Escort Mission: The Messenger Must Get Through

One team protects two messengers who must cross the field carrying a scarf, while the other team tries to tag them; escorts can only get in the way by positioning, with no contact. It works on off-ball defense, support and communication.

How to play

1. Setup: a 40 × 20 m field; attackers start from one end line with two messengers holding the scarf in their hand (3 min).
2. Explanation and trio practice: one messenger, one escort and one hunter, like the bodyguard warm-up (4 min).
3. Round 1: seven attackers (two messengers and five escorts) against seven hunters; one point for each messenger who reaches the far line untagged (6 min).
4. Timeout: the attackers choose a formation and the hunters decide how to press (2 min).
5. Round 2: switch roles, and messengers rotate every run (6 min).
6. Compare formations and wrap up (4 min).

Rules

• Escorts can't grab, push or stretch out their arms: they block with their body only.
• Hunters tag the messenger with a hand on the back or shoulder.
• If there's a collision, the run stops and is replayed.
• Each run lasts 30 seconds at most.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: can be a messenger with escorts at their pace over a shorter run, or a fixed hunter with a pool noodle in one zone.
• Visual impairment: plays messenger holding a guide escort's hand, and hunters must call out before tagging.
• Contact-shy students: play escort on the outside of the formation.

Learning goals

• Protect a teammate by positioning, with no contact.
• Communicate and adjust a moving formation.
• Cooperate toward a shared goal.

Equipment for a class of 25

• pinnies: 15
• cones: 16
• scarves: 4

Teacher tip

Enforce the rule that escorts keep arms crossed or by their sides: it's what prevents collisions. Common mistake: escorts dropping behind; ask that the messenger always be covered on all four sides.

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