Balancing
on one foot, pick up the rock in Square 1 and hop over Square 1 to the start. Continue this pattern with
Square 2. And so on. If you toss your rock and miss the correct square, your turn is over. This game can
be played with any number of people, but only one person can go at a time. If it's raining or dark or too
cold, you can get indoor hopscotch mats or foam pieces, or just find a pattern on the floor to follow,
perhaps using a beanbag instead of a rock. Number of Players: One at a time. Equipment: Hopscotch
grid, rock or beanbag.

JUMP-ROPE AND DOUBLE DUTCH

One of the biggest ways I spent my recess time as a young girl was jumping rope. I got quite good at it
for my age, both in speed and in skill. It was fun to jump by myself, but it was even more fun to have a
long rope and jump with a couple of friends. That's where jump-rope rhymes come in. They turn a
simple exercise into a fun game, to compete against yourself and others. Then there's double dutch. I
was always in awe of the older girls who could do double dutch. The first time I tried it, I got tripped up
almost immediately. However, once you understand how to do it, it isn't as hard as it looks. Number of
Players: One for single jumping, three with a longer rope or for double dutch. Equipment: One or two
jump-ropes.

CHINESE JUMP-ROPE

This game requires three people, or just one or two people with really good chairs. It is easily done
inside, assuming a sturdy floor. This game resembles regular jump rope in that you jump. A lot. But you
jump in a pattern. Two people (or chairs) put their feet inside the rope and stretch them out, standing
far enough apart for the third person to jump between them. The third person, or jumper, faces one of
the people holding the rope and jumps in a pattern of left, right, inside, outside and on the ropes. What
pattern you use is up to you, but all the players should use the same one. The game is started with the
rope around the ankles. Once the jumper does the jump correctly, the rope is moved up to the calves.
Then to the knees, then the thighs. Usually it doesn't get any farther than that. Once you miss, it is
someone else's turn. Number of Players: Preferably three, but it can be done with one or two.
Equipment: A stretchy-type rope or 5 to 6 meters of rubber bands tied together in a circle.

JACKS

This game can be played on any flat surface, indoors or out. The player scatters the jacks on the playing
surface, often by just tossing them out of one hand, as if rolling dice. The ball is then tossed up, is
allowed to bounce once, and is caught before the second bounce. The player tries to scoop up jacks and
catch the ball with one hand before the ball's second bounce. The number of jacks to be picked up goes
in order. First you pick up one ("onesies"), then two ("twosies"), then three and so on. There are many
variations to the rules of this game including things like "pigs in the pen" and "double bounces." Jacks is
one game I wish I had played as a girl, but it was much more common when my mom was a child.
Number of Players: Any, taking turns. Equipment: A set of jacks and a small rubber ball.

MARBLES

The general rules specify that you draw a circle in the sand or on the sidewalk, and then take turns trying
to knock each other's marbles out of the circle with your one large marble. As with the other games,
there are countless variations. I haven't played this game at length, though, because I always seem to
hurt myself flicking the large marble into the ring! You can also use a marble mat which contains
different point zones. Number of Players: At least two. Equipment: Chalk, large and small marbles.

RED LIGHT, GREEN LIGHT

With enough room, this game can easily be played inside. One person is the traffic light at one end, and
the other players are at the other end. When the traffic light faces the group, he or she says, "Red light!"
and everyone must freeze. The traffic light then turns his or her back and says, "Green light!" while the
group tries to get as close to the traffic light as possible. The traffic light turns around quickly, again
saying, "Red light!", and if anyone is spotted moving, they have to go back to the starting place. The first
person to tag the traffic light wins and gets to be the next traffic light. Number of Players: A small group.
Equipment: None.

MOTHER, MAY I

This game is set up in the same way as Red Light Green Light. One person in the group asks the person in
the front, "Mother, may I take steps forward?" The person at the front then says, "Yes, you may." or
"No, you may not." You can vary your requests by including options such as taking baby steps, spinning
steps, leaps or whatever strikes your fancy. Again, the first person to tag the person in the front wins
and is the next person in the front. Number of Players: A small group. Equipment: None.

SIMON SAYS

This game can be played anywhere, even in a car or other small space. One person is Simon and starts
by saying, "Simon says, '[insert action here]'. " Everyone must then do the action. However, if Simon
makes an action request without saying, "Simon says" to begin the request, anyone who does that
action is out. The last person still playing in the end will be Simon for the next round. Number of Players:
A small group. Equipment: None.

TAG

It seems that everyone knows how to play tag, but just in case it wasn't in your childhood game playing
repertoire, here is how you play. A group of kids decides who will start out as being "it." That person
chases the other people around, trying to tag one of them with their hand. The newly tagged person is
now "it." There is often the rule of "no tag-backs" where you can't tag the person who just tagged you.
The game ends when everyone is tired of playing. Number of Players: Any size group. Equipment: None.
SHADOW TAG

In this fun version of Tag, you tag each other's shadow with your feet instead of tagging their body.
Thus, it must be played on a sunny day. The closer to noon, the greater the difficulty. Number of Players:
A small group. Equipment: None.

