5 friend-making games

Group, Sep/Oct 2003

As your ministry kicks into gear for the fall, you need new ways to build relationships among kids old and new

BASEBALL BONANZA

Overview: Kids will play a variation of America's favorite pastime.

Game Type: Active, outside

Group Size: 20 to 30

Time Involved: 20 to 30 minutes

Supplies: Four bases and a rubber ball

Preparation: Create a diamond-shaped infield-place the four bases about 20 feet apart.

Have kids form two teams. Explain that the batters will take turns standing at home base, tossing the ball into the air, and hitting the ball with an open hand. Then each batter will run around the bases in the usual order, but they must make the complete circuit back to home base without stopping.

Tells kids that the only way a batter is out is if an opposing team member catches the batter's fly ball or throws the ball to any base ahead of the batter. The outfield team must throw the ball to first base, then second, then third, and then home in an attempt to get the ball to a base ahead of the batter. The baseman must have his or her foot on the base before throwing the ball to the next base.

Every team member should have a turn at bat. You may use a nine-inning, three-out format, or make up your own rules. The team that scores the most runs wins.

BLINDFOLDED SQUARE

Overview: Kids will build a square with rope while blindfolded.

Game Type: Discussion starter, outside, senior high, suitable for disabled, team-builder

Group Size: Any

Time Involved: 10 to 20 minutes

Supplies: Blindfolds and a rope that's long enough for every group member to have about a 3-foot section

Preparation: None

Take the kids outside to a large, open area. Have them form a circle and put on blindfolds. Walk around the circle, hand each student a piece of rope, and instruct kids to hold onto the rope until you give them further instructions.

After everyone has a piece of rope, instruct the group to form a square with straight sides using only their voices and tugs on the rope.

As the students try to work out a square, you can help them by asking questions such as "Who's leading, and who's following?" When kids feel they have the best square possible, have them take off their blindfolds and look at the square they formed.

This game can lead into a discussion about leadership and servanthood. Read aloud 1 Corinthians 9:19 and Galatians 5:13, then ask something like: What made this game difficult? How did "serving" one another assist in completing this square? How does this game reflect the Scriptures we read? How would this game function if everyone tried to be a leader? if everyone tried to be a servant? if some tried to be leaders and some tried to be servants?

FAKE PILLOW FIGHT

Overview: Kids will encourage each other as you join this funny pillow fight.

Game Type: Active, funny

Group Size: 10 to 20

Time Involved: 2 to 10 minutes

Supplies: Three pillows, two blindfolds, and a watch

Preparation: None

Have kids form two teams, and have teams stand at opposite ends of the room. Blindfold the first player from each team, and give him or her a pillow. Explain that the object of the game is to see who can score the most pillow hits to his or her opponent in one minute. Have the blindfolded players start walking toward each other.

The catch to this game is that you are also equipped with a pillow, which you should use to alternately hit the players. This will confuse the players as to the location of the actual opponent, and only pillow hits to an actual opponent count.

Encourage teams to call out encouragement and directions to their players, and see which team has the highest total of hits after everyone has played.

TIRE BOWLING

Overview: Kids will go "bowling" using an old tire as the ball.

Game Type: Active, outside

Group Size: 10 to 20

Time Involved: 10 to 20 minutes

Supplies: An old car tire without the rim or inner tube, sand, 10 empty 2-liter soft drink bottles, paper, and pens

Preparation: Fill each soft drink bottle with enough sand so it won't easily tip over.

Have kids form two teams. Set up the soft drink bottles as bowling pins at one end of your playing area. Designate a starting line your bowlers can't cross. Players of one team will take turns rolling the tire toward the bottles, and the other team will reset the "pins." Unlike real bowling, each player will get only one shot per frame. Have each team member bowl for 10 frames.

If a player scores a strike, knocking all the pins down, count his or her next frame double. If a player scores a strike on the 10th frame, give the bowler an extra shot. Keep score for each team.

You'll want to keep these bowling supplies in a storage area to use again and again.

WORM WRESTLING

Overview: Kids will play a fun wrestling game that's perfect for a camping trip, retreat, or lock-in.

Game Type: Active, funny

Group Size: Any

Time Involved: 10 to 20 minutes

Supplies: Masking tape and two sleeping bags with drawstring necks

Preparation: None

Have kids form two teams. Use tape to mark a circle about 10 feet in diameter in the middle of your playing area, and clear the circle of any obstacles.