Run The Gauntlet 🎯👑🎾

YouTube tutorial: https://youtu.be/wAqA4ptPoxw?si=j18RtjVKxpA3ftbV

🎯 Purpose:

Fun game to burn energy and keep kids engaged at the end of a session.

🧠 Set-up

🏟️ Use a hall, court or open indoor space

🎯 Mark out a channel or corridor down the middle using cones, lines or throw-down markers

🎾 Scatter a pile of soft balls or foam balls to one side

🚀 How to Play

🧒 Children line up at one end of the corridor

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Parents kneel or stand along both sides of the corridor, holding soft balls

On “Go!” 👉 children run, skip or jump through the gauntlet

👨‍👩‍👦 Parents gently roll balls across the corridor, aiming to “tag” kids below the knees

⛔ If a child is hit — they freeze for 3 seconds or do a silly dance, then continue!

🔁 Progressions & Variations

🔄 Swap roles: Parents run, kids roll

👟 Coaches run while kids roll and cheer!

🏃‍♂️ Add movement types: hopping, crab walk, skipping

⏱️ Add a “timer” challenge — can the group beat the clock?

👶 Feathers (Adaptations for Younger Kids)

🧸 Allow kids to walk slowly at first

🙋 Use only 1–2 balls at a time to avoid chaos

🪄 Let them hold hands with a parent or assistant the first time

💡 Coach Tips

🎉 Keep the energy fun — make it dramatic! 📣 Get kids to shout out silly chants as they run (e.g. “Can’t catch me!”) 👏 Big round of applause at the end for bravery!