Four-Way Flag: One-Minute Alliances
Four teams guard their corner with two scarves and raid the others, but at each timeout they can strike an alliance that lasts only one round. It builds strategy, negotiation and fair play through deals that must be kept.
How to play
- Divide the field into four quadrants with cones; each team has two scarves in a hoop in its corner and a one-hoop jail in the opposite corner of its quadrant (4 min).
- Free round: everyone against everyone; anyone tagged in another team's quadrant counts to 15 in that team's jail and walks back around the outside (6 min).
- Negotiation: each team sends an ambassador to the center and may make an alliance with one team for the next round (2 min).
- Alliance round: allies can't tag each other and may run through each other's quadrant (6 min).
- Second negotiation (no repeat allies), final round and count: each of your own scarves you still have is worth 1 point, each scarf you've captured is worth 2 (10 min).
- Short discussion: were the deals kept? How did it feel to break one or be on the other side of one? (2 min).
Rules
- A deal lasts one round only and is announced out loud to the teacher.
- Tag with a hand on the back or shoulder; no tagging inside a jail.
- Carry only one scarf at a time.
- A tagged carrier drops the scarf and goes home; its owners pick it up.
Variations
Easier
No alliances: everyone against everyone, count to 10 in jail.
Standard
One-round alliances, no repeat allies.
Harder
Secret alliances: the deal is told only to the teacher and others must figure it out.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: serves as the team's ambassador and jail guard, with the jail set near their spot.
- Hearing impairment: use very different pinnie colors for each team and start and stop rounds with a flag.
- Students who struggle with conflict: can be the notary who writes down the deals and reads them in the discussion.
Learning goals
- Plan and adjust a strategy with several opponents.
- Negotiate and keep agreements during a game.
- Reflect on loyalty and fair play.
Equipment for a class of 25
- pinnies: 28
- cones: 24
- scarves: 8
- hoops: 8
Teacher tip
For 28 students, four teams of seven on a futsal-size field or bigger. If one team gets cornered, the no-repeat-ally rule forces someone to team up with them.
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