Sharks and Minnows
Minnows race across the ocean from one side to the other while sharks try to tag them; tagged minnows turn into seaweed and help tag from where they stand. Students work on speed, changes of pace, and reading open gaps.
How to play
- Mark a field 65 ft long by 50 ft wide with cones, with an end line on each side. Everyone starts behind one end line except 2 sharks in the middle.
- Do 2 warm-up crossings first: minnows jog across and sharks may only walk.
- The sharks shout Fishy, fishy, come swim in my sea! and everyone must cross to the opposite line without being tagged.
- A tagged student becomes seaweed: they stay where they were tagged with one foot planted and can tag by reaching with their arms.
- Repeat a crossing every 15 seconds. When only 3 or 4 minnows are left, they become the sharks for the next round.
- Play 3 rounds of about 2 minutes, with 30 seconds of walking rest between them.
Rules
- Cross as soon as the call is made; staying behind the line is not allowed.
- Seaweed keeps one foot planted and tags with hands only.
- Tag with a touch, never grabbing or tripping.
- Slow down before the end cones; leave 10 ft of clearance from walls and fences.
Variations
Easier
Minnows may cross in pairs holding hands, and the sharks power walk.
Standard
Two starting sharks, seaweed with one foot planted, and 65-ft crossings.
Harder
Minnows must cross using side shuffles, or narrow the field to 30 ft wide.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: the student always starts as seaweed in the middle and gets a longer reach with a pool noodle.
- Autism: preview how a player turns into seaweed with a drawing on the whiteboard and let the student choose a seaweed spot.
- Fitness level: a student who is struggling may leave 2 seconds before everyone else on each crossing.
Learning goals
- Perform short speed efforts with recovery between crossings.
- Spot open gaps between sharks and seaweed to get across.
- Accept a role change without being knocked out of the game.
Equipment for a class of 25
- cones: 8
Teacher tip
Keep seaweed at least 6 ft apart to avoid collisions between them. If the field fills with seaweed early, restart the round: the key is that everyone keeps moving.
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