Dragon Tail Tag
Groups of five form a dragon by holding each other's shoulders; the last player has a pinnie tucked in as a tail and the head tries to grab it without the line breaking. It warms students up with quick lateral movement and requires group coordination and communication.
How to play
- Form groups of 5 in a line, each with hands on the shoulders or waist of the player in front. The last player tucks a pinnie into the back of their waistband as a tail.
- Minutes 0-1: the dragon walks and jogs around the area without letting go, following the head, to get in rhythm.
- Minutes 1-4: on the signal, the head tries to grab its own dragon's tail while the rest of the line moves to protect it without letting go. Every 30 seconds, or when the tail is caught, the head moves to the back and becomes the tail.
- Minutes 4-7: dragon versus dragon: the head tries to grab another dragon's tail while protecting its own. A dragon that loses its tail tucks it back in and keeps playing.
- Count the tails each dragon collects and rotate the head every 1-minute round.
- Minutes 7-8: dragons walk slowly in line taking deep breaths.
Rules
- If the dragon breaks apart, it stops, reconnects, and continues; a broken dragon's tail can't be taken.
- Grab only the pinnie, never a classmate's clothes or body.
- Move quickly but without yanking or pushing the line.
- Everyone takes a turn as head and as tail.
Variations
Easier
Dragons of 3 students, moving only at a fast walk.
Standard
Dragons of 5, first chasing their own tail and then other dragons' tails.
Harder
Dragons of 6-7, and the head is blindfolded and guided by the others' voices.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: the student in a wheelchair is the head of a 3-person dragon that matches their speed, or referees and hands out tails.
- Visual impairment: the student goes in the middle of the dragon, holding a partner who calls out changes in direction.
- Lower fitness: use shorter dragons and 20-second rests between rounds.
Learning goals
- Warm up the body with quick movements and changes of direction.
- Coordinate with the group to move without breaking the line.
- Communicate during the game to make group decisions.
Equipment for a class of 25
- pinnies: 5
Teacher tip
Warn students that the tail feels the sharpest turns: ask the head to avoid sudden direction changes. Leave plenty of space between dragons in the dragon-versus-dragon phase.
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