A simple and fun co-op game that enhances teamwork
Are you looking for teamwork games that bring smiles to everyone in a gym or event hall? Games that sometimes call for coordination with teammates and other times let you enjoy a sense of unity are essential for strengthening the bonds within an organization.
In this feature, we’ll introduce cooperative indoor games that anyone can join with ease.
These games have simple rules but offer full participation, new discoveries, and a real sense of achievement.
Try them out to help create a positive atmosphere for your group!
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Cooperative physical activity games (1–10)
Ball passing relay
A teamwork game that both adults and children can enjoy together is the Ball-Passing Relay.
Line up in a single file and pass one ball from the person in front to the person behind.
You can pass it through your legs or over your head to the next person—either is fine! If you still haven’t reached the goal after the last person, start again from the first person and repeat the same actions.
If you’re playing in a schoolyard or gym, it’s a good idea to set a distance, such as from one end of the space to the other.
This game is also great for events like sports days, so feel free to use it as a reference.
ball trolley
Are you familiar with the team-building activity called a “ball trolley”? People line up in a single file, with a ball wedged between each pair of adjacent participants, and they move forward while maintaining that state.
The balls are about the size of a soccer ball, and the movement looks like a centipede, making it nerve-racking to watch.
If even one person moves out of sync, the entire line can collapse, so everyone must move carefully.
It’s the essence of team play.
The more people there are, the more challenging this team-building activity becomes.
Everyone, stand up!
A recreation where all participants stand up simultaneously is more difficult than it seems and tests your sense of unity.
Everyone holds hands, and it’s a success if the entire group can stand up without anyone letting go or falling.
It’s a good idea to experiment with how you link hands and how you arrange members.
Especially in times like these, solidarity with others is extremely important.
If you succeed, you’ll likely feel a stronger bond than before, and collaborative work may go more smoothly.
It’s a game that really makes you think.
Soccer practice game
A soccer training game with playful elements that kids and adults alike can enjoy.
First, choose the runners, then form groups of 5–6 people and hold hands.
One person in each group becomes the target for the tagger, and should wear a visible marker so the tagger can identify them.
The tagger succeeds by touching the target or snatching the marker.
The runners circle around to block and defend so the tagger can’t touch the target.
It’s great for warm-ups before practice or matches because it builds explosiveness, teamwork, and decision-making.
It’s a bit demanding, so adjust the intensity to suit age and fitness levels and have fun.
Flip-over race
Some of you may have done this at your elementary school sports day: you split into a red team and a white team, and flip boards that are painted red on one side and white on the other so that they show your team’s color.
When time is up, you compete to see which color has more.
With a wide field of view, the ability to call out instructions, and a solid strategy, you can gain an advantage and push the game in your favor—so it’s a sport with surprising depth, from preparation to the real event.
Ping-Pong Ball Relay
You may have done this at a school sports day.
It’s a game where you place a ping-pong ball on a ladle, dash to pass it to the next person, and compete for the best time.
Since it’s time-based, speed matters, but what’s crucial is how well you can carry the ball without dropping it by staying calm.
The key is whether you can work carefully and accurately without succumbing to pressure.
human disentanglement puzzle
A group of people randomly hold hands in a way that makes things more complicated.
Without letting go, they twist, duck, and step through to untangle themselves into a single, straight ring.
It’s a full-body, puzzle-like activity that uses everyone’s minds and bodies, aiming to build team unity and complete the challenge enjoyably through good communication.