Duck Duck Goose

An old favorite from childhood gets a fitness twist…

Players: 3+

Equipment: None

Game: Maybe you remember this one from the old schoolyard.  It’s best with large groups but you can play with as few as 3 people.  Setup players in a large circle, spread out equidistant from each other.  Pick one player to start as the tagger.  The tagger will walk around the outside of the circle, saying “duck” or “goose” as he/she passes and taps the other players.  These players are all performing stationary exercises of your choosing (exercises like plank, glute bridge, and push-ups work well since they keep people on the ground).  When the tagger says the word “goose” and taps a player in the circle, that player is picked must quickly get up and chase the tagger around the circle and tag them before the tagger gets back to the empty spot in the circle where the picked player was.  If the tagger makes it back to the spot before the picked person then the picked person becomes the new tagger.  Otherwise, the tagger stays as the tagger.  Since my clients bring mats, I say the tagger is safe when they touch the mat, but you can use a cone – just follow the tagger around and put a cone where the picked person gets up.

PRO TIP:  Pick a new stationary exercise for the players in the circle every time there is a new tagger.

 

Variations:

• Up the Stakes: If the tagger picks someone and is tagged, HE/SHE DOES BURPEES before the tagging continues.  Really gets the group to cheer for the tagger.  You can do the reverse of this and make EVERYONE ELSE do burpees when the tagger makes it around safely.  This makes the game harder and more of a finisher.
• Goose is Cooked: The tagger and picked person must run around and PAST the empty spot one (or more!) times before they are safe.  Can combine this with Up the Stakes to make it quite tough for the group.

 

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