FREEZE TAG

This is a variation of Tag where if the person who is "it" tags you, you have to freeze where you are.
Another participant can tag you to unfreeze you. Number of Players: A small group. Equipment: None.

TV TAG

A variation of Freeze Tag where the person unfreezing the frozen player has to call out a TV show title.
That show then can't be used again during that game. Number of Players: A small group. Equipment:
None.

MARCO POLO

This variation of tag is played in a swimming pool. Whoever is "it" closes their eyes and yells "Marco!"
The other players then yell "Polo!" The "it" person has to tag one of the others, and then that person is
"it." Be sure to play in a pool that is not too deep for any of the players. Number of Players: A small
group. Equipment: A swimming pool.

BLIND MAN'S BLUFF

A favorite game in Tudor and Victorian England, this game is yet another variation on tag. The person
who is "it" wears a blindfold and tries to tag the other players. Be sure to play this in an area safe from
obstructions and other hazards. Number of Players: A small group. Equipment: A blindfold.

RED ROVER

Divide everyone into two teams, each forming a long line, holding hands, facing the other team. The two
teams should be around 20 or so feet apart. The teams take turn calling out, "Red Rover, Red Rover, let
come over!" That child leaves their team's line, runs as fast as they can toward the other line and tries to
break through the held hands. If they break through, they get to take someone back to their team. If
they don't, they join the new team. When a team only has one person left, that person tries to break
through the other team. If they do not, then their team loses. If they do, they gain a player and play
continues. Number of Players: Any decent size group. Equipment: None.

HEADS UP, SEVEN UP

Dating back to at least the 1950s, this game is one we played in elementary school. In my experience, it
was usually done in the classroom with everyone at their desk. To start the game, seven players go to
the front and the teacher says, "Heads down, thumbs up!" Everyone still at their desk puts their head
down, extends an arm and stucks their thumb up. The seven kids that were at the front go around and
each press one person's thumb down. Then they all go back to the front of the room and the teacher
says, "Heads up, seven up!" The players at the desks raise their heads and the seven whose thumbs
were pressed down stand up. Each in turn names the person they think pressed down their thumb. If
they are correct, they change places with the presser. Then the game can start again. Number of
Players: Minimum of 14. Equipment: Desks at which to sit.

SPUD

This outdoor game is a lot of fun. Every player gets a number and crowds around the person who is "it"
for that round. "It" then tosses the ball straight up and the other players run away. As the ball reaches
the top of its toss, "it" calls out the number of one of the other players and then runs away also. The
player whose number was called must run back and catch the ball (or chase after it if it is bouncing
around). Once that person has the ball, they yell, "Spud!" Then everyone else must freeze. The person
with the ball must try to hit one of the players with the ball. If they do, that new person gets a letter
(first S, then P, then U, then D) and is now "it." If they miss, the person who threw the ball is "it" for the
next round. Number of Players: A small group. Equipment: Playground ball.

BUTTON, BUTTON, WHO'S GOT THE BUTTON?

Played inside or outside, the group sits or stands in a circle and holds their hands together in front of
them. One person takes the button and goes around the circle, pretending to put the button in someone
else's hands. They actually deposit the button in one person's hands, but then continue the rest of the
way around the circle, pretending to put it in everyone else's hands. Then going around the circle, each
player tries to guess who has the button now. Before each person's guess, the group asks together,
"Button, button, who's got the button?" Then the player can state their guess. Once the player with the
button is finally guessed, that person distributes the button during the next round. Because a button is
used in this game, be sure that all the kids playing are old enough so as to not choke on the button. In
another version of this game (and the one that I am more familiar with), one child stands in the middle
of the circle, and the button gets passed around the backs of the rest of the group. Those without the
button pretend to pass it. When the passing stops, the player in the middle has to guess as to who
actually has the button. Number of Players: Any size group. Equipment: A button.

CAT'S CRADLE

This incredibly portable game can be played anywhere. If you are playing alone, you can make various
string shapes on your own hands. With two people, you can play a bit of a game, transferring the shapes
back and forth and creating new ones. Learn from someone if you can, but otherwise there are some
good books on the subject. Make your own string, or buy a book on how to do it, which often comes
with a string! Number of Players: One or two. Equipment: A string, approximately 36 inches long, tied in
a circle (length varies, so find one that works for you!).

