Giant Nine Men's Morris Relay
An on-the-move version of Nine Men's Morris: two teams place and slide beanbags on a three-square board drawn on the blacktop, reaching it by relay. Students practice reading the opponent, making quick decisions, and running with changes of pace.
How to play
- Chalk three morris boards (three nested squares of 20, 13, and 6 ft joined at the midpoints: 24 points). Six teams of 4, two per board (2 min to explain).
- Each team lines up behind a cone 30 ft away with 9 beanbags of its color. Taking turns, the runner places a beanbag on an empty point, runs back, and high-fives the next teammate.
- Making a mill (three of your beanbags in a row on one line) lets you remove one opposing beanbag that is not in a mill.
- Once all 18 are down, each runner slides one of their beanbags to an adjacent empty point along a line; mills still remove an opposing piece.
- You win when the opponent is down to two beanbags or cannot move; after 6 minutes, the team with more beanbags wins.
- Play three 6-minute games against different opponents and finish with 2 minutes on the best moves.
Rules
- Talk only in line: the runner makes the call at the board, with no coaching from the sideline.
- Your turn does not start until your teammate is back behind the cone and has high-fived you.
- Run around the side of the board, never across it, so you do not collide with the other runner.
Variations
Easier
Use only the two outer squares and 6 beanbags per team.
Standard
Full three-square board, 9 beanbags per team, and an out-and-back relay.
Harder
In the moving phase, a team down to three beanbags may jump to any empty point, as in the traditional game.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: the student is the strategist beside the board and a teammate makes the move.
- Autism or shyness: a card with the board and rules drawn on it ahead of time, and a fixed running order.
- Fitness level: a 45-ft relay for more challenge, or a fast walk for students who tire.
Learning goals
- Anticipate the opponent's move before reaching the board.
- Make quick decisions under time pressure and fatigue.
- Respect turns and the rules agreed on with the other team.
Equipment for a class of 25
- chalk: 6
- beanbags: 54
- cones: 6
Teacher tip
Demo a double-mill setup on the whiteboard first; it is the strategy that hooks students. Use beanbags in very different colors.
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