No.294
Capture the Flag
Japanese name: キャプチャー・ザ・フラッグ
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Diagram key
- A
- Team A’s flag
- B
- Team B’s flag
- C
- B’s holding area
- D
- A’s holding area
- E
- After rescue, raise a hand and walk back to your base.
Materials
- 2 soft cloth flags, without poles
- Team bibs and cones
- Markers for flag circles and waiting areas
How to play
- Divide the space into two territories. In each, mark a flag circle and an area for captured players. Form two teams; the aim is to carry the opponents’ flag across the centre line into your own territory.
- Start on the signal. You are safe in your own territory; in enemy territory, opponents may gently tag your shoulder or back. No grabbing, pushing or blocking with the body.
- If tagged, go to the opponents’ waiting area. If carrying a flag, the facilitator returns it to its circle. Defenders stay at least 1 m from the flag circle and waiting area.
- A teammate’s tag rescues one waiting player. Both raise their hands and walk home, immune from tags on the return. Attackers with both feet inside the flag circle are also safe while inside.
- Crossing the centre line with the enemy flag scores one point. Everyone returns home to restart. In this version, pause every 3 minutes and release all waiting players. Compare scores over three rounds and rotate attacking and defending planning roles.
Ways to adapt
Younger primary: smaller area, visible flags and adult help with rescues. Not intended for preschool children. Three 3-minute rounds with everyone released between rounds are this book’s adaptation.