HAND-CLAP GAMES

The first hand-clap game most people have played is Pat-a-Cake with their parents. Songs and patterns
get much more complicated from there. Usually there are two people involved, doing a series of clap
patterns on their own and each other's hands while singing or chanting a rhythmic song. There are many
rhymes listed online, but if you can learn from someone else or see it in a video, that is best, so that you
can get the notes of the song and the rhythm of the clapping. From "Miss Mary Mack" to "Miss Susie" to
"Say, Say, My Playmate," there are countless hand clap games to learn. Number of Players: Usually two,
but creativity can allow for a third or fourth person. Equipment: None.

Top 10 Fun Indoor Activities For Teens:

1. Sing The Lyrics:

You Will Need:

Paper

Pen

Song lyrics

How To:

[Link] down one or two verses from popular songs. Ensure you leave a few words missing here and
there and leave it as a blank.

[Link] down the name of the song beside it so that you know the right answer.

[Link] the teens into teams.

[Link] each team a chance to guess while you read out the clues that you wrote down as a verse. Set a
time by which the players have to guess. If the team or player cannot guess the lyrics, pass it on to the
next person or team. The team that gets the maximum answers right is the winner.

2. Foot Volleyball:

You Will Need:

Balloon

A volleyball net

How To:

[Link] all teens to remove their shoes and form two groups.

[Link] the net in such a way that it is at least three to four feet above the floor. Let both the teams take
their positions, on each side of the net.

[Link] teen and his friends now need to play volleyball with the balloon using their feet instead of their
hands!

3. The Orange War:

You Will Need:

Oranges

Plastic spoons to hold the oranges

How To:

Place the oranges in the spoons and give them to two players at a time.

The players have to tip off the orange of their opponent without touching them and while trying to keep
their orange in their spoon.

As soon as someone loses their orange, they are out of the game. The winning player may stand on one
side.

Keep repeating the competition until all players get a chance.

Now give a spoon and an orange to each winner and ask them to play for the winning title. The player
who has the orange in the spoon until the end wins.

4. Give Me The Marshmallow:

You Will Need:

1. A bag for every second player

2. Marshmallows

How To:

[Link] equal amounts of marshmallows in each bag.

[Link] the players into pairs as tossers and catchers. The players have to toss a marshmallow into their
partner’s mouth.

[Link] both the partners stand at least five feet apart. Now hand a bag of marshmallows to each player
from the tossers side. At the signal, the tossers have to throw the marshmallows into their partner’s
mouth. Time the game.

[Link] duo that collects the maximum amount of marshmallows wins.

5. I Never Ever:

You Will Need:

Candies

How To:

1. Hand out an equal amount of candies to each player.

2. Let all players sit down in a circle.

3. Now walk around the circle and say things that begin with the phrase ‘I never ever.’ For instance, ‘I
never ever had a full chocolate bar at night.’

[Link] every sentence, whoever did that activity has to eat one candy from his pile. The person who
finishes all the candies first is the winner.

6. A Lie And Two Truths:

You Will Need:

Candies

How To:

[Link] equal number of candies to each player. Ask each player to take turns at the game. One player
says three sentences about himself, a lie, and two truths. The others have to guess which one is the lie.
If someone guesses right he gets a candy. For every wrong guess, the teen has to give a candy.

[Link] player who collects the maximum number of candies is the winner.
7. The Human Pretzel:

How To:

[Link] all players to stand in a circle.

[Link] player has to grab the hands of another player, except for the players standing on either side.

[Link] everyone has to try and untwist themselves in such a way that they end up making a circle.

8. Balloon Hitter:

You Will Need:

1.A balloon for each player

[Link] objects that will be the target

How To:

[Link] out a balloon to each player and ask them to inflate it.

[Link] the targets at a considerable distance on the floor and ask all players to stand on one side. At the
signal, the players have to hit their target with their balloon. You can decide the amount of tries the
players are allowed, or base it on time.

[Link] player who can hit the target first with the balloon is the winner.

9. Relay The Candy:

You Will Need:

1.A candy with a hole in the center – you will need one candy for each player

2.A toothpick for each player

How To:

[Link] the teens to form teams of four players each.

[Link] out a toothpick to each player. One player from each team begins the game by inserting the
toothpick in the mouth and trying to pick up a candy with the same. Once the player gets the candy, the
next teen takes over.

[Link] a time and the team that picks up all the candies fastest is the winner.

10. Pick Up The Cotton Balls:

You Will Need:

1.A bag of cotton balls

2.A spatula

3.A blindfold

4.A pan

5.A table

How To:

[Link] the cotton balls and the pan on the table. Blindfold the teens by turn and hand them the spatula.

[Link] teen has to try and pick up as many cotton balls as possible and place it in the pan.

[Link] teen who collects the maximum number of cotton balls is the winner.

11. Scissors:

You Will Need:

A pair of ordinary scissors.

How To:

Ask all players to sit down in a circle.

The leader will hand over a pair of scissors to a player sitting on his left and will say ‘Crossed’ or
‘Uncrossed’.

The person receiving the scissors repeats the same while passing it to someone on his left. Continue this
till everyone gets a chance of passing the scissors.

