Atya-Patya: Cross the Trenches
A traditional game from India in which the defending team stands on several parallel lines, the trenches, and may only move along them, while the attacking team tries to get through all of them without being tagged. Students practice dodging, reading open space, and coordinated defense.
How to play
- Court about 65 x 26 ft with 6 chalk lines across it, 10 ft apart. Two courts with teams of 6; extra students wait and keep score.
- The 6 defenders stand one on each line and may only shuffle sideways along it, never leaving the line.
- Attackers start at the starting line and try to cross every line to the far end and back. Each line crossed earns 1 point, and making it home earns 3 bonus points.
- If a defender tags an attacker with a hand while the attacker crosses that line, the attacker returns to the start and tries again; nobody is out.
- Play 3-minute turns, then switch roles. Each team plays 2 turns and the team with the most points wins.
- Before each turn, the attacking team gets 30 seconds to plan a strategy (for example, everyone going at once).
Rules
- Tag with an open hand on the shoulders, back, or arms, without pushing.
- Defenders may not jump to another line or reach out by stepping into the open space.
- If two attackers are about to collide, they slow down; running backward across a line is not allowed.
- Each attacker counts their own lines honestly.
Variations
Easier
Space the lines 13 ft apart and use only 4 defenders.
Standard
Six lines, one defender per line, and a restart from the start line after a tag.
Harder
Defenders may move up one line every 30 seconds when the whistle blows.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: the student defends a shorter line, or attacks walking with one line removed.
- Visual impairment: the attacker crosses holding a guide's hand and defenders clap before tagging.
- Lower fitness: attackers may rest in the space between lines for up to 5 seconds.
Learning goals
- Dodge with fakes and changes of pace to get past one defense after another.
- Defend a limited space while coordinating with teammates.
- Learn about a traditional tag game from India.
Equipment for a class of 25
- cones: 16
- chalk: 4
- pinnies: 12
Teacher tip
Mark the lines clearly to avoid arguments and use waiting teams as line judges. If attackers get stuck, remind them they can wait between lines to look for a gap.
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