Ready-Stance Freeze Tag

A tag game where tagged players freeze in a volleyball passing stance. To free them, a teammate has to bump their forearm platform against the frozen player's platform.

How to play

1. Mark half a court with cones and do joint mobility while the teacher explains (2 min).
2. Three taggers in pinnies. Tagged players freeze in a passing stance: feet apart, knees bent, arms joined in a platform (3 min).
3. To free someone, a teammate gets in front in the same stance and touches platforms; both are free (1 min).
4. New taggers. Now the tagged player chooses to freeze in either a passing stance or a setting stance, and the rescuer must copy it to free them (2 min).
5. Final round with taggers who haven't had a turn yet (2 min).

Rules

• Tag means a light touch on the back or shoulder, never a push.
• You can't be tagged while rescuing, but a rescue only lasts three seconds.
• Nobody leaves the marked area.
• Run looking ahead; when changing direction, brake with bent knees.

Variations

Adaptations

• Students with visual impairments: play holding hands with a guide who warns them about taggers.
• Limited mobility: be a tagger with their own zone or a rescuer with extra time; they can also tag with a pool noodle.
• Students who don't want to run: start as a fixed rescuer in the middle who frees anyone who comes close.

Learning goals

• Hold a good passing stance under pressure.
• Help teammates stay in the game.
• Raise heart rate before the main activity.

Equipment for a class of 25

• pinnies: 4
• cones: 8

Teacher tip

Swap taggers often so nobody is stuck chasing for long. The usual mistake is a frozen player with straight legs: no rescue counts until they bend their knees.

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