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Relays

What is needed?

Dependent on relay chosen. Often it is good to have a baton or some object that can be passed onto the next player.

How many can play

Age Guide

How to play

The basic relay is where at the word go the first members of each team complete an identical course holding a baton which at the end of the course is passed onto the next player when they carry out the same course. The team which has all of their members complete the course first is the winning team.
Teams should be made up of equal numbers, but if this is not possible then some team members can run twice to make it fair.

Various ideas for relays.

The teams should line up spread along the length of the hall. On the word go the first member runs down the back of the team to the last member passes around the last member and then returns to their place where they give the baton to the second member of the team. The second member runs to the front of the team around the first member and then down to the back. Around the last team member and back up to their place where they pass the baton to the third member of the team. This goes on until all team members have run the course. The baton should then be with the last team member who passes it to the next team member towards the front of the team. Each team member is to handle the baton as it goes back to the first team member who raises the baton and calls out that their team has finished.

The team should be spread out length ways along the hall. They should then face the side wall of the hall and sit down with their legs stretched out in front of them. At the word go the first team member gets up, runs down the back of the team and then returns to their place by jumping over each other team members legs. Once they have returned to their place they are to sit down and then pass the baton to team member No.2, who gets up jumps over the first team members legs and then down the back of the team to the last team member then back to their place by jumping over the legs of the other team members until they reach their place in the team. Once seated they pass the baton on to the next team member and so it goes on.

With the teams spread lengthways along the hall and facing the front of the hall. Each team is to have a ball. At the word go the team members stand with their legs apart and the first team member bowls the ball through the tunnel formed to the last member of the team. The team members on route may assist the balls passage, but the ball must pass through the legs of each member of the team. Once the ball is with the last team member they are to take the ball to the front of the team. The whole team are to move back one space and the ball is bowled again through all the legs of the team members, so the game goes on until the first team member is back at the front of the team.
A variation of this relay is to pass the ball over the head and to be caught by the team member behind and so no.

These are a few ideas many more can be thought of.

The following points should be noted.
The teams should be of equal number or one member is to go twice if the game allows.
A baton of some sort, perhaps a slipper or a ball should be used to ensure all team members run the full course.
A team leader should be appointed.
A means of signaling that the team has finished should be given.
It is worth physically demonstrating the course required before the race begins.