Relays

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Basing a night / program around relays can be fun if you're creative. 

Basic Relay Race Setup:

Team Formation: Divide your youth group into teams with an equal number of participants. Teams can have as few as two participants each or more, depending on the size of your group.

Race Course: Set up a designated race course. This course can be as simple as a straight line or a more complex route with turns and obstacles, depending on the space available.

Baton or Object: Each team needs a baton or an object to pass from one participant to the next. A baton can be a simple stick, a foam relay baton, or any easily held object.

Types of Relay Races:

Traditional Relay: In this type of relay, each team member runs a segment of the race, passes the baton to the next person, and so on until the final team member crosses the finish line.

Obstacle Relay: Add obstacles or challenges to the race course that participants must complete before passing the baton. For example, they might have to crawl under a table, jump over a cone, or solve a puzzle.

Wheelbarrow Relay: In this variation, participants pair up, with one person walking on their hands while their partner holds their feet like a wheelbarrow. They must reach the next person in line before passing the baton.

Three-Legged Race: Participants pair up, and each pair has one leg tied to their partner's leg. They must hop or run together to pass the baton.

Backward Relay: Run the relay course backward, adding an element of challenge and fun as participants face the opposite direction while running.

Sack Race Relay: Instead of using a baton, have participants use potato sacks and hop or jump to the next teammate.

Water Relay: Add water-themed challenges, such as filling and passing water balloons or carrying a cup of water without spilling it.

Here's a list to get you started:

  • Egg & spoon race
  • Carry water in a thimble
  • Dress up (putting on dress-up clothes)
  • Carry a message (Chinese whispers style)
  • Eating relay - eat a bag full of food (onion, jelly, pickles, garlic cloves, etc.)
  • Feed things through pantyhose (pudding, water balloons, apple sauce, etc.)
  • Balloon popping (run to a chair with a balloon on the seat, sit on it to pop, then run back)
  • Clothespin - pin 5 clothespins to the first person's clothes, they run around a designated point and come back, the next person has to take the clothespins off (optionally with teeth for added difficulty), pin them to their own clothes and then run themselves
  • Skateboard 

Add your own suggestions in the comments box below and we'll add them to the list!

Tips for Relay Races:

Safety First: Ensure that the race course is safe and free from hazards. Brief participants on safety rules, especially when incorporating obstacles.

Practice Handoffs: Before the race, allow teams to practice baton handoffs to avoid dropping it during the race.

Timekeeping: Use a timer or stopwatch to record each team's time. You can also have someone serve as a referee to ensure fair play.

Cheering and Team Spirit: Encourage teams to come up with creative team names and chants to build camaraderie and spirit.

Variation: Mix things up by having relay races with various themes, such as costume relays or holiday-themed relays.

Awards and Prizes: Consider giving awards or small prizes to the winning team or teams with the most creative team name or cheer.

Relay races are a fantastic way to engage your youth group in friendly competition while promoting teamwork, communication, and physical activity. They can be adapted to suit various age groups and skill levels, making them a versatile option for youth group gatherings and events.



Features
  • Night
Objectives
  • Ice breaker
Space
  • Indoor
  • Large area
  • Outdoor
  • Small area
Age
  • Primary or Elementary School
  • Teens (Age 12-15)
  • Teens (Age 16-18)

Group Size
  • Small Groups (1-9 people)
  • Medium (10-29 people)
  • Large groups (30+)

Duration
  • Longer (30-60 mins)
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Comments

Water balloon toss

- Christine (10 Sep 2007)

Doggy-Relay Race

Split up into teams of 5 people each. All teams race at the same time. Each person has to crawl on his/her hands and knees with a clothespin in his/her mouth and must retrieve a doggy biscuit from a dog dish on the other side of the room, by picking it up with the clothespin. After retrieving the dog biscuit, he/she will crawl back and tag the next person in the line. The first team to get every person to pick up a doggy biscuit with the clothespin and get back in a line and sit down- wins! It's harder than it sounds and loads of fun.
- Amy Scheid (11 Oct 2007)

Try a blind folded obstacle course. I did this my my youth group last year and they loved it! Pair them up and blind fold one of the people. The one that is not blind folded has to lead the other under tables, down stairs, around pews etc. This really gets them to think about team work and puts them a little out of their comfort zone
- Megan (25 Sep 2008)

Got Your Back Relay--
They pair off in teams of two and then two teams with a captain., Each pair will blow up a balloon--not totally inflated is better. They place the balloon between their backs and they have area they hae to go and return. If they drop the balloon the captain can place it back for them. If they pop it then they have to get a new balloon blow it up and start back. They really enjoy this relay.
- Susan (21 Sep 2009)

Food Relay:
In a bag or box place various edible sweets, raisins, crackers, etc. Depending on the size of your group split up into groups of 7-10 people per team.

Place the bags or box of treats up high about 50 feet away so the relay person cannot see what he or she is grabbing.

On the word "GO" the first person runs to the bag of treats and must eat what they have selected. (Careful to pay attention to potential allergies).

The re-layer must totally chew and swallow the item they chose and then go back and tag the next person in their group.

The contest ends when the bag of treats is empty.

Have fun playing. The spoiler I found is black liquorish.
- John Wilson (21 Oct 2010)

Carrying water, in a straw(thumb over top of straw) to fill up a SMALL cup 10 feet away.

- Diane (19 Aug 2011)

Tuck a orange under your neck and pass it to the other person without using your hands
- Forrester. F (11 Feb 2012)

put a pair of pantyhose around someones head with a tennis ball inside and water bottles in a circle around them using their "trunk" to knock them over
- amueller (10 Sep 2013)

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