Contagious Movement Tag

Each tagger wears a pinnie color linked to a movement (skipping, side shuffle, bear crawl, alternating hops, backward walking). A tagged player switches to the tagger's movement until someone else tags them, and if a tagger of another color touches them, they change again. The warm-up thus cycles through many movement patterns without stopping.

How to play

1. Introduce the five movements and their colors on a poster; practice each for 20 seconds (2 min).
2. Choose five taggers, one per color, on a field of about 65 x 65 feet (1 min).
3. Play: everyone starts running; a tagged player takes on the movement of the tagger's color. Taggers also move with their own pattern (3 min).
4. At minute 6, switch taggers and add that two people with the same movement can high-five to run free again (2 min).

Rules

• Taggers cannot tag the same person twice in a row.
• Bear crawls and hops are done only for short stretches; if tiring, jog for 5 seconds.
• Tag gently with the hand, no pushing.
• Stay within the cone boundaries.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: each color has a wheelchair version, such as spinning or pushing with one arm only.
• Visual impairment: the tagger names the movement when tagging.
• Wrist injury: replaces the bear crawl with a high squat walk.

Learning goals

• Activate different muscle groups through varied movements.
• Adapt the movement pattern to a changing cue.
• Play respectfully without leaving anyone standing still.

Equipment for a class of 25

• pinnies: 5
• cones: 4

Teacher tip

It is useful before gymnastics or general fitness lessons; make sure bear crawls never last more than 10 seconds at a time.

More activities like this

More warm-ups for High School