Choosing A Game

One thing that I have come to know through the years of being a scout leader, scouts enjoy playing games. There are a large amount of games out there to play. Some of our favorites are:

• Kick The Can

• Dragon Tails

• Capture The Flag

• Duck, Duck, Goose

• Capture The Candy

• Charades

• Ninja

One thing to keep in mind, not everyone enjoys the same game… maybe that’s why there are so many of them.

Some things to consider when choosing a game:

• Know and understand the game

• Be prepared to teach the game

• Take into consideration

  • Physical arrangements

  • Equipment needs

  • Number involved

  • Abilities of the participants

• KISMIF - Keep it simple make it fun.

Suggestions for conducting games:

• Know the game well and the area needed before teaching it. Have all necessary equipment on hand

• Remove all possible hazards from the game area

• Have the full attention of the group before trying to explain the rules of the game

• To introduce the game, name it, demonstrate it, ask for questions, then start it

• Always insist on fair play

• If a game is going badly, stop it, explain it again, then try to the game once more.

• Play, but don’t overplay a game. A successful game will be more in demand if it is stopped while it is still being enjoyed

• Be alert to overexertion