Hospital Tag with a Ball
Arrival tag game for dodging and changing direction with the ball glued to your feet.
A square with a cone on each corner; everyone dribbles, tags with a hand and keeps their own ball close.
Set up
- Mark the square with a cone on each corner.
- All children start inside, spread out, each with a ball.
- Everyone is both a tagger and a dribbler.
15 m by 15 m (2021, 2020) or 20 m by 20 m (2019 to 2016); 4 corner cones; 1 ball per child. No bibs.
How to play
- Dribble around and try to tag other players on the back or shoulder with your hand, while keeping your own ball close.
- First time you are tagged, hold that spot with one hand. Second time, hold two spots.
- Third time, do 6 toe taps on the spot as medicine, then you are fully healed and back in.
- Nobody is ever out.
Keeping everyone moving
Everyone tags and dribbles at once. The medicine is six toe taps, then straight back in.
Make it easier
- Play in a bigger area.
- Allow tags only below the shoulder with a gentle touch.
Make it harder
- Medicine becomes 6 sole rolls with the practice foot.
- Tags only count if the tagger's ball is moving.
Three things to say
- Keep moving your feet and your ball.
- Change direction when someone comes close.
- Tag gently and look after each other.
Colts habit
Work hard: feet and ball never stop.
Both feet
Sole rolls with the practice foot as the medicine.
Heads up
Look around to see who is coming.
For your birth year
Pick a birth year to show the tweak for that group.
- 2020 to 2021
- Play with no ball for the first two minutes, then add balls. 15 m by 15 m.
- 2018 to 2019
- As written, 20 m by 20 m.
- 2016 to 2017
- You can only tag someone while your own ball is within one step of you.
A young leader can run this one, with an adult coach beside them.
Safety: Gentle tags on the back or shoulder only. No pushing.
Keeping score: Each child counts their own healings and tries for fewer next round.