| At the end of each term I will usually have a | | | | evenly over the playing area. Then you should make |
| competition night with the youngsters at my youth | | | | one piece of card or paper for each number and write |
| group. What adds to the excitement is that every child | | | | them down on it. So you will need 120 to 200 pieces |
| will receive a gift or some sort of prize and the winning | | | | of card or paper. The game is played as follows; you |
| team will receive just that little bit more than the others. | | | | hand one piece of paper to each player, they will look |
| For these nights I like to split the children in to three or | | | | around to find that number and see which name is |
| four even teams. As you will see, you do need a fair | | | | beside it, they will then come back and hopefully tell |
| bit of adult help to make sure these games work | | | | you the correct answer and you swap their card for |
| safely. With four teams, I like to have four different mini | | | | another one. The aim of the game is to score as |
| games in different rooms or different corners of the | | | | many points as possible in a race against the clock. |
| main room that is to be used. The teams will work | | | | Each team will have their turn separately; so you will |
| together on one game trying to score as many points | | | | have three or four rounds depending on the total |
| as possible and then move on to the next game. So | | | | number of teams taking part. |
| you need to divide the desired playing time in to four | | | | As for the other games, traditional games such as |
| quarters so that all the kids have a turn at each game. | | | | soccer, hockey, softball, basketball and dodgeball can |
| This idea encourages team spirit and is just a bit less | | | | be played. Mini games that you can play with one or |
| competitive than the competitions I play with three | | | | two teams are as follows: |
| teams. | | | | - Throwing a ball to knock down a bowling pin |
| The three team method requires you to give numbers | | | | - Tossing a bean bag in to a bucket |
| to each player; so try to make the teams as even as | | | | - Egg and Spoon race |
| possible. You can use playing cards or slips of paper | | | | - Quiz questions and puzzles |
| to inform the players what number they have been | | | | - Flicking coins on to a Shuffleboard |
| allocated. In these games, one team will go leave the | | | | - Rolling dice |
| main room and play any game which requires them to | | | | - Flicking tiddlywinks in to a cup or container |
| score as many points as possible. The other two | | | | - Finding a specific playing card out of a group when |
| teams will play each other in a competitive game | | | | they are placed face down on a table |
| where the leader will call out the numbers of players | | | | - Blowing a ping pong ball from one end of the table to |
| who will play that particular round. So you need to play | | | | the other so it falls off in to a bucket or container |
| 3 separate periods to ensure the children have a turn | | | | - Bouncing ping pong balls in to glass jars or buckets. |
| in all of the activities. The competitive game can be the | | | | (Buckets are easier and safer). |
| same for each period or you can change it every time. | | | | All those games can be played with two teams where |
| On competition night, I always try and include a wide | | | | one has to be quicker than the other, or one team |
| area game where one team can work together | | | | where they have to score as many points as they |
| against the clock to score as many points as possible. | | | | can in a limited time. And I am sure you can think of |
| One idea, is to find between 120 to 200 nouns such as | | | | others. At the end of the competition you add up all |
| people's names, countries, other place names, | | | | the scores from the various games, announce the |
| musicians. famous people, object you might find at | | | | winner and hand out the prizes. To be fair, you need to |
| school or in the house or sports and activities. Type | | | | make sure that all the games have the same scoring |
| these in to a computer or just write them on a piece | | | | value, but at the end of the day the winning team is up |
| of paper in groups of ten. These nouns should be | | | | to you - I have often given it to the team that has tried |
| numbered, so if you decide on 120 of these then you | | | | the hardest rather than the one with most points. Good |
| will have 12 sheets with ten names etc on them. The | | | | luck with your competition night! |
| sheets of paper should be pinned, tacked or taped | | | | |