Looking for ways to get kids motivated to run? Most kids like running, but some may not be too excited about the idea of just running laps around a track or a gymnasium.
Planning organized running games for kids is a perfect way to get kids to exercise, while still having a good time. Often they’re having so much fun that they’re not even aware how much they’re running!
Running Games that Kids Love
Whether you’re looking for kids running games for a sports practice, physical education class, camp activities, a birthday party, or just to play in the backyard, here are some that are always a big hit with kids.
I use most of these running games for kids with the youth track team (grades K-8) that I coach, so I can attest to their popularity with kids of all ages.
1. Capture the Flag
I remember playing (and thoroughly enjoying) this classic running game as a kid. My own kids love it whenever they play it during gym class, afterschool, or at camp.
What’s needed: Cones or other markers to mark field; two flags (can be placed in a cone)
How to Play:
- This game should be played on a field or in a gymnasium. Divide kids into two even teams.
- Mark the middle of the field or gym with several cones or markers. Place each team’s flag about 50 feet from the middle of the field or gym.
- When you blow or whistle or say “go”, each team runs to the other side of the field and tries to grab the other team’s flag.
- If a player is tagged on the opponent’s side of the field, he or she goes to jail (a designated area on the side of the field). You can only be rescued from jail if a teammate frees you (by tagging your hand).
- The team who captures their flags the most times wins the game.
2. Sharks and Minnows
This game is similar to capture the flag, except you’re just trying to avoid getting tagged and you’re not trying to get a flag.
What’s needed: A rectangular open play area (field or gym) with boundaries marked with lines or cones.
How to Play:
- Identify 1-4 kids (depending on size of the group) as sharks. Everyone else will be minnows.
- The sharks stand in the middle of the field and shout, “Shark, bait, swim!”
- The minnows line up on one end of the rectangle and then start running across the field to the opposite boundary line and try to avoid being tagged by a shark.
- If a minnow is tagged, he or she becomes a shark and also tries to tag other minnows.
- When there are only one or two minnows left, they become the sharks in the next round.
3. The Bag Game
I play this game all the time with my kids’ track team and all the kids, from first to seventh graders, enjoy it. They’re having so much fun that they end up running hard intervals without protesting or complaining one bit.
What’s needed: Brown paper bag; small pieces of paper with different landmarks or locations written on them.
How to play:
- This game is best played outdoors, in an open area with different landmarks or locations that the kids can run to.
- On small pieces of paper, a coach or other adult writes down the names of landmarks in the vicinity, i.e., bleachers, goal post, backstop, equipment shed, long jump pit.
- Place the pieces of paper in a small bag that’s easy to carry and run with, such as a brown paper lunch bag.
- One kid pulls out a piece of paper and reads the location. Then they all have to run to that spot.
- Once everyone reaches the destination, a different kid pulls out another piece of paper. When I play with my kids’ track team, we keep going until each kid has a turn picking the destination. Even the older kids insist that they all get a chance to pick!
4. The Card Game
This game is similar to the Bag Game, with a couple different twists. Two kids are involved in each round, so it’s especially good for younger kids who want more turns. The kids also like that they get to make some decisions during this game.
What’s needed: Playing cards (I usually use 4 through 10, no lower numbers or face cards.)
How to Play:
- A coach or other adult needs to hold a (modified – see above) deck of cards for this game.
- Two kids pick one card each and then show their cards, like in the card game War.
- The kid with the higher card gets to pick where the group will run to next (similar to the Bag Game, but they can just pick a spot, they don’t need to pick out of a bag.)
- The kid with the lower card gets to choose an exercise (i.e., jumping jacks, squats, lunges, burpees) that the group will do before running to the chosen spot. Whatever value is on the card, that’s the number of exercises the group will do. For example, if the kid’s card is the 7 of hearts and he picks squats, then the group will do 7 squats before running to the next spot.
- Once the group completes the exercises, they run to the chosen spot, where two different kids can both choose a card.
- If the two kids pick cards with the same value, it’s a war! And then they just choose two new cards and face off again.
5. Pony Express
Whenever we play this game at track practice, some of the kids sprint faster than I’ve ever seen them run before. It’s a ton of fun and really brings out the kids’ competitive spirit. They also get a chance to work on their relay running skills.
What’s needed: A marked circle either on a field or in a gym; baton (optional)
How to Play:
- Divide kids into two even teams.
- Each team forms a line on opposite sides of the circle.
- On your command, one kid from each team starts running around the circle (in the same direction). The goal is to get back to their line and tag the next person on their team without getting caught (tagged) by the runner on the other team.
- Once the runner reaches his team’s line, he slaps his teammate’s hand (you can also use batons if you want). Then that kid starts running around the circle, while trying to avoid being caught by the other team’s runner.
- The first team to get all of their runners around the circle and sitting down in a line wins.
6. Who Has the Most Marbles (or Ping Pong Balls)?
This game is a great way to keep kids having fun and staying motivated when they’re doing hill or interval repeats. I’ve played it with marbles and ping pong balls, and would recommend ping pong balls, if possible. They’re easier to pick up and it’s harder to cheat when using them (some kids may try to pick up a few marbles, rather than just one.)
What’s needed: Four small buckets; bag or two of marbles or ping pong balls
How to Play:
- Divide up the marbles or ping pong balls into two buckets. Place those buckets at the top of a hill — or about 100 feet away if you don’t have a hill.
- Divide kids into two even teams. Line up each team behind the other two empty buckets, at the bottom of the hill or start of your interval. The two empty buckets should be in line with the other two buckets at the top.
- On your command, the first kid in each line runs up the hill. They should pick up ONE marble or ping pong ball from their team’s bucket, then run down the hill and place it in the bucket at the bottom of the hill. Once they drop the marble or ball in the bucket, the next teammate in their line can run up the hill to pick one up.
- After a set amount of time (for example, three minutes), blow a whistle or tell them to stop running. Then count the marbles or balls in each team’s bucket. The team with the most wins that round. You can do several rounds of the same or varying lengths, until the kids have gotten in a good hill or interval workout. You can also play it so that the first team to empty their bucket wins.
- Keep an eye on the buckets at the bottom of the hill to make sure kids aren’t cheating by dropping more than one marble!
- If you have a very large group, you can add another set or two of buckets for three to four lines.
7. Scavenger Hunt
I play this game with the first to third graders on my track team and they really like it. They get so excited about finding the next item on the list, they seem to forget that they’re even running.
What’s needed: List of items to find.
How to Play:
- Write out a list of items/places that can be found in the area where the kids will be running. When I write my lists, I make some of the items specific (i.e., a water fountain) and others vague (i.e., something that starts with the letter G), so the kids can get creative with their answers.
- Start with the first item on the list and run to that destination.
- Once you get there, move on to the next item on the list. I usually carry a crayon or marker so one kid can check off the item when we get there.
Need more ideas for kids’ running games? Try some of these Racing Games for Kids.
If kids are stuck indoors, try some of these fun ideas for indoor physical activities.
Also see:
- Kids’ Marathon Running Challenge
- Gifts for Active Kids
- Running Shoes for Kids
- More Running Games for Kids
- Cross Country Practice Workouts
About the author: Christine Luff is a certified RRCA running coach, kids’ track coach, and an American Council on Exercise certified youth fitness specialist. Her book, Run for Good: How to Create a Lifelong Running Habit, is available on Amazon.
