Squirrels ‘N’ Nuts

A mix between tag and capture the flag.

• Set Up

  • Open space

  • Designate a tree/wall as the "tree"

• Equipment

  • Open space with boundaries

• Objective

  The goal of the game is for squirrels to tag all of the nuts and bring them to the tree to be stored for winter.

• Directions

  1. Have each player count off and remember their number and have all players stand in a circle. One player starts with the ball in the center.

  2. The player with the ball throws it upwards and chooses one number to yell. Upon hearing the number, the rest of the players run in any direction away from the center except for the person whose number was called.

  3. That person catches the ball and yells “SPUD!” When SPUD is yelled, everyone must freeze and cannot move their feet until the round is over.

  4. The player with the ball can then take 3 giant steps toward a player. They throw the ball and try to hit the player below the waist.

  5. If a player gets hit, they receive an “S” the first time, “P” the second, and so on, to spell S-P-U-D. If the thrower misses, then they earn the letter. Also, if a frozen player moves their feet, they also get a letter. If a player catches the ball when it is thrown at them, the thrower gets the letter.

  6. Players rotate each round to decide who becomes the thrower.1. Divide the group into two teams and designate one team as the squirrels (the chasers) and the other as the nuts (the team being chased.) Designate a wall space area to serve as the tree where they will be storing them for the winter.

  2. The squirrels capture the nuts by tagging them and bringing them to the tree. Emphasize that this is done gently and without resistance from the person who was tagged.

  3. Nuts can be freed by getting tagged by one of their fellow nuts.

  4. The game ends once all the nuts are stored at the tree for winter.

  5. Alternate teams being squirrels and nuts.

• Variations

  • Change the two items to match your school mascot- the Bulls and the basketballs

  • Have nuts dribble soccer or basketballs and squirrels capture them by taking the ball from them.

• Coaching Points

  • Make this more fun by having the squirrels act like squirrels

  • Add in a coach call "Rain" this means that all captured squirrels fall out of the tree and back into the game

Reflection: Social-Awareness

1. Why is it fun to act?

2. What strategies did you use to be successful in this game?

3. Who would like to shout out someone in the game?