[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!
- A simple and fun co-op game that enhances teamwork
- [Children’s Club] Easy and fun indoor games. Exciting party games
- [For Kids] Indoor Fun! Large-Group Recreational Activities and Games
- [Play Right Away!] Exciting Recreation Games Recommended for Elementary School Students
- Recommended for upper elementary grades! Exciting indoor recreation and games
- No worries even in the rain! Fun recreational activities you can do in the gym
- Fun activities for junior high school students. Recreation games.
- Play ideas kids can enjoy from 1st to 6th grade [indoors & outdoors]
- A collection of simple indoor recreational games
- [Elementary School] Quick and Easy! Indoor Recreational Activities Perfect for Lower Grades
- Indoor recreation for children: A roundup of exciting games
- Popularity ranking of recreational activities for children
- [Elementary School Rec] Recommended Games and Performances for a Fun Party
Relay and racing events (11–20)
S-ken / Esuken
Draw a big letter “S” on the ground.
The two round parts of the S are the territories, and the gap is the entrance/exit.
It’s a game where you hop on one foot, go through the gap into the opposing team’s territory, and steal their treasure.
You’re allowed to put both feet down only in the safe zone and inside a territory.
If you’re attacked by the other team—pushed or otherwise forced to put both feet down—you’re out and must go to the out zone.
The team that gathers the opponent’s treasures the fastest wins.
Classic events at school sports days (1–10)
Dodgebee
Dodgebee is a slightly modified version of dodgeball.
It’s played with a thin, lightweight disc instead of a dodgeball.
Since it’s made of soft material, it doesn’t hurt even if you get hit hard, which is great.
The rules are the same as dodgeball.
And just like dodgeball, there are lots of local variations.
Feel free to use your own original rules and make it even more exciting!
Hula hoop down
Let me introduce you to “Hula Hoop Down,” a game that’s fun no matter when you play it.
The rules are simple: participants stand in a circle, balance a hula hoop on their index fingers, and work together to lower it to the ground without anyone’s finger losing contact.
It looks easy at first, but you’ll be surprised how often the balance slips or the hoop pops off someone’s finger—unexpected mishaps that make it extra exciting.
It’s great fun with close friends, and it can also be a perfect chance to get in sync and build rapport with people you haven’t talked to much before.
Samurai sword-fighting (chambara) battle
Chanbara battles are a popular game even among young children and early elementary students.
By using soft, non-painful tools as weapons, it becomes a game everyone can enjoy.
Form teams and try a tournament-style competition for extra fun.
It involves lots of movement and helps relieve stress, making it perfect for indoor play on rainy days.
Try making swords out of newspaper, or create weapons using construction paper or pool noodles.
Besides chanbara battles, you can also enjoy it as a craft activity.
Newspaper Paste Dash
The Newspaper Stick Dash is something you can do if you have newspapers and a large space.
Prepare a spread-out newspaper sheet folded in half.
Hold it against your stomach and run without letting it fall.
Set a goal line and try running while keeping the newspaper pressed to you.
You can do it individually, but it gets more exciting as a team competition.
Try setting rules, such as whoever gets 10 sheets to the goal first wins.
It’s easy to prepare, so it’s a great indoor game you can play casually, like when it suddenly starts to rain.
Tug of war
A major event at sports days and the like is tug-of-war.
A mark is placed at the center of the thick rope, and a line is drawn on the ground in the middle.
At the starting signal, teams pull on the rope, leaning their bodies backward while shouting in unison, bracing themselves so they aren’t pulled by the other team, and hauling the rope to their side.
The competition is decided by which side has pulled the rope farther by the time limit.
The chant is important—don’t be shy!
How many people can fit? game
A game where you see how many people can fit on a prepared platform.
If you just keep getting on without thinking, the platform will quickly fill up.
So before you get on, do a dry run—discuss the details, plan your strategy, and try it while thinking about smart, efficient ways to board.