Grade level: 2-8
Equipment: 4 mats, 2 dodgeballs
Game Description: Mat tag is a quick warm-up game that can be used as a part of a baseball unit, or as a stand-alone mini-game. There are 4 mats that represent the bases. Players will continuously round the bases in one direction trying not to get tagged by the taggers who have dodgeballs. Runners are safe on the mats, but only a certain amount of players can be on a mat (base) at a time! Lots of flow, lots of motion, try it out!
- Place mats on the floor similar to how bases are laid out in baseball.
- Start with an even number of students on each base (any extra students can start between the bases).
- Choose a direction to travel around the bases.
- Choose 2 students to be taggers and give them dodgeballs.
- On the signal, players will round the bases continuously, trying not to get hit by a tagger’s dodgeball.
- Players are safe when on the mats, but can get hit when traveling between the mats.
- Only a specified number of players on a mat at a time.
- Whenever a player is hit, that player then becomes a tagger, and the previous tagger becomes a runner (ie, role switch).
If only two people are ‘it’ who collects the balls that miss targets? may slow game up if they need to retrieve their own throws?
Great site btw
what do you do when a person tags another peson do they drop it and someone else pick it up
Read #8
I’ve played this activity with 2 taggers who carry pool noodles. If they tag someone who is not on a mat, that player goes to “Outland” and performs an exercise before re-entering the game. Switch taggers periodically.
This is a legit concern. Here’s my suggestion; tell me if you think it will work: have a container of dodgeballs in the center with the taggers. (My school has a lot of them) When a person gets tagged they must first retrieve 2 (?) balls and put them in the container before they can become a tagger. Do you think that would keep the supply?
That’s a great idea actually!
How would you wrap this game up?
Eventually have elimination if you get tagged you become a tagger and the tagger is out of the game.