Back-to-Back Safe Tag

A tag game where the only way to be safe is standing back to back with a partner, for five seconds and never with the same partner twice in a row. It pushes students to find new partners, communicate, and decide quickly while dodging.

How to play

1. Mark a 20 x 20 m area. Pick 4 taggers in pinnies; everyone else spreads out (1 min).
2. On the whistle, taggers chase. Two runners standing back to back with elbows linked are safe.
3. The pair counts out loud to five and then splits up, and each one looks for a different partner.
4. You cannot repeat a partner until you have paired up with someone else.
5. A tagged player does five frog jumps in place, puts on the pinny, and becomes a tagger; the previous tagger is free.
6. Play 2.5-minute rounds with 30-second breaks, about 4 rounds in total.

Rules

• Only a pair standing back to back is safe; groups of three don't count.
• Link elbows gently without pulling your partner.
• Split up when you reach five, with no stalling on the count.
• Tag gently on the shoulder; never push a pair.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: the student is safe when a classmate places a hand on their shoulder from behind, and gets extra seconds.
• Shyness or autism: the student can alternate between two set partners instead of finding new ones.
• Fitness level: students with lower fitness may rest up to eight seconds when they pair up.

Learning goals

• Cooperate with different classmates to stay safe.
• Communicate quickly to form pairs.
• Dodge taggers with changes of direction.

Equipment for a class of 25

• pinnies: 4

Teacher tip

Watch for students left without a partner and encourage others to invite them with a gesture. It's a great game for mixing groups that don't usually play together.

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