NEW GAMES
Shout-outs and Exercise Games
Call-out the fun! Get kids excited to play by using words. These games
can be played during any week of your program.
GAME 1: Video Game
Required Materials: none
GAME 4: Sled Race
Required Materials: mats and play area
Children follow the instructions of a video. E.g.
Facilitator calls out the following words: “play”
means walk; “fast forward” means run; “rewind”
means walk backwards; “eject” means jump;
“pause” means freeze; “3-D” means find 3
people and hold hands.
Plan out a safe play area or course. Have one
player be the rider and the other player the puller.
You can do this many ways like a relay where the
person that rode last gets to be the puller until
all players have pulled the sled. The first team to
complete the task is the winner.
GAME 2: Rolling-Pin Race
Required Materials: ground markers or ropes
GAME 5: Team Shuffle
Required Materials: large play area, (field, gym, or
large room)
Mark out a starting point and finish line. Have
players paired off and each pair will lie on the
ground opposite each other with heads toward
each other and feet pointing away. Lift hands
above heads and hold hands with partner to form
a long rolling pin. When signaled, teams roll from
starting point to finish line together. You can
probably only have a couple of pairs at a time
race depending on racing area available.
GAME 3: Roll-Ups on a Line
Required Materials: Clothespins, cloth
clothesline, Fruit Roll-Ups or Cloths
Hang a clothesline or have willing participants
hold the clothesline if there’s no place to hang it.
Unroll the Fruit Roll-Ups (assorted flavors to keep
everyone happy) so they will hang straight and
attach one end of each roll-up to the clothesline
with a clothespin. Space the roll-up’s about 6 to
8 inches apart on the clothesline and make sure
you have one Fruit Roll-Up per player. Set up 2-4
teams depending on the length of the clothesline
or how many lines you have. Different teams can
work on the same line but on opposite sides of
the line or across from each other. The first team
member on each team will run to the clothesline
and eat one of the Fruit Roll-Ups off the line with
their hands behind their backs, return to their
team and tag the next player to do the same. The
first team to eat all of their Fruit Roll-Ups will
be the winners. To add an extra twist for those
crazy youth groups you can blindfold the players
as they attempt to complete their task. Be very
careful of the choking hazard.
Divide all players into four teams. Have them
line in the four different corners of the field so
that one whole team is at each corner, lined up
one behind the other. The object of this game is
to get all of the teams from one corner through
to the opposite corner. This is done while all the
other teams do the same so that they all meet in
the middle. They are to do this with both hands
out to be used as bumpers for protection, each
player following one behind the other. Once they
get through the middle and reach the other side
they are to sit down in a line up formation. The
first team sitting is the winner. You do this several
different times in several different ways, and
never running, only walking. Some other ways
of doing this are by hopping, skipping, walking
backwards, and wheel borrowing (one person
holds another person’s feet).
GAME 6: Blindfolded Shoe Shuffle
Required Materials: blindfolds, shoes
Each person puts on a blindfold and takes off their
shoes. They then throw them into a pile in the
middle of the floor. The referee then jumbles them
all up and then shouts GO! The first person to find
their shoes by touch and smell alone and put them
on is the winner. Players must wear socks.
NEW GAMES
Shout-outs and Exercise Games
GAME 7: Switch
Required Materials: cones, beanbags, music
GAME 11: Volcanoes and Craters
Required Materials: cones, discs
Place cone at each corner matching the colors
of beanbags used. Everyone has a beanbag and
travels to music, when “switch” is called they
must change beanbags with someone else.
When music stops they go to the corner with the
matching cone.
Divide your group into 2 teams. Give both teams
same amount of cones and discs. The facilitator will
either say “volcanoes-cones” or “craters-discs” or
both-alternate cone/disc. Each player has to place
whatever is called in a straight line to the other side
of room, pick them back up and give to next player
in line.
GAME 8: Body Bag
Required Materials: beanbags
Divide into 2 teams and ask to stand in straight
line. Give each team a beanbag. Facilitator calls
out a body part for 1st team member to place
beanbag on. When the next body part is called
the player has to place it on the body part of the
next in line. If beanbag falls to the ground that
team is eliminated.
GAME 9: Trucks and Trailers
Required Materials: none
Divide into 2 teams; One team is called “trucks”
and the other is “trailers.” Each team sends
representative to middle of room and the 2 stand
back-to-back, creating a line of pairs. When
truck or trailer is called whichever one it is must
run to the wall they are facing without coming
apart. Repeat until all have had an opportunity to
participate.
GAME 10: Bean Soup
Required Materials: music
In a single file, have them start walking around
the room and begin playing music (fast paced).
Children are walking while listening for type of
bean to be called. Different beans have different
actions. The facilitator stops the music and
calls: Jelly bean-participants begin wobbling side
to side; Baked beans-lie on the floor as if they
are “baking in the sun”; chili beans-shaking as if
they are cold; string beans-lift both hands in the
air and stretching body; kidney beans-sit back to
back with the person in front of them.
