[For Seniors] Exciting Team-Based Recreational Activities
In this article, we introduce super exciting team-based recreational activities for older adults!
They might bring back nostalgic memories of your school sports days.
As the games progress, things can really heat up and turn into a thrilling competition!
Some activities can be done while seated or started with simple tools, so feel free to use these as a reference.
Making it a team competition might also be a chance to get friendly with people you don’t usually talk to.
We hope everyone has a great time together!
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[For Seniors] Exciting Team Competition Recreations (61–70)
stick throw
It’s a game called “stick throwing,” kind of like javelin throw.
Throwing sticks can be dangerous, but these are made by tightly rolling up newspaper, so they’re soft and won’t hurt if they hit someone.
Prepare ten sticks per person, and at the start signal, throw them into a cardboard box placed a short distance away.
It sounds easy, but the sticks’ balance makes it tricky—even when it looks like they’ve gone in, they can bounce out of the box—so it’s surprisingly difficult.
balloon volleyball
Even if you don’t have much strength or can’t smash a blazing-fast attack, it’s okay! That’s because the ball we use for volleyball is a balloon! This is a game played using a balloon instead of a volleyball.
You don’t have to force yourself to stand—feel free to join while seated.
Try to keep the balloon from falling by using your hands, and sometimes your head or feet, to play.
Since it’s just a balloon, there’s no problem at all even if it hits your head!
Mountain Cup
Some of you may have played golf back when you were working at a company.
Let us introduce the Mountain Cup, an activity that can bring back those memories.
As the name suggests, the course is shaped like a mountain.
Place a basket in the center, and lay plastic or cardboard boards—on which a ball can roll—over the top.
Make a hole in the center of the board, and roll the ball as you would in golf to get it into the central hole.
It’s easier to enjoy indoors than ground golf or gateball.
It’s likely to be fun for many older adults.
target practice
This is “Teki-ate,” a target-hitting game where you throw beanbags.
Hang papers with illustrations or point values on a stretched string to create targets.
Since the targets are just hooked on by folding the edge of the paper, a light hit will knock them down.
If you aim well, you can knock down the neighboring targets all at once.
You can play while sitting in a chair, so adjust the distance to suit each person.
It’s super simple and easy, so it’s sure to be a hit!
Newspaper Pull-Out Game
Here’s a game you can enjoy using old newspapers.
All you need are newspapers, a basket, and some tape.
Open the newspaper, cut it in half, and tape the pieces together lengthwise to make a long strip.
You can add more later, so adjust the length according to the participants’ condition and ability.
Roll the long newspaper strip into a cylinder, place it in the basket, and you’re ready to go.
When the game starts, use your hands to wind it up as fast as you can—whoever finishes first wins.
It’s simple, fun to watch, and great for large groups.
Because it also trains upper-limb function while playing, it’s recommended as a recreation activity in senior care facilities.
Intense Balloon Volleyball
It’s the same as balloon volleyball in that you keep the rally going without letting the balloon drop, but the only change is the number of balloons.
Since you’ll be chasing two balloons, not only your striking motion but also your concentration and dynamic vision will be tested.
A key point is that the balloons won’t necessarily be in the same place—when they fly apart, you’ll follow them with your head and gaze, so your body will likely loosen up as the game goes on.
As the number of balloons increases, the game becomes more intense and demands greater concentration, so start with a small number and gradually work your way up.
Shoo Away Game
Let’s play a fun game using balls made from crumpled paper.
It’s called the “Shoo-It-Away Game.” Crumple up sheets of paper or newspaper into balls and place them in a horizontal line in the center of the table.
Before you start, put a strip of tape across the middle of the table to mark the center line.
This tape divides the table into your side and your opponent’s side.
When the game begins, use your hands to push the paper balls into your opponent’s territory on the opposite side.
The rules are simple, but it sounds like it could get exciting.
If you make the paper balls pink, they’ll look like cherry blossoms—perfect for an April game.
It also encourages conversation among participants and can help promote communication among older adults.