[For Kids] Exciting Class-vs-Class Games: Team Competition Activities
Looking for team-based games that will get everyone excited indoors with your friends? We’ve gathered a variety of cooperative indoor games—like creative twists on the classic charades, flipping races, and telephone—that teams can enjoy together! With simple rules that let you start right away, these games are sure to bring out smiles all around.
Indoor games that deepen team bonds while letting each person’s individuality shine.
Let’s sync up and have fun together!
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Classic events at school sports days (11–20)
Olympic Race
Here are ideas for events themed around Olympic sports.
Take on courses set up in the schoolyard or gym and enjoy them like attractions while you compete! It’s also recommended to include elements like depicting the torch relay lighting ceremony, or incorporating gymnastics events such as the balance beam.
By setting up hurdles and a vaulting box on a straight course leading to the finish line, you’ll create an even more exciting race.
Try incorporating ideas that give older kindergarteners a sense of challenge and achievement.
three-legged relay
A classic event at sports festivals: the three-legged relay.
Two people stand side by side and tie their inside legs together with a rope.
They call out a rhythm and step in sync, then pass off to the next pair.
It looks easy when you’re watching, but it’s actually quite difficult to do.
If the two aren’t in sync, they can’t run well.
Decide on a call and match your steps carefully!
pole toppling
Bō-taoshi, a classic event at sports festivals where participants topple a tall, long pole.
While defending your own team’s pole from being brought down, you attempt to knock over the opponent’s pole.
The match is decided when a pole is completely brought down, tipped past a certain angle, or when an item like a flag attached to the tip is taken.
Some teammates support the pole while the rest go to topple the opponent’s.
You need a strategy for how many people to assign to each role and who will defend or attack.
Attempting to topple the pole can be quite dangerous, so be very careful to avoid injuries.
Bell cracking
This is “suzuwari,” where you throw lots of balls—like in a ball-toss game—to break a decorative ball.
Aim at the kusudama set high up and throw the balls.
Make sure to have plenty of balls ready at your feet.
Split into two teams and compete; the team that breaks their ball first wins.
Prepare confetti or a banner with a message inside the ball.
Part of the excitement is not knowing what will come out until it breaks.
Balloon and Ball Play (1–10)
Ball passing
This is “pass the ball,” a game where teams compete to see how quickly they can move a ball to the back without dropping it.
You pass the ball to the person behind you, but you don’t turn around; you keep facing forward and hand it back over your head.
The person who receives it from above then passes it through their legs to the next person behind.
The ball alternates going over, under, over, under as it’s passed along.
It’s a game you can play with large groups by adding more teams.
Safe baseball
Let’s play using soft materials! Here’s a safe way to enjoy baseball.
When you think of baseball, you probably imagine wooden or metal bats and balls filled with cork.
But when playing with preschoolers or children who aren’t familiar with baseball, why not try using equipment made from soft materials? For the bat, use a pool noodle cut in half, and for the ball, use a newspaper rolled into a ball.
Give it a try!
dodgeball
A classic recreation from long ago: dodgeball.
It’s also enjoyed as an official sport, and there are many different rules.
While there are formal rules, people often have local rules depending on the school or region, or add an extra rule for the day to make it more fun.
It’s a recreational activity you can play both outdoors and in a gym.
Balloon Carry Relay
Let’s try a “Balloon Carry Relay,” where teams carry a big balloon! Two people hold the balloon between their bellies and run, turn around, and come back to switch with the next pair.
Slightly larger balloons are easier to play with.
Don’t use your hands—run using only the pressure you apply to each other so the balloon doesn’t fall.
If you drop it, start again from where it fell.
Ping-pong ball relay
It’s a game that tests speed and teamwork, played like a relay using a spoon with a ping-pong ball on it.
The course has you go around set cones and come back, focusing on balance so you don’t drop the ping-pong ball.
Because teams compete on speed, the rush to go faster makes it harder to keep your balance with the ball.
A rule where two people hold hands and walk back adds a cooperative element, so that version is also recommended.
balloon volleyball
Let’s try playing volleyball with a balloon! I’m sure many of you have played volleyball before, but haven’t you ever thought the ball was a bit hard and painful? With balloon volleyball, the ball is light, so it won’t hurt your hands even if it hits them.
Plus, balloons move slowly and unpredictably, so you never quite know which way they’ll go—that’s part of the fun!