You are all it Tag Game

You are all it is a classic tag game, with surprises, and is suitable for larger groups.

Benefits of You are all it Tag Game

• Simple
• Rapid execution
• Highly-interactive
• Develops critical-thinking
• No props needed

How To Play You are all it Tag Game

This is a tag game for larger groups and is especially aimed at those people who have experienced the embarrassment of remaining ‘It’ for a long period of time. This time, you have the authority to make the rules, so now everyone will be ‘It’.

The game is very easy to start, just get the group to fan out within the space provided, and simply say ‘Go’.  The game is on, as everybody will be frantically running around trying to tag others, but at the same time trying to avoid being tagged themselves.

Explain to the group that as soon as someone has been successfully tagged, they need to sit down where they are, indicating to the rest of the group that they are out the game. The game continues until there is only one person still standing.

You will notice that the majority of people will be out of the game within the first 15 seconds, and this is not really fun at all. So, it is recommended that at the end of the game, the winner is not allowed to celebrate at all. Instead, surprise the group by suddenly shouting out the word ‘Go’ again, and begin a new round.     

Contextual Framing Ideas for You are all it Tag Game

Try remembering your early school days in primary school, most of the break time was spent playing some form of tag game. This was always great fun unless you were one of those that were not very athletic, and you remained ‘It’ most of the time. That was not most probably not much fun, so in this game, you will be able to set the rules yourself. You can now decide to make everybody ‘It’.

This game does not require much explanation, so as soon as you are ready you just say ‘Go’ and everyone is now ‘It’. 

Step-by-Step Instructions for You are all it Tag Game

• Get the group to spread out in the space provided.
• As soon as you say the word ‘Go’ everyone becomes ‘It’. They must now run around and try to tag someone else, but at the same time try to avoid being tagged themselves.
• When a person has been successfully tagged, they need to sit down where they are. This indicates to the rest of the group, that they are now out of the game.
• Don’t allow the winner to gloat over their success, but immediately shout out the word ‘Go’ again, and the game is once more underway.

Facilitators and Leaders Tips for You are all it Tag Game

Before you begin, to avoid any rough playing, it might be appropriate for you to explain what a successful tag is like. For example, just a light touch on someone’s shoulder should be sufficient. 

You are sure to be confronted with a situation where two people have been tagged at the same time. The question is, who was tagged first? This may result in an argument; these two people are now faced with two options. They can both agree that they were tagged at the same time and sit down, or they can continue to argue and miss out on all the fun. 

You may also have a couple of very athletic people left over, and no one is being tagged. This is where you give the instruction ‘Ten seconds to go’. They will then need to finish the game within 10 seconds. If this is still not effective and nobody is left over as the winner, you can choose to move on to another game.      

Debriefing and Reflection Tips

Here are some questions to ask the group, which will help them to process, their experience of the game of ‘You are all it’:

• Did this game bring back any memories of tag games from your past? Were they good or bad?
• What tactics did you employ in order to prolong your time in the game?
• Did you enjoy the game and have fun? What is the reason you did not enjoy the game?
• Were you tagged very early or late during the game? What did this mean to you and why?

Variations of You are all it Tag Game

• Forward Motion Only: As soon as anyone takes a step backwards, they are automatically disqualified and out of the game. This does seem rather merciless, and that’s the point!
• Out & Tag: If you were tagged and are out of the game, you now have the opportunity to tag someone who is still in the game. This is done by touching their legs or feet, but you are not allowed to hold on to them. The person that was tagged, is now out of the game and must sit down. The one who tagged them is now allowed to return to the game.