The secret of the game is that it has nothing to do with scissors. Cross or uncrossed refers to the position
of a person’s feet or legs when they receive and pass the scissors.

It is a game that creates a discussion on looking past the obvious and enhances creative thinking.

12. I Went To Camp:

How To:

The leader begins the game by saying ‘I went to camp, and I took a/an (object)’.

The player sitting next to him will repeat the same phrase but with another object.

The trick is, the objects should follow a pattern such as alphabetical order.
Object criteria can vary like it can begin with the first letter of any person’s name, two syllable words,
etc.

13. Who Am I?

You Will Need:

Sticky notes

A pen

How To:

Write down a famous character or celebrity name on a note.

Stick the note on one player’s forehead so that he cannot see what is there on it.

The player then asks questions to his group members for which they should either answer yes or no.

He should finally try to guess the character.

Each player gets a maximum of three attempts to guess the name.

14. Mafia:

You Will Need:

• Pack of cards or paper

How To:

Players should divide themselves in the ratio of 7:3, the civilians and mafia. There should be a narrator
as well who calls out.

All the players will be sleeping, and the narrator calls out ‘Civilians wake up’ or ‘Mafia wake up’. The
group members open their eyes and decide whom to kill in the other group.

If the number of civilians surpasses the number of the mafia, the civilians win, and vice-versa.

There are also special players in the team:

Doctor – a civilian who will protect a player from being killed

Barman – a mafia man who will cancel the effect of another player’s ability to kill

Vigilante – a civilian who kills a player every night

15. Asa:
It is one of the fun indoor games for teenagers where all the players maintain a rhythm by tapping legs,
clapping hands or clicking fingers (twice – right and then left).

Each player takes their name and motion. You should pick such a motion that syncs with the name.

How To:

One person will begin the game by taking his/her name and a rhythm, followed by the name and
motion of another teammate.

The next player will be the one who was named by the previous player. He will now take his name and a
rhythm followed by someone else’s name and motion.

You can also play a variation of the game by just pointing out two players with your finger saying ‘you,
you’. These two will at a time start saying their name with some motion.

To make the game harder, you can pick more than two players or say, everyone. Here everyone will start
saying out their names with motions.

The hardest variation will be when players stop saying names but only perform motions, and the other
players need to recognize the motion and relate it to their name.

Top 10 Indoor Sports and Games

1. Basket ball

Basketball is the most popular indoor sport and second most popular team sport after soccer. According
to me it is the most inspiring sport. Basketball is played by two teams of five players each. The objective
is to throw the ball into the basket at the opponent’s side of a rectangular field. Guys are totally into this
sport! Not only playing but also watching basketball is a great thrill as it is a fast game involving things
like shooting, dribbling, passing, rebounding and blocking. Even more thrilling is the exciting finishing
moments which occur frequently in basketball. That is the reason why there are many memorable
sports moments in the history of this sport. Basketball has many health benefits as it demands lot of
physical work. It also has a cultural and social significance. There is a quote saying “Basketball doesn’t
build character. It reveals it.” Whenever you are stressed, find a hoop and shoot a basketball!

2. Swimming

Swimming is a great recreational activity in which we glide through water using our limbs. I feel that it is
an intimate experience with water. Having a great swim in pleasant waters on a hot sunny day is quite a
marvelous experience and it is relaxing too. Swimming helps to stay fit and keep in shape thus improving
physique. It also renews energy, increases circulation, and builds endurance, muscle strength and
cardiovascular fitness. Swimming lovers who want to take this sport more seriously can go for
competitive level swimming. The four main strokes in competitive swimming are freestyle, breaststroke,
backstroke and butterfly. A personal advice, swimming is fun but drowning is not! So you have to follow
the safety measures while swimming.

3. Boxing

Boxing is one of the most popular and celebrated sports as you know. It is the act of fighting with fists by
using boxing gloves in a boxing ring. This sport makes the body and mind strong. It is the toughest sport
in my opinion. Boxing has many benefits. It is a humbling experience and the boxers learn to face
humility. This benefit helps in shocking ways. Boxing can be of use as a self defense if we end up in a
dangerous situation. People having issues with their anger can channel it into something positive like
boxing. Professional boxing has become a global phenomenon giving great opportunities to aspiring
fighters. Boxers face tough situations. They endure inevitable pain with a strong attitude. I am always
awed by their guts, strength, and endurance.

4. Volleyball

Volleyball is a game played by two teams of six players each on a rectangular court divided by a high net,
in which each team tries to ground the ball on other team’s court. This is a high energy game in which
lot of physical movements like jumping, squatting, diving and coordinated hand movements are
necessary. Our body has many benefits by playing volleyball, few of which are burning excess fat,
improving hand-eye coordination and providing physical fitness. As it is a team game, it has many social
benefits such as fostering friendship, constant interaction with teammates and learning to cooperate
with each other. It has been observed that volleyball players have best figure compared to other people
who exercise regularly.

