No.287
Rong Ran: Dragon and Doctor
Japanese name: ロンラン（竜と医者）
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Diagram key
- A
- Head
- B
- Tail
- C
- Doctor
- D
- The doctor chases the tail.
- E
- The dragon walks and keeps its line connected.
- F
- The tail touches the head player’s hand.
- G
- The dragon succeeds by closing the circle.
Materials
- A timer for 20-second rounds
How to play
- Choose one doctor. Everyone else forms a dragon in a single line, lightly resting their hands on the waist of the person ahead. The first person is the head; the last is the tail.
- On the signal, the doctor tries to gently tag the tail. The dragon walks with its head leading, keeping the line connected and trying to form a closed circle.
- The head may spread their arms and move into the doctor’s path, without pushing or grabbing. The doctor must not force through the line or duck forcibly under anyone’s arms.
- The dragon succeeds if the tail touches the head’s free hand to close the circle. The doctor succeeds by tagging the tail before the circle closes.
- If the line breaks or 20 seconds pass, stop and call a draw. The doctor joins the front of the line; the former tail becomes the next doctor. Finish once everyone has been the doctor.
Ways to adapt
Younger primary: short lines and walking. Older primary and adults: work on forming a smooth circle.