Active games for team building
French Vs English
First off I wanted to say that this is probably one of my all time favourite youth group games....
Cups and Downs
This game is best played with a small group. Place 20 or more cups in the middle of the room,...
Countries
This is a really great running wide game - good for burning off a lot of energy. However, it's...
Biblical Detectives
This kind of thing can be really fun if it is done properly and works out well. Basically the...
Three Ball Soccer
This is soccer. Soccer with not just one ball, not just two balls, but three balls! You'll need three...
Fresh
Fresh is a classic youth group running and strategy game. It's good for those kids who like to show...
Pea Pipes
Simple relay structure for this game. 4 teams line up at one end. Place a bowl of peas (or whatever...
Caterpillar Race
Divide your youth group kids into some groups, 4 works well as a relay. Just make sure the groups aren't...
Chairball
Set up your hall like a foosball table: With chairs as the black and white team. The 'black' chairs...
Fruit Juice Face-off
Each team must line up behind an empty bowl. At the other end there must be a bucket of...
Rock Paper Scissors
In the middle of the playing field set up 2 long lines with a bout 1 - 2 metres to divide them....
Mr Whippy
Divide everyone into teams. Select one player from each team to lay down with a cone in their mouth....
Sponge Ball Skirmish
2 teams, each team sets up a base on either side of the hall/playing area with limited about of...
Who's Line Is It Anyway
Everyone's seen the "Whose Line Is It Anyway" TV show right? Anyway, it's a theatre sport game. The possibilties...
Gum Boot Goop
Each team of four has a pair of boots. For each round, they nominate a player to answer a...
Coal Mine Relay
This is a basic relay race using wheel barrows. You'll need at least two teams, each team needing 1 wheelbarrow....
Egg and Custard Game
This is a wide game that we play across the grounds of a school, best done at night time....
Circle Untangle
This is an all time classic icebreaker game! Everyone stands in a big circle and then grabs onto two...
Rock Paper Dragon
This game is great as an icebreaker and our group did it the first night of a youth confrence....
Blinded Volleyball
Have your group split up into two teams and set up like they are going to play volleyball. Then...
Niteball
Setup: Sticky-tape a ring of glow-sticks to the opening of the bins, one colour per bin. then place the...
Proper Dodgeball
The most popular game at our Youth Group (played just like in the movie 'dodgeball'). Two teams line up...
A Light In Darkness
This is a great, fun game for leading into topics like spiritual warfare, reaching the lost, etc. This is...
Balloon Frenzy
The aim of this balloon game is to knock the opposing teams balloons to the floor whilst keeping your...
Banana Chomp Relay: Search
As the teens get there, have them print their name on a list. This gives you the right spelling...
Lima Bean Relay Race
Give each team member a straw. Place two tables about 10 feet apart. One the first table have a paper...
Banana Chomp Relay: Eat
Using the Bananas with the kids' names on them, pile all the bananas in a heap at the front...
Candy Pants
I love this game mostly because of the name, but it is fun to watch and play. One person...
Blend-O-Rama
In this messy food game, contestants (two teams of two) face each other in three mini-games. The winner of...
Ultimate Soccer
Each team selects a "goalie" who will stand on a platform. The goal is to get the soccer ball...
Zombie Apocalypse
How to Play: Basically, there will be three teams. One is the Zombies, one is the Survivors, the last...
Cup Stack Relay
Line two teams up next to each other with a table a few metres away from the start of...
Team Bump
Divide group into 2 teams and have them stand on opposite sides of basketball hoop in parallel lines. If playing...
Play Dough Pictionary
Split the group into groups of about 5 pleople and distribute them around the room. Each group is given a...
Ultimate Frisbee
Divide the group into 2 teams. Create a playing field with 2 "end zones" which are essentially rectangles marked out with 4...
Molecule
This simulation game is a great one to play on a youth camp. It involves a lot of running...
Human Relay
Each team stands in a straight line behind one another at the start line. When the relay commences the...
NetTag
Create two teams out of your youth group. We usually separate with girls vs boys but that's not necessary...
Shoe Wars
This game is really simple and so much fun. You divide the room with some kind of dividers. You...
Vegemite Cheeks
You separate into 2 (or more) teams. Each group lines up in a single file. At the front of the...
Human Battleships
One of my favourite things is taking something normal and making it life-size. The game of battleships is great...
Key Game
You can do this with any amount of kids you would like (min of 5 kids per team) the more...
Speed Cricket
This game has proven to be a real hit. We play it inside after our bible study has finished....
Tug of Water War!
Before the game starts place all the objects at a hidden place where you it is not too difficult...
Skit Night
We came up with this at our first lock-in 3 years ago and it is one of our most requested...
Bacon
An action oriented game good for medium and large sized groups. Similar to football and ultimate, two teams try...
Bases
Bases An Outdoor Team Game Overview: Bases is a fast-paced outdoor game that combines elements of Capture the Flag,...
Rescue Relay
Preparation: 1. Tie each life saving device (we used empty cordial bottles) to a separate rope 2. Set out a start...
Chinese Kickball
This is kind of like a normal game of kickball except there is only one pitcher--no outfielders, and everyone...
Going Up or Going Down?
You start by splitting everyone up into teams of two. Everyone is standing and has their backs against each...