5. Chess

Chess is one of the most ancient games yet has a great glory even today! Bobby Fischer, my favourite
player, described that “Chess is war over the board. The object is to crush the opponents mind.” In my
words, chess is a war of thoughts between two players on a chess board having 16 pieces each with the
objective of check mating the opponent’s king. Savielly Tartakower stated “Chess, like love, like music,
has the power to make man happy.” And of course chess makes anyone happy, it is a game for players
of all ages and also there is no retirement in chess! People from any walk of life cannot just ignore chess
as this game has only benefits. Chess enhances mental development and hence used to treat many
disabilities. You can learn a lot in chess like visualization and judging the body language. You can
improve your memory and become more creative. Chess will teach you patience and will power. I played
hundreds of chess matches but not two games were same, every game is a new experience. Chess is
more of an art than a game. In this context, I want to mention Aaron Nimzowitsch’s quote “The beauty
of a move lies not in its appearance but in the thought behind it.”

6. Snooker

British Army officers stationed in India modified the traditional billiards and devised snooker. Snooker is
a game played on a billiards board with 15 red balls, six balls of other colours, and a white cue ball in
which we have to pot the other balls using the cue ball. Some play snooker as a recreational game while
some play it for money and prestige. It may seem ordinary but there is so much to this game. It can be
considered as example of applied physics and geometry. Some of its benefits include enhancing focus
and coordination, and promoting self confidence if you are good at this game.

7. Squash

Squash is a great sport that provides fun and recreation. It is a game played in an enclosed court by two
or four players who strike the ball with their rackets and hit onto playable surfaces of the walls of the
court. Not many people used to know about squash but it is gaining so much popularity these days due
to the fact that people are enjoying it once they start playing. The reason may be that it is fast and
exciting. It is a fast growing sport and is becoming a serious game at the competitive level too. Besides
being enjoyable, it is also advantageous. Playing squash improves cardiovascular health, maintains
healthy weight, and promotes good coordination and flexibility. It also helps you to learn better social
skills and gives an opportunity to make new friends. Squash is a very good leisure activity to try.

8. Bowling

Whenever you want to hang out with friends, bowling alley is one of the favourite choices. Bowling is a
sport which involves rolling a ball down a lane to knock down a group of pins. It is not as simple as it
looks; it is a complicated sport indeed. You must be able to understand the lane conditions to bowl well.
The common types of balls used these days are the resin balls. Professional bowlers play at competitive
and elite levels. For amateur bowlers it is fun to go bowling with friends. One thing you have to know is
that it is not only fun but it also has some health benefits like promoting muscle growth, helping lose
weight, muscle toning and strengthening. You can socialize and make friends at the bowling alley.
Bowling is surely a great sport to enjoy. All I want to say is next time you go bowling leave no pin
standing!

9. Table Tennis

Many people across the world play table tennis. It is an indoor variation of tennis, played on table
divided by net with small paddles and a light weight ball. Table tennis is a complex physical sport. It is
good for the body, mind and soul. It has many physical as well as mental benefits. It improves flexibility,
helps for weight loss, develops motor skills and balance, improves concentration and brain function.
Even though table tennis can be played as a high intensity physical activity, there is a very low risk of
injury as there is no contact between the players. Table tennis is often called ‘high speed Chess’ due to
the tactical challenges presented by the game. Table tennis is definitely a good investment!

10. Badminton

Badminton is a game played with rackets in which a shuttlecock is volleyed across a narrow net. This
game is packed with loads of entertainment and benefits. It is a versatile sport. Regularly playing
badminton helps to reduce bad cholesterol and increase good cholesterol. It also helps to strengthen
heart muscle, reduce blood pressure and avoid hypertension. Playing badminton keeps you motivated,
strong and healthy. Badminton is a very friendly game and you can enjoy playing it with friends and
relatives. Movie actor Aamir Khan, who also plays badminton well, said that “Badminton is a great way
to de-stress and chill out after a hard day’s work.” I totally agree with him.

TRADITIONAL GAMES

Upon the desire of the Bureau of Physical Education and School Sports (BPESS) to foster patriotism,
nationalism and appreciation of traditional games among the youth, it embarked on a difficult but
fruitful task to search and record the traditional games from the different regions of the country.

Their patience, dedication and untiring effort to identify these games based upon their popularity and
competetive quality paid off. "Tumbang Preso," "Palo-sebo," "Kadang-Kaang" (bamboo stilt),
"Patintero," "Dinoran," "Culliot" (Pushing with bamboo), and "Bati-Cobra" (hitting sticks), are examples
of these traditional games.

These games can be played individually or by teams. They are very convenient to play because of the
limited space it requires and the simplicity of its rules.

Traditional Games - a symbol of our national identity and pride.

