No worries even in the rain! Fun recreational activities you can do in the gym
Introducing fun recreation activities you can enjoy in the gym! When you hear variety games or cooperative games, you might imagine playing outside, but there are plenty of activities and recreations you can enjoy in a gym.
Even when rain or snow keeps you indoors, you can still build your fitness in the gym.
Basketball, futsal, dodgeball—there are tons of games and activities everyone can enjoy together! Try making time to be active in the gym with friends or family while having fun.
Exercise energizes both your mind and body!
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Boost stamina and coordination! Indoor games that engage the whole body (11–20)
Timing Jump
“Timing Jump” is a game where you hold hands and jump together with both feet in sync.
It’s a fun way to develop coordination and a sense of rhythm.
All you need for “Timing Jump” is one plastic bottle per person.
First, everyone forms a circle facing inward.
Place water-filled plastic bottles between each pair of players.
Then hold hands with the person next to you and start the game.
While calling out to each other, jump in time so you don’t knock over the bottles at your feet.
Once you get the hang of it, it might be fun to play along with music.
Treasure-Collecting Tag
Set up bases in the four corners of the court.
Place the ball in the center at the start and bring it back to your own base.
When the first player returns to their base with the ball, they tag the next player.
The next player can either go to the center to retrieve a ball or steal a ball from another team.
The team that collects three balls first wins.
It’s a pretty fast-paced game.
oshikura manju (a children’s pushing game)
Oshikura manju is a familiar activity for keeping warm when it’s cold.
To play, draw a circle or similar boundary, and everyone stands inside back-to-back.
With hands clasped in front, the game begins.
Players push each other using their hips and backs; if you fall down or step outside the boundary, you lose.
The last person remaining is the winner.
Play on a soft surface where falling is safe.
Also, do not use your hands or arms, as it can be dangerous.
sumo play
It’s a sumo-style game where you stand back-to-back and push and pull using your backs and bottoms.
Decide each player’s standing position beforehand, and if someone loses balance and moves from that spot, they lose.
Using a mat makes it safer to play.
Running it as a tournament or a winner-stays-on format should make it even more exciting.
Give me one bamboo shoot.
“Take one bamboo shoot” is a traditional children’s game that uses an old nursery rhyme.
Players are divided into the demon (oni) and the bamboo shoots.
You need pillars or trees that the bamboo shoot players can cling to, but if you’re indoors, a teacher can serve that role.
The game begins when the demon sings, “Take one bamboo shoot.” While the bamboo shoots aren’t ready, they respond, “The sprout hasn’t come up yet.” When they’re ready, they reply, “The sprout has come up now.” Then the demon pulls on the children playing the bamboo shoots.
The number who are pulled away determines the line they sing: “We pulled out X bamboo shoots,” and the demon takes them back to their own side.
Tenugui Pulling Game
Pair up and face each other, each person holding both ends of a tenugui (hand towel) with both hands.
Pull on the tenugui—sometimes loosening it—to throw your partner off balance.
The person who moves their feet from their spot or lets go of the tenugui loses.
It also seems doable with several people standing in a circle.
launch traffic
A game that feels like you can just casually do it is called “Launch Relay.” Three people line up, and the last person pushes the shoulder of the one in front and calls out, “Let’s go!” When the next person gets their shoulder pushed, they also say, “Let’s go!” and the person at the front moves to the back of a different line.
Kids love these kinds of easy, go-with-the-flow games.
Since it’s not really a point-scoring game, it’s something you can play lightheartedly.