Couch Potato Tag

The "screens" chase everyone else, and anyone caught must sit on a couch (a mat) like a couch potato until an active classmate rescues them by exercising together. It builds endurance and dodging skills and gets students thinking about sitting too much.

How to play

1. Spread 4 mats around the playing area: these are the couches. Choose 4 "screens" in red pinnies; everyone else is an active player (2 min to explain).
2. On the signal, the screens try to tag the active players. Anyone tagged walks to the nearest couch and sits down.
3. To get off the couch, an active player must come over, give a double high five and do 5 squats or 10 jumping jacks together. Then both go back into the game.
4. While a player is doing a rescue at the couch, they cannot be tagged: the couch is safe only during the exercise.
5. Each round lasts 2 minutes. If 3 or more players are sitting on any one couch at the end, the screens win; otherwise the active players win.
6. Play 5 rounds with new screens each time. Afterwards, discuss how much time we spend sitting each day and how to break it up with movement.

Rules

• Tag gently on the shoulders, arms or back; never push.
• Walk to the couch and wait seated without arguing.
• A rescue only counts if the full exercise is done together.
• No one runs across the mats.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: the student plays a screen with a pool noodle to extend their reach or rescues with arm exercises.
• Visual impairment: the student plays holding hands with a partner, and the screens wear a bell.
• Different fitness levels: students may choose an easier or harder rescue exercise.

Learning goals

• Sustain running with changes of direction and dodging for several minutes.
• Help classmates through cooperative rescues.
• Recognize sedentary habits and suggest active alternatives.

Equipment for a class of 25

• mats: 4
• pinnies: 4

Teacher tip

Place the couches away from walls to avoid collisions. If the screens cannot catch anyone, shrink the playing area with cones.

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