Gameplay
8+ Players 👥
3-5 Minutes ⏱️
What You’ll Need
Playground balls or beach balls (1 per team)
Open space for racing (hallway, gym, field, or large room)
Cones or tape (to mark the start and turnaround points)
Setup
Divide players into teams of 4–8.
Have each team form a line at the starting point.
Place a cone or marker across the space to mark the turnaround point.
How to Play
Pair Up Back to Back: The first two players on each team stand back to back with a ball held between their backs.
Start the Relay: On “Go,” pairs shuffle or walk to the turnaround point and back without dropping the ball or using their hands.
Tag the Next Pair: Once they return, the next pair takes their turn.
Continue the Race: Repeat until every pair has gone. If a team has an odd number, one player can go twice.
Win It: First team to have all pairs complete the relay wins!
Say Something Like
“This game takes teamwork to the next level! You and your partner will race with a ball wedged between your backs—no hands allowed. Shuffle, step, and stay in sync. Ready, set, go!”
Variations
Speed Round: Time each team individually and compare results.
Obstacle Relay: Add cones or challenges along the course to make it more fun.
Freeze Drop: If a team drops the ball, they must freeze for 3 seconds before continuing.
Discipleship Teaching Points
This game is a great picture of walking together in unity and learning to support each other (Ecclesiastes 4:9–10). Just like in life, we can’t always carry the load alone—we need each other.
Secular Teaching Points
Promotes cooperation, body control, and non-verbal communication. Players learn to work in sync toward a common goal.
This game idea was published by the team at Dig the Games.
Keywords: teamwork relay, partner challenge, back to back, ball relay, group game, physical activity, no hands game
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