Fun Relay Races
Relay races can be tons of fun when you have enough participants. You don’t need that much to set up the races, you get to exercise and learn about working together as a team. Nine or more children are the ideal number needed to play; but if the group is smaller, you can get to play twice.
When making teams, you can set the children up according to size, just to be fair. Children that are small can be put in line according to size and then you can fill in the bigger children behind them. That way, you make the teams even.
Note: “Turning Point” is the line the children run to before going back.
Here are two different types of relay races that you might want to try out.
Quick Change Relay Race
Items needed:
Big/oversized clothing and accessories (pants, tops/shirts, ties, scarfs, hats, shoes, belts).
How to set up:
Split everyone up into teams; set up the clothing and accessories at Turning Point (one area for each team).
The first child in each line runs to Turning Point; puts on all the clothes and accessories over the clothes they’re wearing; runs back; takes off the extra clothes and accessories; and sits or stands at the back of the line.
It’s then the turn of the second person in line to put on all the clothes and accessories and then run to Turning Point. When the player gets to Turning Point, he/she will take off the extra clothes and accessories and then run back and take their place at the back of the line.
The routine is repeated until every team member has had a turn. The first team to finish wins the race.
Tennis Ball Relay Race
Items needed:
Tennis ball, something to drop the ball (a shoebox works great) – one is needed for each team.
How to set up:
Place each team’s box at their Turning Point.
Break everyone up into teams. Give a tennis ball to the first player of each team who will then put the tennis ball between their knees and try to get to Turning Point without dropping the ball. If a player drops the ball before getting to Turning Point, he or she must return to start and go again.
At Turning Point, each player drops the ball into the box and then runs back, tags the next teammate in line and then takes their place at the back of the line.
The next player then runs to Turning Point, picks up the tennis ball from the box, puts it between his/her knees and runs back to tag the next teammate in line until all players have had a chance.
The first team to have all its players successfully complete the task wins.
To make the race a bit more difficult, take away the box. Team players will then have to go to Turning Point and back with the ball between their knees. That version of the game should be loads of fun.