GAME 12: Cardio Cones
Required Materials: cones (4 of each color)
Place colored cones in 2 separate rows as followsred, blue, yellow, red, blue, yellow. Each color
represents a different activity. Red- Jumping Jacks,
Blue-Squats, Yellow- Breathe in and out slowly.
Divide teams into 2 and have each player complete
course.
GAME 13: Crazy 8’s
Required Materials: 2 basketballs, 10 cones
Place cones in two rows, space them out from start
line to finish line-5 cones per row. Divide into 2
teams and give each one a ball. Each player has to
dribble the ball while weaving in and out of cones to
the finish line, run back and give to next player.
GAME 14: Strike a Pose
Required Materials: Yoga Pose Facilitator card (see
FFF website)
Have participants stand in even rows around the
room. Facilitator will demonstrate the poses to class
and then have participants repeat. E.g. child’s pose,
downward-facing dog, cow pose, cat pose, extended
puppy pose, etc.
NEW GAMES
Shout-outs and Exercise Games
GAME 15: Captains Deck
Required Materials: none
Have participants stand in middle of room and
pretend they are on a ship. They will be receiving
orders from their captain (facilitator).
Orders:
To the ship: run to the captain’s right
To the island: run to the captains left
Hit the deck: lay down on your stomach
Attention on deck: salute and yell, “Aye, aye
captain”
Clear the deck: lay on ground on back and feet up
off the floor
Scrub the deck: everyone on their knees scrubbing
Captain’s Quarters: everyone runs toward captain
Bow: run to the front of the boat
Stern: run to the back of the boat
Row the boat: Each player finds a partner, sits
face-to-face, holds hands and pretends to row the
boat.
GAME 16: Penguin Shuffle
Required Materials: 4 beanbags
Divide group into 2 teams and give each team 2
beanbags. Each player places a beanbag on top of
each foot and has to get to the finish line either
walking or running without beanbags falling off
(if it falls they have to return to starting line), run
back and give beanbags to next player in line and
each player repeats.
GAME 17: Fortune Cookie
Required Materials: 20 Cards with 1 exercise
written on it and a container to hold them
Place container with cards in it at the opposite
end of room. Divide players into 2 teams. Each
player has to run to container pull out a card read
what exercise needs to be performed by their
team, run back, perform exercise with team and
tag next person in line. The team that completes
10 exercises first is the winner.
GAME 18: Basketball Card Sharks
Required Materials: deck of cards, basketball
Divide students into pairs. The teacher holds the
deck of cards while standing in the center (or
side) of the activity area. One student from each
partnership visits the teacher to draw a card. The
student then returns to his/her partner, where the
partner is holding the ball. The team then performs
the type and number of passes which their card
indicates. For example:
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10 of Spades = 10 bounce passes
King of Hearts = 13 chest passes
Ace of Clubs = 1 bounce pass
As soon as the task is completed, one member of
the partnership places the card in their pocket (or
places on the ground in a safe place), runs and
draws another card, and play continues. When
the deck is completely drawn, students count the
number of cards each has in their pocket. Shuffle
all the cards and begin again, if desired.
GAME 19: Bowling Birthday Party
Required Materials: 10 water bottles, 2 medium
balls, 4 cones, 2 folding mats or sheets
Divide the players into two teams diagonally at
opposite ends of the room. Each team represents
a “birthday party”. They must stay within the
boundaries of their party for the game.
In the center of each party place a folding mat (the
birthday cake) (keep it folded). Give each team 5
candles (water bottles) to put on their cake. Give
each team 3 balls. Object of game is to roll the
balls and knock out the other teams’ candles, while
also guarding your own candles. The teams have
to work together to have guards and throwers to
complete the task. They have 5 minutes; you can
repeat as many times as you desire.
GAME 20: Scavenger Hunt
Required Materials: index cards, 2 colored markers,
20 cones
Place all 20 cones randomly around the room and
place index cards with colored dots under them.
Divide players into two groups. Assign color to each
team. One player at a time from each team has 10
seconds to find their colored dot underneath the
cone. If it is found they bring index card back to
team and next player begins.
NEW GAMES
Shout-outs and Exercise Games
GAME 21: UNO Fitness
Required Materials: Deck of Uno cards or index
cards and markers, paper card with an exercise
listed; ex: red=push-ups, yellow=mountain
climbers; blue=sit-ups, green=jumping jacks (or
lateral jumps), wild card draw pile with cards with
activities listed on them.
Each student is dealt a UNO card or index card
with following info. They are to perform an
activity by the following criteria:
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Skip Card -- skip one lap around the gym
Reverse Card -- jog/walk 1 lap backward
around gym
Draw 2 Card -- draw 2 cards from regular
UNO cards and perform the activity which
corresponds to the card color using the
number of repetitions indicated by the
number on the card
Wild Draw 4 Card -- draw 4 cards from the
UNO deck and do all 4 activities
Wild Card -- draw from the wild draw pile
(made up separate and placed in center away
from other action) and do the activity listed.
