One Step at a Time Tag

Skill: Hop
Time Required: 10
Activity Type: Physical, Transition
Group Size: Large Group, Medium Group
Age Group: 6 - 9yrs, 9 - 12yrs
Play area: Gymnasium (large indoor space), Outdoor - Field
Safety Considerations: Remove any safety hazards and obstacles from the play area.
Remind participants to be aware of their surroundings and to keep their head up.
Equipment: No equipment necessary.
Objective:
Participants to listen to the leader on when and how to move, and to not get tagged by the participant that is "it".
Set up:
Determine and outline boundaries for this game.
Select one participant to be "it".
Have the rest of the participant spread out and find their own space within the boundaries.
Step by Step:
1. The goal for the participant that is "it", is to tag the other participants, who in turn, are trying to not get tagged by "it".
2. When participants are tagged, they sit down where they were tagged and they become sitting helicopters. They can move their arms up and down like they're flying, or swing them around like a helicopter's propellers.
3. The catch is, participants and the participant that is "it" can only move when and how the leader (or select a participant) tells them.
4. If the leader says "Step", then each participant and "it" takes one step forward, backward, sideways or diagonal. Emphasize to the participants that they can only take one step, if they take more than one then they become sitting helicopters.
5. If the leader says "Step backward", the participants and "it" can only take one step backwards.
6. The leader can say ""It" step forward", and only "it" can take one step forward. The other participants cannot move.
7. Play until most or all participants are helicopters and then change "it".
8. Other examples of actions the leader can give the participants to do: (It will always be one step, hop, BIG step... unless the leader says otherwise)
- Hop on one foot (can be in any direction).
- Participants only take one BIG step sideways ("It" cannot move).
- Take two steps backwards (all)
- "It" do one hop with both feet (participants don't move)
- 5 seconds of freedom. (Participants and "It" move around as fast and anywhere they wish for 5 seconds).
- 3 seconds of freedom for participants, while "It" closes their eyes. When the leader says "stop", all participants stop running. Then "It", without opening their eyes points in any direction, and if they point directly at someone, then that participant is caught.
Variations:
Could play so that when participants are tagged, they become "it" as well. To signify that they are it, they have to have one hand on their head at all times, unless they are trying to tag someone (or give them pinnies to wear).
Have more than one participant start as being "it".

Adaptations (Blindness/Visual Impairment):
Have another participant guide those who are blind or visually impaired, particularly during "seconds of freedom".

Adaptations (Deafness/Hearing Impairment):
Encourage "leaders" to incorporate signals in addition to verbal tag commands in order to better accommodate participants who are deaf or hard of hearing.
Sources: Developed for the Leisure Information Network.