We invented this game over the summer and it was a hit! The kids love it because it’s a fun, silly game. And the parents love it because it’s a cheap, easy way to get the kids out of the house and burn some energy.

Overview:

Summary: Lizard Tails is a game like tag. The players run around trying to steal each other’s tails. The goal of the game is to be the last lizard standing with a tail.

Recommended Ages: 5-15 (But all ages can have fun)

Setup time: 1 minute

Time per game: 2 minutes

Materials Needed:

• Pool noodles (one per person)
• An area to run (I use half a tennis court at the neighborhood park)

Setup:

• Have players stick a pool noodle in the elastic band of their shorts behind their back.
• Run 8-12 inches of the pool noodle through the elastic band so that it won’t fall out on its own.
• The remaining 4-5 feet of the pool noodle should be sticking up behind their backs, wagging in the air like a giant tail.
• Have everyone go to a different corner of the play area.

Rules:

• On “go” everyone runs around the court trying to steal other lizards’ tails while trying to keep their own.
• If they run out of bounds, they are out.
• If they lose their tail, they are out.
• If two lizards rip off each other’s tails off at the same time, they are both out.
• The last lizard standing with a tail is the winner.

Variations:

• Bread Winner: Add “food” in the middle of the play area. (I use a beach ball.) If a lizard can pick up the food and carry it off the court without losing his tail, he automatically wins. If he loses his tail, he drops the food where it is, and he is out.
• Collector: When a lizard steals a tail, they can add it to their waist band so they now have more tails they can lose. (It’s like having extra lives.)
• Tribes: Have the lizards group up in two corners of the court and turn it team-based competition.
• Sinking Island: Over time, shrink the play area so the lizards have less and less area to run around, making it harder to avoid conflict.

(Optional) Debrief:

Below are some fun questions you could ask your kids after the games:

• What was the winning strategy?
• How did you balance offense and defense?
• What skills would you improve to become the unbeatable lizard?
• What is a variation of the game you would like to try?