Treasure raid
Why it works
It is the only game on the list with a reason to go and a reason to wait, and that is what makes kids talk to each other. Safe in your own half means every crossing is a decision, and a team that sends one player at a time loses to a team that sends three.
Run it
12 MINTwelve minutes or first to all eight. This is a finisher and it runs itself, so let it run.
Say this
“Go together or do not go.”
Two raiders at once splits the defenders; one raider is a free flag.
“Defenders, do not all chase the ball.”
Somebody has to stay near the pile.
“Home is safe. Use it.”
Retreating to your own half is allowed and is often the right answer.
Good looks like
- Raids happen in twos and threes rather than one at a time.
- At least one defender stays near the pile without being told.
- Players use their own half to reset rather than getting pulled.
- You can hear them planning between raids.
The mistakes
Everybody going at once on their own, which is four separate losses.
Say: “Go together or do not go.”
The whole team sprinting at the first raider while the second one walks in.
Say: “Defenders, do not all chase the ball.”
Fighting it out in enemy territory when going home and coming back again was free.
Say: “Home is safe. Use it.”
Shorter field and two balls per pile so a raid is quick and everybody scores one.
One ball at a time per team, or make a pulled raider stay out until his next team mate scores.