Heads or Tails: Chase Games That Raise the Heart Rate

Two facing lines, 'heads' and 'tails': when their name is called, one group chases and the other escapes to its safe zone. Start positions change to raise intensity step by step.

How to play

1. Easy jog plus ankle, knee and hip mobility. Set two facing lines two meters apart with a cone line marking a safe zone ten meters behind each (2 min).
2. Standing starts: on 'heads,' heads chase and tails run to their safe zone; on 'tails,' the opposite (2 min).
3. Change start positions: facing away, sitting, lying face down with hands under shoulders (3 min).
4. Trick calls: the teacher says similar words ('beds,' 'tells'), and anyone who jumps early just walks back (2 min).
5. Jog easy, then walk, counting how many times you tagged or escaped (1 min).

Rules

• Tag with a hand on the back, no pushing.
• Slow down before the safe-zone cones, never into a wall.
• Being tagged doesn't knock you out: stay in the same line.
• Starts from the ground always begin with hands planted.

Variations

Adaptations

• Deaf or hard-of-hearing students: each call comes with a raised heads or tails card.
• Wheelchair users: start from an adapted position with a safe zone at six meters.
• Students with controlled asthma: they may go on every other call only.

Learning goals

• Raise the heart rate gradually.
• React quickly to a sound cue.
• Handle winning and losing calmly.

Equipment for a class of 25

• cones: 10

Teacher tip

Pairs should have similar speed; swap them after each block. Make sure there's at least four meters of clear space past the safe line.

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