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Physical Education Tag Games

As adolescents age, their amount of physical activity decreases, according to the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. Thus, the importance of keeping students moving and exercising in physical education classes becomes even greater. Different games involving running and tagging players help children become engaged in the energy-burning activities and teaches them the importance of staying fit.

Split the Pairs
- Pick one player to be "It." Divide the rest of the players into pairs and have each pair hold hands. "It" has to count to 50 while the other players race away from him. Once he reaches 50, he rushes to find the pairs and only has to tag one partner of a pair to eliminate that pair from the game. As soon as "It" has tagged all of the players out of the game, pick a new player to play "It."
Beware the Blob
- Choose one player to become the Blob, or at least the initial stage of the Blob. All the other players run away as the Blob counts to 100. When she finishes counting, she runs to tag players. Any player tagged has to join the Blob by holding hands with all the other tagged players as well as the original Blob. They work together until all players have become part of the Blob except one; the remaining player wins the game.
True or False Run
- Divide the students into two teams: the "true" team and the "false" team. Have the teams stand facing each other in the middle of a large field. When ready, state something that's either true or false, such as "An apple is a vegetable" (false) or "The sky is blue" (true). If you say something false, the false team chases the true team trying to tag as many players as they can. If you say something true, the opposite occurs. Any players tagged join the opposing team. End the game when all players have joined one team.
Lying in Wait
- This game works well in a large outdoor area with trees. Separate the players into two teams. Set up a safe point at which the players can stand to avoid being tagged. Hand one team a bag of bread crumbs. Tell that team to head into the wooded area, leaving bread crumbs to provide the other team a path to follow. The second team waits for five minutes and then follows the bread crumb trail. The first team waits until they see the second team, at which point they all reveal themselves and chase the second team back to the safe point. Any players tagged have to leave the game. Continue until only one player remains and wins.

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