Team Rock-Paper-Scissors: Decide and Chase
Two teams huddle in secret in their zone, choose a shared rock-paper-scissors gesture plus a backup, and line up face to face at the center line. After the count, the winners chase and the losers run to their safe zone; anyone caught switches teams, so nobody is knocked out.
How to play
- Mark a center line and two safe zones 12 m away on each side; explain the full-body gestures: rock crouched, paper with arms wide and scissors with legs split (2 min).
- Practice round at an easy pace to learn the gestures and the route (1 min).
- Competitive rounds: each team has 15 seconds to choose a main and a backup gesture (on a tie, everyone switches to the backup); on three, gestures are shown and the chase begins (5 min).
- Closing dynamic mobility in pairs mixing both teams and a quick chat: how did you try to predict the other team's choice (2 min).
Rules
- Tag with a hand on the back, no pushing.
- When fleeing, run straight to the safe zone without cutting diagonally.
- Safe zones are at least 4 m from any wall.
- If there is doubt about a tag, the tagged player decides.
Variations
Easier
Chase at a brisk walk with the safe zone 8 m away.
Standard
Full-body gestures with a backup, a chase to the safe zone and team switching.
Harder
Each team has a captain who can change the gesture at the last second with a secret signal.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: help the team pick the gesture and act as tag judge at the center line during the chase.
- Hearing impairment: the count of three is shown with the teacher's raised fingers.
- Knee injury: do the rock gesture without a full crouch and walk during the chase.
Learning goals
- Activate reaction speed and acceleration.
- Make quick team decisions while trying to anticipate the opponent.
- Accept the result and switch teams with good sportsmanship.
Equipment for a class of 25
- cones: 8
Teacher tip
This works well as a warm-up before any strategy game: ask teams to explain whether they followed a pattern. Make sure there is enough room to slow down beyond the safe zone.
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