"Tumbang Preso"

This is a very common game among the youth all over the country, played in backyards, parks or even in
streets with less vehicular traffic. The equipment needed are empty milk can, slipper or a piece of flat
stone as "pamato."

For the purpose of making the game enjoyable and exciting, the composition of players should not be
more than 9. The principle involved is to hit and knock down the milk can with the "pamato," and for the
IT to put back the can inside a small circle a few meters away from the toe-line. When a player is tag
while re-covering his pamato, he becomes thde IT.

Rules of the Game

1. An IT, the one to guard the milk can is chosen by throwing the "pamato" to the toe line by all the
players. Whoever player whose "pamato" is farthest from the toe-line is the IT.

2. The hitters will line up at the back of the toe-line and at the sign of the IT, game is started.
3. The "pamato" must be retrieved immediately once the can is knocked down, otherwise once the IT
has placed the can inside the circle, the one tagged becomes the IT.

4. When the can is hit and went off the circle but remains standing, the IT has the right to tag the hitter
once the hitter leaves the toe-line.

5. The can maybe kicked or knocked down under situation No. 4.

6. If a hitter is not able to retrieve his "pamato," the others can save him by hitting the can.

"Palo-Sebo"

The game "Palo-Sebo" is commonly played during "Fiestas." The equipment needed is a 10-meter
bamboo pole with a 10.16-centimeter diameter, small bag, a prize and lard or grease.

It is an individual or single game. The pole is painted with lard or grease from top to bottom and a small
bag filled with prizes is tied on the top end of the pole before it is set to stand. The objective of the game
is to get the bag full of prizes by climbing the bamboo pole. A competitor is given only one chance to
climb. The game ends once the prizes are taken.

"Kadang-Kadang" (Bamboo Stilt)

This is a very popular recreational game in the country. Several players may participate in this game. The
equipment needed is two pieces of wooden stilt with a stepladder, the height of which is 30.48
centimeter from the ground. The principle of the game is to walk on stilt from a starting line to the finish
line. The length to be traveled is 100 meters.

Rules of the Game

1. At the signal "Get Set," the players stand at the starting line with their stilts.

2. At the signal "Go," the players mount their stilt and start walking.

3. The first player that reaches the finish line without getting off the stilts wins.

4. A player losses if he get off the stilts twice before reaching the finish line, or gets off the stilt after two
steps.

"Patintero"

The most widely known and played game in the country is "Patintero." Due to its popularity a set of
official rules was established. The equipment needed is chalk or paint, scoreboard, whistle, stop watch
and powder.

A team is composed of 5 players and a coach. The official of the game is the scorer, timekeeper, and 5
linesmen. The objective of a team is to accumulate as many points by passing the lines without being
tagged. A defensive team is called line guard while an offensive team is called the passer.

Rules of the Game

1. The game is started with toss of a coin. Whoever wins becomes the passer.

2. A time limit of two minutes is given to each team to score.

3. Once the limit elapses, the line guards assume the positions of the passer, and vice-versa.
4. Passers are suppose to cross the lines from the starting point and back.

5. Four line guards are positioned on the vertical line and one on the horizontal line of the court. Their
feet always be on the line.

6. Line guards tag the passer with powered hands.

7. If any of the passer is tagged, the line guard immediately assumes the position of passer even if the 2-
minute limit has not elapsed.

System of Scoring

From Entry Point From Exit Point

First line - 1 pt. Fourth line - 2 pt.

Second line - 2 pts. Third line - 3 pts.

Third line - 2 pts. Second line - 3 pts.

Fourth line - 2 pts. First line - 5 pts.

(Home)

The duration of the game is three innings and each inning is divided into halves.

"Culliot"
The game is similar to tug of war in principle. Two or more players can play this. The purpose of a team
is to pull the other team over the borderline. The equipment needed is a 15-meter long rope with a
diameter of 3.81 centimeters.

Rules of the Game

1. Each team must have equal number of players.

2. The distance between team is five meters.

3. Both ends of the rope should be tied on the waist of the last player while the others hold on to the
rope.

4. A piece of ribbon or handkerchief is tied to the rope on the centerline.

5. Upon signal to start, each team pulls each other.

6. The team that pulls the other over the borderline is declared as the winner.

"Dinoron"

The game is the opposite of Culliot. Instead of pulling, it is played by holding the bamboo pole and
pushing the opponent to be able to step on the opponent's borderline. Two or more players can play the
game. The equipment needed is a bamboo pole 10 meters long with a diameter of 11.43 centimeters
and a whistle.

Rules of the Game

1. The mode of competition is two out of three games.

2. The team that held the thinner end of the bamboo in the first game shall hold the thicker end of the
bamboo in the second game.

3. If there is a tie after the second game, a tossing of a coin will determine which team will hold the
thicker end of the bamboo.