Number Cards -- the student does the number
of repetitions indicated at the activity station
corresponding to the color. Example: A
student draws a card that is 5 red you would
do 5 push-ups.
GAME 22: Fitness Gamble
Required Materials: dice, index Cards
Divide students into 2 groups. Each team sends
representative to middle of room where an index
card is chosen by facilitator. However, each team
member rolls the dice. Whoever has the highest
number wins and the other team member has to
do the exercise on index card as many times as
the highest number rolled during the challenge.
GAME 23: Mirror, Mirror Fitness
Required Materials: index Cards for facilitator
with floor exercises or movements on them
Divide players into 2 groups. Each team sends
one representative at a time to middle of the
floor. Ask both players to get on the floor facing
one another. Facilitator chooses index card and
both players have to do the exercise at the same
time. For example, floor exercises/movements can
be:
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Shake hands (right hand)
Shake hands (left hand)
High five (right hand
High five (left hand)
Pat the floor with right hand
Pat the floor with left hand
Lift right foot
Lift left foot
GAME 24: Cha Cha Dribble
Required Materials: basketballs for players and Cha
Cha Slide CD
Students will dance the Cha-Cha slide according to
its directions and add the dribble of the basketball
with the number of “stomps” and right or left as
prompted upon cue. For example: “Right foot two
stomps”= right foot two stomps and right hand two
dribbles. “How low can you go?”= How low can
you dribble? “Criss-cross”= alternate right hand/
left hand dribble. “Everybody clap your hands.”=
bounce and clap before catching the ball.
GAME 25: Jump Rope Mania
Required Materials: 1 long jump-rope, timer or
someone to count
Divide players into 2 groups. Each team will decide
how many jumps they think they can do as a team.
Each team will be given 60 seconds per cycle. Each
team member can jump in at anytime to try to meet
their goal. Whichever team meets their goal wins.
GAME 26: Fitness Bowling
Required Materials: 10 water bottles, medium-sized
foam ball, 10 index cards numbered from 1-10 with
exercises written on them
Set up water bottles up like pins in bowling in
middle of room. Divide players into two groups.
Each player rolls the ball to try and knock down as
many bottles as they can. If they don’t get a strike
then they have to do the exercise associated with
how many bottles are left standing. E.g. if there
are 5 bottles left then pick the card that has the
number “5” on it to see what exercise your team
has to do.
NEW GAMES
Shout-outs and Exercise Games
GAME 27: Fitness Bingo
Required Materials: 25 cones, index cards with
exercises on them
GAME 30: CREATE YOUR OWN Obstacle Course
Required Materials: various materials to create your
own course
Set 5 cones in 5 rows and place the index cards
with exercises on them randomly under 15 of the
cones. Also place the index cards with the letters
BINGO on them at the top of the 5 rows. Divide
players in 2 teams. Each team gets a chance
to place their team members where they want
in order to get 5 across diagonally, horizontally,
etc. However, if players don’t pick the cones with
exercises under them they get disqualified. But,
the team that has all the cones with exercises
under them must complete the exercises within
60 seconds in order to win.
An obstacle course uses various objects set up in a
loop around the gym. The kids navigate through the
obstacle course as fast as possible. Common gym
equipment works well as obstacles. Have the kids
climb over a high jump mat, crawl under hurdles,
weave through cones or jump in hula hoops. If you
have access to an inflatable ball pit, set it up and
make the kids crawl through it. You can also add
challenges into the obstacle course that the kids
have to complete before continuing. Ideas include
doing 10 jumping jacks, shooting a basket or
walking across a balance beam.
GAME 28: Skipping Freeze
Required Materials: music
GAME 31: Clap Ball
Required Materials: foam balls
Have children skip around a room or outside as
you play music. Turn the music off. When the
music is turned off everyone must freeze. If a
child is still moving he must sit out and watch
the game. Once the music is on again the
children can begin skipping again. Start and stop
the music until there is only one player left. You
can also play this game without music Yell “stop”
and “go” to indicate when the children should be
still or skipping.
Seat children in a circle facing each other and
give one child a foam ball. The first child throws
the ball up in the air and must clap once before
catching the ball. He then passes the ball to
the next child who must do the same. The ball
continues around the circle until it gets back to
the first child, who then must clap twice catching
the ball and passing it. Continue to increase the
challenge by adding claps in between catches. For
competitive play, eliminate players from the circle
who fail to clap the required amount of times or who
do not catch the ball, until you have a winner.
GAME 29: Parachute Ball
Required Materials: 2 colored foam balls, bed
sheet or parachute . Players: large group
To play parachute ball, kids spread out and
hold the parachute (a large bed sheet will do in
lieu of a parachute) with both hands. Players
are divided into two teams, with each team
on the opposite side of the parachute. Two
different color balls are placed in the middle of
the parachute. The objective of the game is to
move the parachute up and down to make the
opponent’s ball fall out.