Low-Cost, No-Equipment Games for Your Sports Club
Running a sports club can be expensive, especially when you’re constantly replacing equipment or preparing for sessions across different locations.
Having a bank of low-cost, no-equipment games can help you keep sessions engaging without needing to invest in more kit. It can also give you a useful backup plan when equipment is lost or damaged, a venue changes at short notice, or you simply don’t have access to your usual kit.
Here are some simple games and activities you can keep in your toolkit!
What games work well with no equipment?
Many games thrive without equipment and create an exciting environment for all without the hassle of setting up. It also means you don’t have to fork out an arm and a leg! Here are some examples:
Stuck in the mud
The classic game that almost everyone knows. But if you need a reminder of the rules, it’s simple:
One or more people are selected as the hunter and it is their job to tag everyone else.
Once someone has been tagged, they must freeze and put out their arms in a ‘T-Pose’ position.
Those who are frozen or ‘stuck in the mud’ can unfreeze if another person runs under their arms.
The game ends when either everyone is frozen or the time runs out.
All Together
This is a great game that requires teamwork and works especially well even in smaller spaces!
Participants pair up and sit back-to-back on the ground.
Their job is then to stand up without using their hands.
It’s an easy game that develops physical skills such as balance, coordination and strength, while requiring no preparation.
Switch
Players must form a circle with someone in the middle.
If you have a large number of players, either have more than one person in the middle or split into smaller circles.
Those on the outside of the circle then have to switch positions without being tagged by the player in the middle.
If the tagger catches someone during a switch, the one tagged then goes in the middle.
This game encourages communication, quick thinking and fast reflexes.
What games work with cones, bibs and other basics you may own?
You may already own some basic equipment such as cones, bibs and markers. Here are a few ways to make games out of them:
Cyclops
Simply put, it’s tag with a cone.
The tagger carries a cone and uses it to tag players. For younger participants, you could use a soft bib or other suitable piece of equipment instead. Implementing rules like no throwing above waist or shoulder height will reduce possible safety concerns.
If you are caught, you become the tagger and take the cone.
Bulldogs tag (Non-Contact)
For this game, you must get from point A to point B without being caught.
This game can also be played with no equipment, but it’s useful to use an item like a cone to mark the two boundaries.
A tagger or ‘Bulldog’ starts in the middle of the two points and must tag the runners before they reach the safe zones.
Runners can only run after the tagger calls ‘Bulldogs’.
If you are tagged, you join the Bulldog and have to tag others.
The last runner left wins.
This can be a lively way to develop teamwork and agility.
Capture The Flag
The aim is to bring the other team's flag back to your own. Rules can vary, but here is one simple version!
Create two teams and give each a territory (half of the space you have each).
Each team has a flag they must protect. The flag can be a cone or a bib and is placed somewhere in both teams' territory.
Designate each team a jail. You can do this with just a few cones.
Players can only be tagged in the opposition territory.
Once tagged they must go to the opposing jail and can only be released if a teammate tags them out.
If a player is tagged while carrying the flag, it returns to its original location.
The first team to successfully bring the other flag to their own wins.
How do you keep sports sessions varied without buying more kit?
There are many ways to do this. Simply swapping between games is a good way to make every session feel fresh and exciting.
An easy way to keep your sessions varied is to make a list of the different sessions you offer and the games that work well for each one. Planning a few variations in advance can help you avoid repeating the same activities from week to week while keeping sessions fresh and engaging.
You can also switch up the games you already have. All you need to do is be creative, adjust the rules, add in new elements and a game will feel like a whole new one.
Examples may be: Adding more hunters in tag like games, or adding points systems. For example, in Capture the Flag players gain a point if they send an opponent to jail and gain five if they capture the flag. So, now instead of winning by bringing the opposing flag to their own, a team wins by having the most points.
A great approach is to ask participants what they want, as this encourages excitement and engagement. It also allows you to understand their needs and preferences, so you can tailor future sessions accordingly.
What activities work when equipment is lost, damaged or left behind?
Many of the games previously mentioned still work in their entirety, even with lost or damaged equipment.
Simon Says is another game that works well, making participants focus and can even still involve exercise! (Such as “Simon Says do 5 star jumps.”)
A backup plan is always a good idea, especially if you are not able to purchase replacement equipment as you will still be able to provide a suitable sporting experience without getting caught out by surprises down the road.
Eequ Pro Tip: If you find yourself dealing with a last-minute change, such as a sudden location change or cancelled session, having a simple way to contact parents quickly can make all the difference. Eequ allows you to bulk message parents, so you can communicate important updates without having to contact each family individually.
What no-equipment games work specifically for football sessions?
Call a number
Participants move around an area and must listen out for you to call a number.
Each number has a designated action.
A football-related action could be jumping up like you're heading the ball when you hear the number 1.
Gradually add more numbers; players must be alert to your call to perform the right action.
Mixing the numbers up keeps everyone focused, and you may find asking players to choose the actions to be a great way to boost engagement.
Races
Running races brings out a great competitiveness in performers which can boost the energy of a session and build camaraderie within a team.
Relays are a good option and can be performed even with no equipment:
First, split performers into teams and choose an end point.
The first runner on each team must run to the end point and back, then high-five the next runner on their team to go.
The first team to have all runners finish wins.
If the numbers aren’t even, the team with fewer people can designate someone to run again.
Conclusion
Running sports sessions with limited equipment can be challenging, but having a bank of adaptable games can help you keep sessions active, varied and engaging. A straightforward booking and communication system can also reduce the admin involved in keeping parents informed. Eequ can help with this by bringing bookings and parent communication all into one place, so you can focus on what really matters. Click here to find out more!