"Bati-Cobra"

This game is popular among the kids in the province. The equipment needed are a piece of stick 60.96
centimeters long which serves as the bat and another piece of stick 15.25 centimeters long which serves
as the ball.

Two or more players can play the game. Digging a hole on the ground 12.5 centimeters wide and 5
centimeters deep makes a permanent base. To determine the first hitter, the player that strikes the
smaller stick farthest from the base will be the first to hit.

Throwing the smaller stick upwards and striking it hard plays the game. The other player from afar tries
to catch the stick. Whoever catches it becomes the next hitter. If nobody catches the stick the non-hitter
may choose to pick up the stick and strike the longer stick laid down by the hitter beside the base. A
player becomes the next hitter if the longer stick is struck, but if not, the first hitter continuos playing.

Points can be score by measuring the distance from the base up to where the smaller stick landed. The
longer stick is used to measure the distance. Each length of the stick is equivalent to one point. A layer
that gets 100 points or more is the winner.

GAMES MECHANICS
1. PATINTERO (TUBIGAN)

BACKGROUND: Patintero is played outdoors. The players are divided into two teams equal number,
namely the runners and the taggers. The object of the runner is to get through all the lines back and
forth without being tagged.

PLAYERS: 4 players per team; 2 opposing teams

PLAY AREA: The ground is marked off in a 5 or 6 meter rectangle divided into 4 equal parts.

MECHANICS:

1. Each team is composed of 4 players.

2. Winning the toss entitles the players on that team to be runners. The taggers stand 1,2,3, and 4.
Number 1 can go anywhere to tag the runners.

3. Taggers 2,3, and 4 tag the runners as they cross the lines or as they get near them.

4. As soon as one of the runners crosses line 4, he returns to line 2 and call out "Tubig!" a point scored in
favor of his team.

5. The runners must score a clean pass within 2 minutes, otherwise, a turnover will be called.

6. In tagging, the taggers must have both feet on the line.

7. If a runner is tagged while crossing a line or while trying to cross, the teams exchange places.
8. The team with the highest point after 3 turnovers wins the game.

9. If after 3 turnovers and nobody has been declared as winner, 2 turnovers will be added to the game
for a total of 5..

2. SIPA (BILANGAN)

PLAYERS - Two

PROPS - Shuttlecock like flat lead washers with the flyer made of bright strips of cellophane or rooster
feathers.

MECHANICS:

1. Sipa Bilangan is played by two teams.

2. First team to play is determined by toss coin.

3. The flyer is kick up and down, until the ball touches the ground.

4. Point is counted on every kick made.

3. SIPA MUDANSA OR BY KICKING.

PLAYER - Two per team (one tosser & one kicker)

PROPS - Same as Sipa Bilangan

1. Sipa Mudansa or by kicking is played by two teams.

2. To determine the first tosser & kicker (players), a toss coin will ensure.

3. Tosser stand facing kicker at a convenient distance.

4. A demarcation line is drawn 1 feet in front of the kicker.

5. Tosser throws a lobe toss to kicker, who will kick the fly at a distance.

6. Points will be made by measuring that distance where the Flyer landed using a measuring tape as
measuring device.

7. Three tries for both teams will be allowed, with the farthest distance considered as point score.

8. In to event a kicker fails to hit the flyer, the kicker will forfeit his kick.

4. SUNGKA

For as long as anyone can remember, there has always been a sungka board in the Filipino homes. The
sungka board is a small treasure-the older it is, the more precious, it sits on a side table or a top a bench,
waiting to be played.

SUNGKA BOARD
A shallow boat made of solid wood at both ends of, which are large deep bowls carved out of the wood.
The whole length of the boat is lined with seven smaller bowls carved in pairs.

PROPS Pebbles, "Sigay" or shells seeds

MECHANICS

1. Sungka is always played by two people.

2. Each players fills up his seven smaller bowls with 7 "Sigay" each.

3. Both players start at the same time.

4. The object of the game is to put as many "Sigay" as possible in the large bowl as to cause the
opponent to lose one or two of his smaller bowls in the succeeding games which means he losses.

5. If at the end of 15 minutes, nobody has been declared as winner, the game will be called off. Each
player counts the number of "Sigay" in the opponent's large bowl.

6. The player with the most number of "Sigay" wins.

5. TORSI/SUMPING

BACKGROUND: Torsi is the Ilocano term for finger wrestling. A popular pastime among the Ilocanos, it is
basically a test of strength.

Torsi Is played a top a table by two contestants to find out who between them have the

more formidable fingers. However, the other fingers are resorted to whenever a
competitor believes that he has a better chance of prevailing with it because it

happens to be stronger.

