Running Drill Tag: Move the Way It's Called
A tag game in a square where taggers and runners may only move with the running drill the teacher calls out: high knees, butt kicks, side shuffle, backpedal, or walking lunges. It turns form drills into an active, demanding game.
How to play
- Mark a 20 x 20 m square with cones. Three students in pinnies are taggers; everyone else spreads out.
- Explain (1 min): the teacher calls a movement (high knees, butt kicks, side shuffle, backpedal, or lunges) and everyone, taggers included, must use it.
- Round one (2 min): anyone tagged takes the pinnie and becomes a tagger, with no one out. The teacher changes the movement every 15–20 seconds.
- Form check (1 min): freeze the game and fix the weakest movement with a quick demo.
- Round two (2 min): a tagger who spots sloppy form can tag that player 'for technique' by calling their name.
- Final round (2 min): five taggers and the square shrinks to 15 x 15 m.
Rules
- Tags are a light touch on the shoulder or back only.
- During backpedal, no faster than a jog to avoid collisions.
- Stepping out of the square counts as being tagged.
- Whoever gets the pinnie puts it on visibly before chasing.
Variations
Easier
Hold each movement for 30 seconds and use a bigger square.
Standard
Change the movement every 15–20 seconds with three taggers.
Harder
Combine two movements at once ('high knees and shuffle') and shrink the space with five taggers.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: play from a center zone as the caller who picks the movement and can tag anyone who comes close.
- Deaf or hard of hearing: the teacher holds up signs with the name of each movement.
- Lower fitness: a 10-second rest zone marked with a cone in each corner.
Learning goals
- Apply running form drills in a game situation.
- Keep movement quality under pressure.
- Follow contact and safety rules in a tag game.
Equipment for a class of 25
- pinnies: 5
- cones: 8
Teacher tip
Skip the backpedal if the space is small or the class is large. Changing movements often keeps intensity and focus high.
PatioLab has "Running Drill Tag: Move the Way It's Called" and 3999 more activities ready to drag into your lesson and run from your phone in the gym.
More activities like this
More warm-ups for High School
2v2 Plus One Keep-Away Grids
A short keep-away game in 10 x 10 yard grids: two pairs compete for the ball while a neutral player always plays with the team in possession.
30-Second Partner Passing Record
In pairs, students count how many good passes they complete in 30 seconds using different basketball passes and try to beat their own record on every attempt.
4v1 Warm-up Rondo
4v1 rondo in an 8×8-meter square: four players keep possession with passes along the ground while one player in the middle tries to win the ball.
5-10-5 Pro Agility Reaction Duel
In pairs, on three cones 5 m apart, one student reacts to a partner's signal, sprints to the side shown, touches the line, crosses 10 m to the far side and returns to…
5-4-3-2-1 Shake-Out
A quick drama and creative movement warm-up in which the group shakes arms and legs while counting down out loud from 5 to 1, faster each time.
5v2 Technical Warm-up Rondo
A 5v2 rondo (keep-away) to warm up with the ball: five players around the outside of a square keep possession while two in the middle try to win it.