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When we are talking about kids, tag may just be the greatest game ever invented. OK OK, after you stop laughing let me explain. What elements or components are involved in a game of tag, just remember there are literally hundreds of different tag games. There is linear speed, lateral speed, angular take offs, moving backwards, avoidance skills, cutting, change of direction, faking skills, breaking down skills, reaching skills, body control skills, balance, flexibility, coordination, raising and lowering of the center of mass, setting up opponents, strategies, team work, I know I am missing some others-think, think, think- oh well, you get the idea. Basically tag will force you to reach deep into the movement bag of tricks you body has stored, or better yet, not stored and force you to use it or learn it.
If we as trainers, coaches, parents, and teachers are smart we will use the game tag to develop and help along the development of certain biomotor abilities during the sensitive developmental stages in children. For example; coordination can be developed in the game of tag by forcing the youngsters doing the tagging to only tag with his or her left hand. This, at times, will force the child to reach across the body while stepping with the same side foot as the opponent is avoiding being tagged. Just having a child, between the ages 6 and 9, attempting to tag with their non-dominant hand with force coordination to be developed.
The great thing about the game of tag is the flexibility you have as a coach to emphasis certain components of athleticism. For example; if you want to play tag with an older group of athletes (ages 14-16), you can emphasis teamwork and strategies; you may want to focus on linear acceleration or the ability to breakdown under control.
There is so much versatility with tag games in terms of how you organize the games. For example; if you want to emphasis individual athletic moves, the game can be played one on one as in box tag. If the goal of the coach is to teach young children (ages 7-9) how to work together to keep teammates in the game, a game of prisoner tag is perfect. If you know what your goal is or what “sensitive learning period” the youngsters are in, you can match the tag game to meet the demands.
Let me give you a small list of tag games I like to use in different situations. Keep in mind this is a small list of the many possibilities.
1. Box tag- This is a great game for teaching more advanced athlete how to make offensive moves and conversely how to counter offensive moves. The art of breaking down and reacting to the opponents moves. Simply use a large box, half of a volleyball court is ideal. Form two lines on opposite corners of the box. Name one line the “taggers” and the other line the “avoiders”. I like to use a stop watch and time how long the avoider can stay in the box before being tagged. The players will immediately go to the opposite line after their turn.
2. Knee tag- This game is great for teaching athletes to stay in an athletic stance while they move. They must be able to move in all directions from this stance. This game is also great for teaching awareness and recognition of the positions of other athletes. To play this game all players are “it”. The goal is to tag one of the other players at the level of the knees. If tagged, the player must go outside a pre-determined boundary and perform one push up and enter back into the game. All players in the game must be aware of the players coming back in. They will tag from behind if unaware of them. All players can use their hands to block an attempted tag. This teaches great hand eye coordination and timing.
3. Get up Tag- If you truly want to improve acceleration of young athletes this game is a must. It is fun and challenges the athletes not to get tagged from behind. Simply ask the athletes to get a partner. The first partner will get around 2 to 4 yards (you need to play with the distance) in front. The lead athlete will be asked to get into different positions (crab stance, push up position, lying supine or prone…) while the back athlete will always stand in either a parallel athletic stance or staggered stance. The back athlete will chase the lead athlete under varying signals. The signal could be a “Go” command or whistle from the coach to use an auditory command. The signal could also be the lead athlete taking off when they are ready, this is a visual command.
4. Kick the Can Tag- This is a great game to teach teamwork and strategy for young and old athletes. Athletes will learn how to accelerate, dodge, change directions, use awareness, and breakdown. In this game two teams are formed. One team is chosen to protect the can and capture all the opponents. The other team is to kick the can before any teammates are captured to win the game or kick the can to free captured teammates. This game needs to be played on a large field. There needs to be large center circle, as is the case in soccer, in the center of the field. The can gets placed in the center of the circle. Only the person chosen to guard the can be in the circle on the tagging team. The boundaries should be set large enough to allow the offensive team to run and spread the tagging team out. If a player gets tagged they will be placed in a designated jail. The only way a player gets out of jail is if the can is kicked by another offensive player. If all the players are tagged the game is over. If the offensive team kicks the can before any player is in jail the game is over.
I hope you enjoy these tag games and use many more. Tag is a great way to teach many skills and to motivate your athletes. Tag can be played with just about any age and ability level. Have fun!
Lee Taft
www.sportsspeedetc.com
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