[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)
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.
long rope jumping
When it comes to classic team competitions that large groups can enjoy, long rope jumping (group jump rope) is a must! Everyone on the team jumps over a big rope together, competing to see how long they can keep jumping or how many consecutive jumps they can do.
In either case, if someone trips, you’re out.
If you’re competing by number of jumps, you can add an easy rule that allows a restart if someone trips.
If you’re competing by time, you keep jumping until someone trips—the last team remaining wins! Success depends on the entire class or team moving in perfect sync, so strong team bonds are essential!
ball toss (traditional Japanese beanbag/ball-throwing game)
Tamaire is a classic event at sports festivals.
At the starting signal, participants throw the many balls prepared on the ground toward a high basket.
The team that gets more balls into the basket within the time limit wins.
Recently, a variation called “Dancing Tamaire” has become popular, where participants dance at set times and then resume throwing the balls after the dance.
cavalry battle
This is the “kibasen,” a well-known boys’ event at school sports festivals.
Four students form a team: one in front, two in the back forming a triangle with linked arms, and one rider on top who battles from there.
It’s a game derived from mounted warriors and knights.
There are team and individual formats, and the rules vary slightly.
Although it’s sometimes considered dangerous nowadays, it’s one of the traditional events that has been around for a long time.
Classic events at school sports days (11–20)
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.
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.
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.