Shrinking Square Tag

A tag game inside a cone square that gets smaller every 45 seconds, so escaping takes more and more fakes and cuts. Anyone who gets tagged simply becomes a tagger, so nobody is ever out.

How to play

1. Mark a 20 x 20 yard square with 8 cones: one at each corner and one in the middle of each side. Pick 4 cone movers, one per side (2 min).
2. Three taggers each hold a pinny. On the whistle, they try to tag others on the back or shoulders.
3. A tagged player takes the pinny and becomes a tagger; the old tagger is free. No tag-backs on the player who just tagged you.
4. Every 45 seconds the whistle blows and the cone movers slide their cones 2 yards toward the center, shrinking the space down to 10 x 10 yards (3 min per round).
5. After each round, reset to full size and switch cone movers and taggers. Play 4 rounds (12 min).
6. In the last round in the small square, taggers may only shuffle sideways to keep it fair.

Rules

• Stepping out of the square counts as being tagged.
• Tag gently with an open hand above the waist.
• Safety: in the small square, switch to speed walking if more than 12 players are inside.
• Anyone who gets the pinny counts to three before chasing.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: tag with a pool noodle and have a 2-yard safe box inside the square.
• Visual impairment: play with a guide partner who warns about nearby taggers.
• Lower fitness: start as a cone mover and join in round two.

Learning goals

• Dodge with fakes and cuts in tight spaces.
• Read where the taggers are to decide where to move.
• Follow the contact and boundary rules.

Equipment for a class of 25

• cones: 8
• pinnies: 3

Teacher tip

A small square raises the risk of collisions, so cap the number of players inside or switch to speed walking. Encourage taggers to work together to corner players.

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