MECHANICS

1. Each team is composed of 6 players.

2. At a given signal, the first player of each team walk with his bamboo/or wooden stilt towards the goal
line.

3. Upon reaching the goal line, he turns around with his stilt and returns to the starting line.

4. The 2nd, 3rd, 4th, up to the 12th player do the same.

5. The first team to finish the race wins.

6. A team whose player walks for more than 2 steps after a fall will be disqualified.

7. A team whose player falls twice is disqualified.

HEIGHT: JUNIOR DIVISION - 1 foot from the ground

SENIOR DIVISION - 1.5 foot from the ground

Relay Distance - 30 meters (15 x 2) for men

20 meters (10 x 2) for women

6. PALO-SEBO

To keep the Filipino people to the Catholic faith, Spaniards introduced fiesta, a town's gathering in honor
of its patron saint or to celebrate the towns funding. Along with this, they means greased pole in
Spanish.

Towering at the center of the merry-making is a row of greased poles with the rewards at its top. All
boys ages 12-19 are joined to participate. Beyond this qualification, it is open to anyone regardless of his
race, color or creed.

The essence of the game is most important thing for the players of the palo-sebo, for it is not merely a
test of his prowess in climbing but more importantly, it is to prove his mettle and perseverance.

- 4 bamboo poles aligned at a distance with 3 colored banderas placed at the peak.

- In every game an assigned colored bandera will be picked.

- Picking the wrong colored bandera means that player will repeat his climb until he picks the right one.

- In the event, all players will not be able to reach for the banderas, scoring will be made by how far the
players climb the bamboo with a 3 color band placed near the peak as indicator.

7. CULLIOT

To bring one's strength to the force, the game of culliot or rope pulling provides a very effective way.
Two players connected by a rope tied on their waists stand on their respective circles and pull each
other. The first player of three players to step out of his circle losses.
Collective strength is also proven in this game when two teams of equal number of players divided at a
distant line pull each other using a rope.

A Mangyan counterpart of this game makes use of bare hands and arms around the waists of the person
in front with a line etched on the ground.

Filipino's endless innovativeness enters the game when they substitute the mudhole as a demarcation
line so that whoever gets pulled fall into it and everyone gets the best medicine for all ailments -
laughter.

Circle Diameter -2 meters

Distance of Circle 1 to circle 2 - 4 meters from the circle line.

8. PIKO

Piko is a game that joins all children of the world together wherever they live, whenever they lived. Piko
is unbelievably old. When ancient Roman cities were dug up, drawings of hopscotch lines were found on
the stone floors. Everywhere it is played for one aim: to win a place to call one's own. In the Philippines,
the game is also known as kipkip, pikuba, laban ang segking.

PLAYING COURT

Stone floor drawn with chalk, charcoal

On the ground-drawn with a sharp stick (in this event, masking tape)

5 rectangles arranged vertically, rectangles 3 and 5 are divided equally (3a

and 3b; 5a and 5b): no.6 is a drawing of a half moon.

PLAYING COURT
Pamato (maybe a flat stone, a brick chip, the bottom piece of a clay pot or a smooth

chunk of window glass)

MECHANICS

1. The players stand in front of a rectangle no.1. Each player takes turn in tossing his pamato inside the
4th rectangle's dividing line. The player who tosses his pamato closest to this line gets to play first. This
is called manohan.

2. Only hops and skips are allowed using either the left or the right foot. Landing on both feet is only
allowed in the area or areas considered as home or "bahay" of a certain player who has earned it after
successfully finishing the game. No other player can step on this area.

3. The 1st player tosses his pamato to rectangle no.1. Neither the

player nor the pamato must touch the line otherwise the player losses his turn.

4. The player then tosses his pamato to rectangle no.2, 3a, 3b, 4,5a, 5b and 6.

5. The player then plays the game all over again this time starting from rectangle no. 5.

6. After he has played in the entire rectangle, he tosses the pamato strong enough to pass over
rectangle no. 1. Hops passing rectangle no. 5 to 1 then jumps over the pamato.

7. Player picks up the pamato. With his back turned against the rectangular play area, he tosses his
pamato towards the direction of the play area. Where the pamato lands, that area becomes his home or
bahay.

8. The game starts all over again for the 1st player. The rest continues with the game they have left off.
9. The player with the most number of homes, wins.

11. SANGKAYAW

Sangkayaw or the coconut shell race is commonly played in the Tagalog and Central

Luzon provinces a coconut shell tied to a string under each foot; the string placed

between the toe and the next one. The hand holds the loose end of the string.

RULES:

1. Each team is composed of 10 to 12 players.

2. At a given signal, the first player of each team walks with his coconut shell (hush) towards his goal
line.

3. Upon reaching the goal line, he turns around with his stilt and returns to the starting line.

4. The 2nd,3rd, 4th up to the last player will do the same.

5. The first team to finish the race wins.

6. A team whose player walks for more than 2 steps after a fall will be disqualified.

7. A team whose player falls twice is disqualified.

Relay distance - 30 meters (15 x 2) for men

20 meters (10 x 2) for women