[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 (1–10)
three-legged race
A simple competition that’s perfect for indoor play, three-legged races require two people instead of one, so syncing your movements with your partner is key.
That’s why practice is necessary if you want good results.
If you’re serious about winning, don’t just practice aimlessly—focus on the essential points as you train.
There are winning tips, like agreeing on your stride length and putting the faster runner on the outside.
Through practice, your bond with your friend is likely to grow deeper, too.
With a run that makes the most of your training, you might even draw cheers from those around you.
UFO
Here’s an introduction to a game using a balance ball.
A balance ball lets you train your core while seated and can help improve your balance.
Have several people stand in a circle facing outward, place the balance ball in the center against everyone’s backs, and run together toward the goal.
Since you’re running with your backs to each other, maintaining balance looks challenging.
Teamwork is also key—calling out to one another and moving while keeping track of the ball’s position.
When you make it to the goal, you’ll likely feel the joy of finishing together with your teammates.
Dancing Tamaire
In many places, the classic sports day event involves tossing red and white balls into a basket set high above the ground.
If you add dancing to this ball-toss game, it becomes more game-like and even more fun than the regular version.
Begin by playing normally, and when the music starts, go to the designated spot and dance.
You can use a set choreography, or improvise for extra excitement.
When it’s time to dance, let go of the ball you’re holding and focus on the dance.
When the music stops, resume the ball-toss game.
It can feel a bit frustrating when it suddenly turns into dance time right as you’re thinking, “I’m going to score!” That contrast is sure to get everyone around you laughing.
write-off
Let me introduce a game where several people pull on a single stick from both ends.
At the call of “Ready, start!”, everyone dashes to the stick placed in the center, grabs it, and pulls.
With about three people per team, try to pull the stick into your team’s territory from the opposing team.
If the stick ends up in your territory, you win.
It’s similar to tug-of-war, where many people pull on a long rope, but in this game multiple teams play together, so there’s more direct competition and it’s exciting to watch.
Classic events at school sports days (11–20)
the eye of a typhoon
This is the relay game called “Typhoon’s Eye,” where teams run while holding a long pole.
Several people run together holding one pole, spin around at the turnaround point, then return and pass it to the next group.
When they come back, they don’t just hand over the pole directly; they pass it through the waiting team’s feet, then on the way back over their heads, and return to the front of the line.
It’s a game where everyone waiting also takes part.
Giant ball rolling
This is “ōdama korogashi,” a relay where you roll a ball as big as your own body.
Two people roll one large ball together.
Then they turn back, pass the big ball to the next pair, and hand off the relay.
The team that reaches the finish fastest wins.
Because the ball is so large, it’s hard to control—if you go too fast, it can veer off the course from the momentum, and your turnarounds can end up too wide.
Giant Ball Relay
Giant balls are better known for being rolled than passed, right? But this “giant ball pass” is actually a heated and fun team competition! Like in giant ball rolling, there are parts where you roll the ball, but in between you lift the ball over your heads and hand it along above the heads of your lined-up teammates.
That’s the giant ball pass.
Be sure to use a light, slightly soft ball so that even children can pass it easily.
The team that gets their giant ball to the goal first—by rolling it and passing it overhead—wins.
