Upside-Down Turtle Tag

A rescue tag game for the gym: tagged players lie on their backs waving arms and legs like a flipped turtle, and two classmates take their hands to help them up. Students practice speed, teamwork, and getting up off the floor.

How to play

1. Use half of the gym on a clean floor. Pick 3 taggers in pinnies; everyone else is a free turtle (1 min).
2. On the whistle, taggers chase. A tagged player sits down and lies on their back, waving arms and legs in the air like an upside-down turtle.
3. To flip the turtle, two free turtles each take one of its hands and, on three, help it sit up and stand.
4. All three call out "Up, turtle!" and run again. Rescuers can still be tagged while helping.
5. Each round lasts 2 minutes; at the end, count the flipped turtles and switch taggers.
6. Play 5 rounds. Between rounds, spend 20 seconds practicing how to help someone up without yanking.

Rules

• Tag gently on the back or shoulder.
• Pull slowly and together when helping someone up; the turtle helps by pushing with their feet.
• Do not run right next to the head of a turtle on the floor.
• Taggers may not wait next to a flipped turtle.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: instead of lying down, the student puts hands on knees and is rescued with two high fives.
• Hearing loss: use visual signals to start and stop, and pair the rescue call with a thumbs-up.
• Fitness level: the fastest students chase with long walking strides, or lie face down and must roll over on their own.

Learning goals

• Get up off the floor quickly and safely with help.
• Work with a partner to rescue a classmate.
• Dodge taggers in a shared space.

Equipment for a class of 25

• pinnies: 3

Teacher tip

Before starting, demonstrate how to grip hands to lift without pulling on the arms. If the floor is cold or dusty, scatter yoga mats and play on those.

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