Tag

There are few playground games as well-known as tag. Tag is played all over the world and has a number of different names and variations. But across the board, the basic idea is that one player, often referred to as “it,” has to try to tag the other players with a touch or a tap, thus transferring roles. The person touched or tagged then becomes “it.” Read on to find out how tag is played and some interesting variations of this old schoolyard classic!

tag4Choosing Who’s “It”

There are a number of ways to agree on who is “it” during the first round of tag. Kids often use a counting game or a quick round of Rock, Paper, Scissors. Sometimes, one child will simply volunteer to be “it” the first time around. Some variations,specify that when a player is tagged by “it,” he or she cannot tag the same person in return and has to tag someone new. Other variations of the game indicate that when the original “it” tags a player, both players become “it,” meaning there are progressively more “its” until only one untagged player is left, thereby winning the game.

Safety

Some versions include safety areas where players may not be tagged. These may include when the players are in out-of-bounds and cordoned-off areas or touching specified walls, trees, or playground structures. In the United States, the safe zone is referred to as a “gool” or a “Dell.”

tag2Variations

There are hundreds or variations of tag, according to different regions. The following are some of the most popular versions of tag played around the world:

  • Cops and Robbers: In this game, players are split into two groups: cops and robbers. The cops work together to tag the robbers and put them in jail. Robbers may help their teammates out of jail by tagging them when they are being held in a jail area without getting tagged by police. The game ends when all of the robbers are in jail.
  • Manhunt: This game combines both tag and hide and seek. One person is chosen to be “it,” while all the other kids go and hide. After a waiting period, the person who is “it” must find and tag all of the other players. Players who are tagged are either out or join in finding new players to tag.
  • What Time is it, Mr. Wolf: This is another popular game on the schoolyard. One player is chosen to be the wolf and stands far away from the other players on a tarmac or playing field. The players call out, “What’s the time Mr. Wolf?” and the wolf answers with a time, usually ending in o’clock. Players are required to take steps towards the wolf according to the time, for instance seven o’clock equals seven steps. Once the wolf decides that the players are close enough, she may answer “Dinner time!” at which point all of the kids have to run to safety on the starting line while the wolf chases them. When a player is tagged by the wolf, she becomes Mr. Wolf in the next round