Touchdown!

Skill: Catch, Dodge, Run, Throw
Time Required: 20
Activity Type: Physical
Group Size: Large Group, Medium Group, Small Group
Age Group: 9 - 12yrs, 13+ yrs
Play area: Gymnasium (large indoor space), Outdoor - Field
Safety Considerations: Remove any safety hazards and obstacles from the activity area.
Remind participants to be aware of their surroundings and to keep their head up.
Remind participants that it is a light touch/tag.
Equipment: 1 football per 4-6 participants
Pylons/rope (optional)
Objective:
Participants with the football try to get a touchdown, while the other participants try and stop them.
Other Skills:
Speed
Coordination
Set up:
Divide participants into pairs (or groups of three).
Use lines on the gym floor, or use pylons and/or rope to create the end zones. The end zones should be around 30 feet apart (or so).
Ensure groups are spread out.
Step by Step:
1. The goal for each group is to score the most touchdowns.
2. Below are the rules if playing in pairs.
3. One pair will start with the football at their end zone (the offense).
4. The other team will stand around 10 feet away from them (the defense).
5. One offensive participant will start with the football (quarterback), and they will say, "Hut". The other offensive participant (receiver) will run a couple feet in front of the quarterback and catch the ball that is thrown to them (if they drop it, they pick it up right away).
6. As soon as the participant catches the ball (or misses the catch), the other team (defense) can start running towards the receiver.
7. The receiver will start to run towards the other end zone.
8. When one of the defensive players tags/touches the receiver, they freeze and stop the play there.
9. The offensive player that was just the receiver will now be the quarterback, and the quarterback will now be the receiver.
10. The new quarterback will start with the football where they were tagged.
11. The defensive players will again be 10 feet in front of them.
12. The quarterback says, "Hut", and the new receiver will run a couple feet in front of them and catch the ball and the same process occurs.
13. The offense has three tries to get the football into the end zone.
14. If a participant runs into the end zone without getting tagged, they get a touchdown!
15. If the offensive team is a couple feet in front of the end zone, the receiver can run into the end zone and the quarterback will throw the ball to them, or the quarterback can hand off the ball to the receiver and they try to run it into the end zone.
16. Whether or not the offensive team gets a touchdown, after three tries, the other team gains possession of the ball.
17. They start with the ball at their end zone, and the new defensive team starts 10 or so feet away from them.
18. Play until one team scores a set amount of touchdowns, or for a set amount of possessions or time.
Variations:
If playing with three participants on each team, then the offensive team will switch around the quarterback and receiver roles. The defensive team will have one participant that stands right in front of their end zone. When an offensive player gets close they can tag them, and they are the only ones allowed to go in the end zone to defend a pass.
Has to be a two-hand tag.
Sources: Developed for the Leisure Information Network.