Butterfly Catching

Skill: Dodge, Run
Time Required: 15
Activity Type: Physical
Group Size: Large Group, Medium Group, Small Group
Age Group: 6 - 9yrs, 9 - 12yrs
Play area: Gymnasium (large indoor space), Outdoor - Field
Safety Considerations: Remove any safety hazards.
Remind participants to be aware of their surroundings.
Don't have the lines too close to a wall.
Remind participants they cannot touch the butterfly net or go under the arms.
Equipment: No equipment necessary.
Pylons or rope to mark boundaries (if necessary).
Objective:
For the butterflies to avoid getting trapped, and for the butterfly nets to trap the butterflies.
Set up:
Use the lines in the gym, or use pylons or rope to set up two lines that are around 50 metres or so apart from one another.
Divide the participants into two equal groups.
One group are the butterflies, and they start behind one line.
The other group are the butterfly nets, and they start behind the other line.
Step by Step:
1. When the leader says "Fly butterflies!", all the butterflies have to try to run from their line to the other line without getting trapped.
2. The butterfly nets have to try to trap and catch the butterflies.
3. The butterfly nets will all join hands to create a line (or if there are 12 on a team, have them form two lines).
4. They have to trap a butterfly by creating a circle around them.
5. The two participants on the end will hold hands and trap the butterfly in the circle (net).
6. The butterfly cannot go underneath the arms, or touch the participants in the butterfly net, they can try to escape from the open end before the two participants on the end close it off.
7. When a participant is caught they sit out for the rest of the round.
8. Continue until all butterflies are caught, or until the time is up.
9. Now, all the butterflies are back in the game and are now the butterfly net, and all participants who were the butterfly net are now butterflies.
10. Play the same way until all butterflies are caught or until the time is up.
11. Did one team catch all the butterflies? If so, in how many rounds? If no team did, who caught the most butterflies at the end of the time limit? That team is the winner.
Variations:
When a butterfly is caught, the join the other team, and are now part of the butterfly net(s).
Each round, participants switch their roles as butterflies and butterfly net. If a group starts as the butterflies, then after one round, they switch roles and are now the butterfly net. However, whenever a butterfly is caught, they are out, so the butterfly net will keep getting smaller.

Adaptations (Blindness/Visual Impairment):
Have another participant guide those "butterflies" who are blind or visually impaired.

Adaptations (Mobility Impairment):
Encourage participants in the "butterfly net" to be aware of those who may have a mobility limitation, and to ensure that they are able to move with the group. Safety should always be emphasized.
Sources: Developed for the Leisure Information Network.