Indoor Gym Games

Mice in the Corner

• Gather the kids in the center of the gym to play this energetic running game from the website "Fun Attic." Select one of the players to become the Blind Cat in the middle of the gym. After you blindfold him, tell all of the other players to pick one corner of the room to occupy. When you blow your whistle, the players in the corners have to head to any other corner in the gym. At the same time, the Blind Cat tries to eliminate as many players as he can by throwing a ball in the direction he senses the players running. The last player standing, having avoided getting hit by the Blind Cat&'s ball, wins the game.

Annie Annie Over

• Play this entertaining gym game from the website "Family Fun" by first dividing the players into two teams. Hang a large sheet or blanket over a volleyball net, or drape it across two poles in the gym. Both teams assume either side of the blanket. Hand Team A a ball. At a random moment, one of Team A&'s members throws the ball over the blanket. Team B has to pay close attention to catch the ball mid-air before it hits the ground. If Team B does catch the ball, they rush over to Team A&'s side and try to tag them. Team A races to the other side of the blanket to avoid getting tagged. If a player does get tagged, he joins the enemy&'s side. On the other hand, if Team B does not catch the ball, they throw the ball to Team A&' s side. Continue the game until all of the players end up on one team.

Giant Squid

• Set up a square area in the gym and pick one student to play the "Giant Squid," as suggested by the "Dr. Woolard" website. Send the Giant Squid to the middle of the square area. Have all the other players stand behind one side of the square&'s boundaries. When the Giant Squid shouts out "Swim, fish, swim" the players on the sidelines race to the opposite side of the square. The Giant Squid tries to tag as many players as he can as they race past her. Any player who gets caught has to stand frozen in the middle and tag other players in subsequent rounds, turning those players into frozen fish as well. Have the Giant Squid continue to call out "Swim, fish, swim" with the players racing to the other side until only one player remains.