Playground games are highly active, simple to learn, and difficult to master. Some require equipment and others require nothing. Don't we all remember games of tag, red rover, and four-square? These games don't have to be for children. Use them for team-building activities, exercise, or even something to do with friends. There are many more playground games than just the classics. Here is a favorite game at the park: Medic/Cone Wars.
Medic/Cone Wars
Intro: Medic/Cone Wars is a game that all of my kids want to play at the park. Being a playground leader in Eau Claire, WI for an entire summer, I know all the kids here could play this game and nothing else.
Players: 4-50. Optimal number: 14.
Equipment: 1 ball for every other person playing. For example, if there are 10 people playing, 5 balls are the minimum needed. The balls under the best circumstances should be a mix of Gator Balls, foam footballs, foam Frisbees, kickballs of various sizes, or anything that can be thrown at high velocities and not hurt on impact. Cones are also desirable; marking boundaries and a center "line of scrimmage" is important.
Directions/Description: Medic is a dodgeball variant. Teams are usually created by numbering off (1, 2, 1, 2, etc) or pickers (1st and 2nd). Balls should be lined up and spaced relatively evenly at the center "line of scrimmage." No person can cross the center line.
The objective of the game is to get all of the opposing team out. Players will throw balls at the opposing team to do so. Any player catching an enemy's ball results in the thrower sitting down and being "out" and the last person on the catcher's team being revived.
Before game play, each team must decide on a medic; for teams at 8-10 players, a nurse will have to be decided as well; for teams 18-20, a surgeon, and so forth. The medic, by tagging downed teammates, is able to revive anyone who is "out" for more than five seconds. The nurse is able to revive anyone except the medic. The surgeon is able to revive anyone except the medic as well.
Optional rules:
*Head shots do not count.
*Any ball thrown, hitting a ball and forcing the player to drop that ball means that the player who dropped the ball is out.
*Whenever a team eliminates the medic on an opposing team, it is required that the opposing team say "medic down!"
Variant: Cone Wars
Cone Wars is very similar to Medic. The only differences are:
There is no medic, nurse, surgeon, or any other sort of "reviver."
Each team will have a cone in the center back of their boundary. This cone will either have a bocce ball or waffle ball atop it. The objective of this game is to knock the ball off the cone or get everyone out. If the ball is knocked off the cone by one team, the other team loses. No person may guard the cone closer than 5 feet away.
Overall, this game can be played with anyone of a similar age, so long as they are not younger than six. It's good fun and should be given the chance. Get some ammo and play!