Gameplay
8+ Players (two teams) 👥
8-12 Minutes ⏱️
What You’ll Need
One old mattress per team (twin size slides best)
A smooth floor: gym, dining hall, or fellowship hall
Optional: a tarp or moving blanket underneath if it won’t glide
Setup
Split each team in half. Half lines up on one end of the gym, half on the other.
Set each team’s mattress at one end.
Clear the runway. No chairs, cords, or little siblings.
How to Play
Run and dive.
The first player sprints, dives onto the mattress, and surfs it as far as it goes.Push it the rest of the way.
They hop off and push the mattress to the other end, then tag the first teammate waiting there.Surf it back.
That teammate surfs it back the other way and tags the next runner.First team home wins.
The relay is over when every player has surfed and the mattress is back where it started.
Say Something Like
“Line up, half of you on each end. Run, dive, and ride that mattress as far as it takes you, then push it the rest of the way and tag your teammate. First team to get everybody across wins. Go!”
Variations
Distance Contest: Skip the relay. Whoever surfs the farthest from the dive line wins.
Two-Person Surf: One rides, one pushes. Swap at the far wall.
Halftime Show: Perfect for a sports night. Pull two fans from the crowd and race them head-to-head.
Discipleship Teaching Points
Momentum only comes after a full-speed run and a leap. Talk about commitment and going all-in instead of easing into things. Reference: Colossians 3:23.
Secular Teaching Points
Speed, bravery, and team energy. Make sure the floor is clear and the mattress has no exposed springs.
This game idea was published by the team at Dig the Games.
Want access to another FREE newsletter? This one features a hub of online resources for pastors, church leaders and ministry workers–tips and tools! Check it out below!
Keywords: mattress game, relay game, gym game, halftime game, youth group game, big group game
Transparency: This site is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. We are compensated for referring traffic and business to Amazon and other companies linked to on this site.