Capture the Flag on an Effort Budget with the Borg Scale

Capture the flag in which every player has a budget of 10 energy tokens: each run into the opponents' half costs one token, and a token is only regained by resting for 1 minute in the recovery zone. Teams must plan rotations so they do not run out of attackers, and each player logs their effort on the Borg scale.

How to play

1. Explain the energy system and mark a recovery zone next to each end line, with three flags per team at the back (3 min).
2. Each team names an energy manager who hands out tokens and plans attack waves and rest turns (3 min).
3. Part 1: to cross into the opponents' half you hand a token to the manager; tagged players return to their half without losing extra tokens; resting 1 minute in the recovery zone earns back one token (9 min).
4. Break: each player writes down their Borg rating (6 to 20) and remaining tokens; the team checks whether any wave was too costly (3 min).
5. Part 2 with the revised plan (9 min).
6. Analysis: the link between tokens spent, Borg ratings and results; which team managed its energy best (3 min).

Rules

• Tag with an open hand on the back or shoulder, no grabbing.
• In the recovery zone, rest by walking or with gentle stretches, never sitting on the cold ground.
• Anyone out of tokens defends in their own half until they earn one back.
• If you feel dizzy or in pain, stop and tell the teacher even if you have tokens left.

Variations

Adaptations

• Asthma or a managed heart condition: starts with more tokens and has a maximum Borg rating agreed with the teacher that must not be exceeded.
• Limited mobility: act as energy manager or defend an area of the home half at no token cost.
• Hearing impairment: the Borg scale is shown on a large poster with numbers and descriptors.

Learning goals

• Self-regulate effort throughout an intense game.
• Relate perceived exertion to tactical decisions.
• Plan as a team how to use a limited resource.

Equipment for a class of 25

• cones: 20
• pinnies: 28
• bandanas: 6
• cards: 280
• stopwatch: 1

Teacher tip

Put a Borg scale poster in each recovery zone. This game is a good lead-in to the idea of load management before a training-planning unit.

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