Elevator Tournament: Lose, Shake Hands, Switch Courts

One-minute 1v1 flag-pulling duels on numbered courts: winners move up and losers move down, always after a handshake and a good-sport phrase. Students play a lot and practice winning and losing with class.

How to play

1. Set up 8 courts, 5 x 5 m, with cones and number them 1 to 8; everyone wears a flag belt (3 min).
2. The class picks three good-loser phrases and three good-winner phrases, written on the board or said out loud (3 min).
3. One-minute duels: pull your opponent's flag inside the court; at the end, shake hands and say a phrase, then the winner moves up a court and the loser moves down (12 min).
4. Reverse round: now the loser moves up; notice how the feeling changes (4 min).
5. Circle reflection: which phrase was hard to say, and which one helped you keep going? (3 min).

Rules

• Grab only the flag; no holding clothes or pushing.
• No handshake and phrase, no court change.
• If it's a tie or unclear, rock-paper-scissors and move on.
• Stepping out of the court with both feet means you lose the duel.

Variations

Adaptations

• Wheelchair users: duel on a larger court with the flag on the shoulder, against an opponent on their knees or in a chair.
• Students with low vision: a neon flag and an opponent wearing a wrist bell.
• Students who shut down when they lose: they can read a phrase from a card in their pocket.

Learning goals

• Make quick attacking and defending decisions in a 1v1.
• Practice rituals and phrases for winning and losing respectfully.
• Notice how emotions change depending on the result.

Equipment for a class of 25

• cones: 32
• colored flag belts: 30

Teacher tip

Call court 1 the “Champions Court” and court 8 the “Comeback Court”; the names change the mood. If you don't have flag belts, bandanas tucked into waistbands work.

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