Capture the Flag

Materials: two "flags" (scarves, bandanas and old towels work well), a whistle, flagging tape; also armbands of two different colours, face paint or some other method of telling the teams apart

To Play:

a) The Set-up: The play area should be as large as possible, with distinct boundaries, and preferably wooded. For example, a tract of woods with easily-seen paths works well. Divide the area into two equal territories, and either run a rope down the middle or mark the boundary with flagging tape. Within each territory mark a "prison" with flagging tape or other suitable material.

b) The Rules: The girls are divided into two equal teams. Each team wears armbands or face paint to tell them apart, and each team claims a territory. The teams are given ten minutes in which to hide their flags somewhere within their territory. Flags must be visible (i.e. burying them is not allowed), and if hung in a tree, must be low enough for the shortest member of the defending team to reach. The team must also figure out how best plan their strategy for the game: how many girls will act as defenders for the home territory, and how many will invade the enemy territory.

The goal of the game is for each team to try and find the flag of the other team and carry it back to their own territory, while keeping their own flag safe. A leader blasts the whistle to start the game. Girls trying to invade the enemy's territory must proceed with care, because if they are tagged by a defender, they are sent to prison! Girls can only be sprung from the enemy's prison by a free member of their own team. If the teams are fairly small, I put a limit on the number of prisoners which can be held at one time.

The game should be run for at least an hour, and longer if possible, depending on the number of players and how well each team's strategy works out.


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