Favourite Games

I had an interesting email from a Polish Scout the other day, and one of the things they asked was what kind of games do we play. I thought about it and put down the following –

Elephant Hunt

All the Scouts stand at one end of the hall and two leaders stand at either side each holding a ball (soft football size). When the Leader shouts ‘Go!’, the Scouts run to the other end of the hall. The Leaders then throw the balls at the legs of the scouts (nothing higher!). If the Scout is struck on the leg then they are out and join the Leaders throwing the balls at the remaining Scouts. When the Scouts are at the end of the hall, they are safe and cannot be got out. The Leaders must stay with their backs to the wall. The last Scout remaining wins.

 

Lifeboats

The Scouts all stand at one end of the hall and this is called Lifeboats. The opposite end is called Quarterdeck. The left side of the hall is Port and the right Starboard. The Leader then shouts the name of the place the scouts need to go to. On the command they then run to that place. The last one there is out. There are also other commands, such as ‘Captain’s Coming’ (all stand alert and salute), ‘ Boom Coming Over’ (everyone lies flat on the floor), ‘Midships’ (everyone forms a forward facing line in the middle of the room) and ‘Freeze’ (everyone stops moving) etc. You can make more up! The last person to complete the command is out. When there is one Scout left, they are the winner!

These are games we’ve played at my Group for years. Please don’t ask why Elephant Hunt is called that, as I don’t know, but please be assured the no elephants are ever harmed! The interesting thing is that although we’ve played it for years, members of one of our local Groups had never heard of it!

Which got me thinking, what other games are there that Groups have played that are their favourites? I’d love to hear what other Groups / Packs / Troops etc. play, so please let me know!

2 Replies to “Favourite Games”

  1. A regular game in our Troop is Moonball (inflatable beach ball). Simply keep the beach ball in the air for as many hits as possible. Usually, no one may hit the ball more than once consecutively.

  2. Rag hockey has alwasy been tremendously popular in all age groups! The sticks are two broom handles (if you are worried about health and safety, a tennis ball could be put on each end) or brooms and then you need a rustic rag of the old fashioned kind (it will get pulled and dragged so it better be reasonably sturdy to start with!) The goals are two chairs or stools.
    The group is devided into two teams and lined up along the longest walls of the room and numbered so that there are a no 1, 2, 3 etc on each team. The 1s should be closest to their own goal that is but about 3 feet from the “short” walls of the room. The sticks are put in front of, or on top of, the goals and the rag splayed out in the middle of the floor.
    When the leader call out a number, this person has to run to get the stick, get over to the rag and then the fight begins. Quite often is the fist on the rag that gets it through the legs of the chair/stool, but some times there will be prolonged duels with the rag getting pulled, dragged and tugged across the floor to the enthusiastic roar of the watching team members.
    No feet are allowed on the rag, some body contact is necessary, but absolutely no tripping, poking or otherwise with the stick, that is supposed to be on the rag or floor as much as possible.
    The leader keeps calling players until everyone has duelled at least once.
    http://www.ramsvik.nu/…/Aktiviteter_Trashockey_2.jpg
    I’m amazed that I can’t find any videos of it played on the Net, as it is so popular and their are Explorer tournaments as well as it being played with Cubs…..

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