[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
- [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
- Get the Fun Going! Easy Classroom Games You Can Play at School: Recreational Activities for the Whole Class
Rock-Paper-Scissors / Tag (11–20)
Circuit Play × Tail Tag
Let me introduce a tail-chase game combined with a circuit play setup that’s sure to heat things up.
First, decide the area where players can run, then place vaulting boxes, mats, and other obstacles within that area to create the field.
Runners try to escape by dashing around the field while avoiding the obstacles.
The chaser tries to catch up and grab the tail, but the obstacles might get in the way and make it hard to move forward as planned.
The obstacles add excitement to the game.
When setting them up, be sure to secure enough space and enjoy safely to prevent injuries.
Tamaire Hoop Rock-Paper-Scissors
Spice things up with items! Here’s a game called Hoop Toss Rock-Paper-Scissors.
When you think of ball-toss games, many people probably picture school sports days.
This time, let’s try a version you can easily set up indoors.
You’ll need colored balls and a small hula hoop.
As an introduction to the activity, it’s a good idea to give some free play time where participants can freely toss balls into the hula hoop.
Eventually, the game evolves so that the person who wins rock-paper-scissors within each group gets the role of throwing the ball into the hoop.
Feel free to adapt and arrange the game as you like.
Treasure-catching game
@kidschallengeclubLupin the Third Theme (High Quality) – Sound Works
Who will win—the police or the thieves? Let me introduce a game about stealing treasure.
Through the roles of thief and police, players cooperate with teammates to plan and execute strategies while developing quick decision-making skills.
Thieves sneak past the police to carry the treasure, and the police dash around to catch the thieves.
With a perfect balance of competition and cooperation, kids will be fully engaged while getting plenty of exercise.
The rules are simple, and everyone who joins the game will feel the thrill and excitement!
Tail Tag (Team Battle)
This is a game called “Tail Tag,” where you run around grabbing and collecting tails.
Each player wears a towel or string at their waist as a pretend tail.
While chasing each other, you try to take other people’s tails, and the team that collects the most tails wins.
Be careful—not only focus on grabbing others’ tails, or you might lose your own! It’s also fun to prepare spare tails and keep playing until everyone runs out.
Balloon popping
It looks a little scary, but once you try it, “Balloon Popping” is a lot of fun! First, each team puts color-coded balloons on one person’s ankle.
The team with the most balloons left unpopped at the end of the game wins.
You pop balloons by stepping on them.
Everyone runs around like in tag, protecting the balloon attached to their own foot while trying to pop the opposing team’s balloons.
Of course you have to be careful not to let yours get popped, and the loud bang when a balloon bursts can startle you, so it’s a pretty thrilling, heart-pounding game.
One balloon on the ankle is enough, but it could also be fun to try attaching several small water-balloon-sized ones!
Don Janken
Let me introduce a game called Don-Janken that kids and adults can enjoy.
Divide into two teams, and the team that reaches the opponent’s territory first wins.
When you do rock-paper-scissors, the chant is “Don janken pon!” The great thing about this idea is that it requires almost no preparation and is fun even with a large group.
However, because players may get overly focused on winning, disputes can arise near the territory lines, so it’s best for adults to make the final call on wins and losses.
Give it a try!
Rock-Paper-Scissors Wheelbarrow
@mimasakadaigaku A must-see for elementary school teachers! Build bodies while having fun with the “Rock-Paper-Scissors Wheelbarrow” activity! Mimasaka University – Elementary School Teacher – Fun Exercise
♬ Lilac – Mrs. GREEN APPLE
This is a game where pairs of two do a wheelbarrow and challenge other pairs to rock-paper-scissors; depending on the result, they swap roles.
After each round, the previous pairs dissolve: the winning pair both take the easier holding role, while the losing pair both take the tougher moving-on-hands role.
If you keep getting matched with strong rock-paper-scissors players, you might make it to the end without suffering, so let’s also see how lucky your draws are.
It’s a game that lets you enjoy the tactics of competition while having fun and getting a good workout.
Rock-Paper-Scissors Dash
This is a game that tests your reaction speed: you look at the result of rock-paper-scissors and instantly switch to actions that match each outcome.
The winner becomes the attacker and chases the opponent, while the loser takes on defense and runs away to avoid being caught—roles that must be decided in a split second.
Even if you’re fast at running, you might lose at rock-paper-scissors, so having a balanced set of strengths might be important.
It’s also recommended to experiment by tweaking your approach little by little—for example, adopting a stance during rock-paper-scissors that makes it easier to burst into a sprint.
River Crossing Tail Tag
Let me introduce a tail-tag river crossing game that gets your heart racing when you cross the river.
Create a river using mats or tape.
The tagger waits on the riverbank.
The runners attach a tail to their backside and dash across the river with all their might.
The tagger’s chance to grab the tail is when the runners are crossing the river! You’ll need quick reactions and clever evasive moves.
If you make it across the river, you succeed.
The tagger then waits for the next person to come and cross.
Setting a time limit for the game might make it even more exciting.
Rock-Paper-Scissors / Tag (21–30)
Ball Carry Tag
Here’s an introduction to a tag-style ball-carrying game.
The rules are very simple! Wearing a flag, teams start at the starting line and try to carry as many balls as possible to the goal within the time limit.
There are taggers in between, so be careful not to let them take the flag you’re wearing.
If a tagger takes your flag, reattach the flag placed by the tagger and return to the start to try again.
It’s a team game where you aim to transport all the balls while avoiding being caught.
It’s also fun to come up with strategies, like having someone act as a decoy.
We also recommend switching between the carrying team and the tagger team and incorporating it as an event in a sports day.
