Bring the Beanbags Back Blindfolded

Skill: Jump
Time Required: 20
Activity Type: Physical, Wellness
Group Size: Large Group, Medium Group, Small Group
Age Group: 6 - 9yrs, 9 - 12yrs, 13+ yrs
Play area: Gymnasium (large indoor space), Outdoor - Field
Safety Considerations: Try not to use tennis balls or other objects that participants could trip on or slip on.
Remove any safety hazards and obstacles from the activity area.
Remind participants to try and keep the hoop around the middle participant's torso.
Ensure participants do not run too fast to the beanbags.
Equipment: 2 hoops per 3 participants.
Beanbags (3-6) - different coloured beanbags for each group, or a symbol/letter/word/number/card written on a piece of paper and taped/clipped to the beanbags.
Blindfolds (1 per 3 participants).
Cones (optional).
Objective:
For groups to collect all their beanbags and bring them back to their hoop, while following the rules.
Other Skills:
Coordination
Set up:
Divide participants into groups of 3 participants.
Set up a hoop at the beginning of the activity for each group. The hoops should be spread out, but all in a line.
Around 10-20 feet in front of those hoops, scatter all the beanbags. Each group could have their own colour beanbag. If there are not enough different coloured beanbags, then each beanbag will have a piece of paper with a number/letter/symbol/word/card taped or clipped on it, to represent each team. The number of beanbags per group depends on the size of the space and the participants.
Step by Step:
1. The goal for each group is to bring back all their group's beanbags and place them in their starting hoop.
2. Allow groups to draw and create their own symbols for their beanbags, before doing this activity. Make sure they draw them small enough, and draw enough for their group's beanbags. The leader will then tape/clip them to random beanbags.
3. To make this activity a bit more difficult, scatter the beanbags and place them upside down, so participants have to flip over the beanbags to find their group's beanbags.
4. Each group will select one participant to be the blindfolded participant.
5. That participant will stand in the middle of a hoop, and the other two participants will be holding the sides of the hoop.
6. They have to be sure that the hoop is always around the blindfolded participant's torso (ideally chest to stomach).
7. On the word "Go" or when the whistle is blown, the activity begins.
8. The two participants holding the hoop have to communicate together and with the middle participant to instruct them on when to step and how to step (big, small, to the left/right). They have to always be aware of where the other groups are located, so they don't bump into each other.
9. Participants will walk towards the scattered beanbags.
10. When they get to one, they will tell the centre participant to bend down to pick it up or flip over the beanbag. The two participants on the side will bend down with them (still trying to keep the hoop around their torso).
11. The side participants cannot touch the beanbags, only the participant in the middle can pick them up and/or flip them over.
12. If they have found one of their beanbags, the centre participant will pick it up and they will navigate and walk back to their starting hoop, and they will drop the beanbag in the hoop. If it wasn't their beanbag, they will flip it back over and keep looking.
13. Optional to switch the participant in the middle after each beanbag is brought back.
14. The group will go back to the scattered beanbags to find another one of their beanbags.
15. If it's a competition, then first group to bring back all their beanbags, wins.
16. Additional rules:
- If the hoop touches the middle participant, then all three participants have to do 5 heel raises.
- If the hoop goes above the middle participant's neck, or below their hips, all three participants have to jump in the air 3 times.
- Place cones between the starting hoops and beanbags. If any of the participants touches or kicks over a cone, they all have to do 5 squats.
Variations:
The number of beanbags is up to the leader. In a smaller space, it will take less time to bring back beanbags, so optional to have more beanbags in a smaller space.
Have beanbags scattered that don't belong to any of the groups.
Instead of beanbags, use pinnies or cones.
Don't use blindfolds, have the participants close their eyes or walk backwards.
Don't use a hoop, and have one participant guiding the blindfolded participant.
Sources: Developed for the Leisure Information Network.