Blindfold Chair Maze

What you need: a blindfold (or scarf..etc)
Cost: Free

I came up with this game on the spur of the moment having only chairs & my own pashmina scarf to work with. I think I did pretty well. And yes, I can rock a pashmina.

Create a maze (or ‘route’) using chairs either side of a space. Kind of like a bowling alley when the barriers are up, only not in a straight line and the barriers are chairs. 
Have 2 teams Team A & Team B. Start with 1 person from Team A blindfolded on their hands & knees at the start of the maze, the aim of the game for them is to reach the end of the maze without touching any of the chairs on either side.
Team A’s job is to shout the correct directions to their player, whilst Team B’s job will be to try & direct them into a chair.
Once the 1st player has completed the maze, the roles are reversed and a player from Team B will enter the maze.
Repeat as many times as you like.

Peace & love,Nigel x

Ninja

What you need: a large space
Cost: Free

On my travels I have the privilege of meeting many youth groups. They often like to share with me their favourite games, as they know it is a passion of mine. I discovered this game during a visit to Poland.

Everyone starts in a circle facing inward. (for the sake of this game explanation we shall name each person 1,2,3,4,..etc. but all you really need to do is remember who stood to your left & to your right at this point in the game). Huddle the circle facing inward, get as close as possible so that you are able to reach the person opposite you. Have everyone place their hands in a “prayer” position, then on the count of 3, everyone must jump away and out of the circle, crying out in a ‘ninja’-type fashion (ie: “haaiiiiyaaah!”).Choose someone to start (in this case: number 1), this person has one move to try and tap someone’s hand (left or right hand). One move can consist of an arm movement (swipe) with a step, a jump or a roll (in any direction). You can do all 3 but it must be done simultaneously in the move.If player 1 attempts to swipe a player’s hand in this move, that player may move their hand ONCE as an attempt to dodge the swipe. If they are unsuccessful and player 1 taps their hand, they are out and the move goes to player 2 (the player who was directly to player 1’s left at the beginning of the game) if the player was successful in dodging player 1s attempt to tap their hand they are ‘in’, the game continues and the move still goes to player 2. Once you have moved/dodged you must stay in that position until your next move/dodge.It is best to play this game once or twice slowly until everyone grasps it. But a good game is a fast game!THE LAST PLAYER IN THE GAME WINS!!!

You can watch a very short clip of this game here.
And a clip of two finalists here.

Peace & love, Nigel x

Popcorn Wheelbarrow Race

What you need: A large space, cups, plates/bowls & (popped) popcorn.
Cost: <£5

Split every one into teams of 4 or more. Across the room, opposite each team, place a plate/bowl of popcorn. Give each team a cup. The 1st two people in each team must pair up into a human wheelbarrow, “wheel” across the room to the bowl of popcorn where the “barrow” person must collect as much popcorn in their mouth as possible. Then they must go back to their team to deposit the popcorn into their team’s cup. Once the deposit has been made the next two continue the relay race. It is best to time this game. THE PERSON WITH THE MOST POPCORN IN THEIR CUP WHEN TIME IS CALLED WINS!!

Peace & Love,
Nigel x

THE HUMAN LOG GAME

What you need: at least 6 boys & 6 girls
Cost: FreeDivide everyone into 2 teams (separate boys & girls). 


One person from each team is nominated to be ‘rolled’ from one end of the room to the other. This person lies across their teammates who act as human ‘logs’, by lying on the floor next to each other and rolling towards the other end of the room. 
As the team members roll along, the top person will be moved along with them. To keep the line going people will need to run from the end of the line to the beginning (see video).


Cardigans, scarves & other garments that can get caught up should be removed. The more rigid the person on top is, the better. After a few attempts the teams should have worked out a good strategy/rhythm.THE PERSON WHO GETS TO THE OTHER SIDE FIRST WINS!!

(this game can be shaken up by getting the team to roll to one end of the room, collect an item (such as a banana) & transport it back to the beginning)


Peace & Love,
Nigel x

Snowballs

What you need: Some old newspapers

Cost: Free if you buy newspapers anyway, <£2 if not

Before the game scrunch up sheets of newspaper to make ‘snowballs’ (alternatively you could get your youth group to do this). Then, split the group in half and mark a line down the middle of the room. When you shout, ‘Go,’ the teams must then throw the snowballs across the line, aiming to have as few as possible on their side of the room. After 2 and a half minutes (the same length as the theme song from Rocky...just saying), shout, ‘STOP.’ The snowballs are then counted up.

THE TEAM WITH THE FEWEST SNOWBALLS ON THEIR SIDE OF THE ROOM AT THE END WINS!

Peace & love,

Nigel x

Bring Me A...

What you need: A list of readily available items

Cost: Free

The group are divided into even teams. The person running the game (me) sits at an equal distance from all of the teams. I will then call out, asking for an item (such as an individual key, a shoelace, an earring, a watch) and the teams must get one, whether from the room or on their person, and race to give it to me. The team that puts the item I asked for in my hand first receives a point.

This is then repeated for around 10-15 objects depending on time constraints. This game can get competitive, as the teams race each other to give me their object, so watch out for shoving!

THE TEAM WITH THE MOST POINTS AT THE END WINS!

Peace & love,

Nigel x

Skit Game

What you need: Some random objects e.g. book, pencil, apple, Sellotape

Cost: Free

The group are divided into teams of about 4. They are then allowed to choose from the items assembled – provide enough for around 4-5 items per team. Each group is then given ten minutes to put together a skit using their objects. These might be themed, for example each team is given a movie to act out, or an historical event.

The groups act out the scene that they have put together, and the other groups must guess what they are acting out. It's fun seeing how the young people have interpreted the task, and seeing the creative ways that they have chosen to use the objects.

THERE ARE NO WINNERS, BUT YOU GET A SENSE OF CREATIVE SATISFACTION!

Peace & love,

Nigel x