You have an awesome Tiger111 in mind, a bunch of eager kids and a spot picked out to play. What could possibly go wrong? Nothing hopefully… however, to ensure your success with running youth group games, here are my top 10 tips. It is imperative that you come with high energy! Before facing the kids, take some big breaths, jump up and down and get pumped! If you are flat, then the kids will be flat too.
Next, fire the kids up! Get them excited. Their energy will ignite those around them. You can do this by asking choral questions, “Who’s ready for an awesome game of… ?” “Blue Team, are you ready? Red Team, are you ready?” Get them to repeat their answers until their energy level matches yours. Maybe they can come up with their own team names and team chant.
You must believe in the game yourself. Any hint that you are not one hundred percent certain that this is a great game, the kids will pick up on it. So, get to know the game well, ensuring it is a perfect fit for the youth group you are working with. Read the rules, watch a video of other kids playing the game and ask questions of other teachers or youth leaders who have run the game before. Keep it simple, especially if it is your first-time running youth group games for kids.
You can never be too prepared. Once you have studied the game rules, jot the rules onto a palm card to have with you when instructing the kids. Select a suitable place to play the game. If outdoors, consider the weather, safety, and boundaries for the kids. Ensure you have the equipment you need to play the game and set up as much as you can before the kids arrive to play. Think about where the kids will be when giving instructions. For example, do not have them squinting into the sun, and make sure their eyes face away from distractions.
Consider drink stops and catering for kids with special needs. Consider how you will fire the kids up and how you will deliver the game rules. Identify the boundaries for play and have a plan for managing behaviors. Will you use a whistle to gain the kids’ attention, or will you use another signal?
Have the Goal in Mind
Before launching into all the game rules, make sure the kids know the goal, or aim of the game. If they have the goal in mind, they will better understand the rules. If you have the goal in mind, you will find it easier explaining the game rules.
Make sure the kids are seated and focused on you. They must not be chatting or looking at distractions around them. Ensure all the kids that are going to play are present. You do not want late-comers arriving half-way through your instructions.Tips on Delivering the Game Rules
Kids have a short attention span, so be precise with your rules and keep them simple. Tell the kids they can ask questions after you have given your instructions.
Once the rules have been given, I like the players to revise them. Do this by having them find a friend and repeat the rules to them.
If needed, run a short demonstration of the game, or aspect of the game, using kids who know it (you may need to pre-prepare for this with selected players or helpers). Always allow for the kids to ask questions to further clarify their understanding.
Players will become better motivated if they are invited to suggest improvements to the game. This works well once you have played a round of the game. What I do is bring everyone together, then invite players to suggest an improvement to the group game. A show of hands will indicate if the idea is accepted by all. Tell everyone that we will trial this idea and if it works well, then keep it in the game. This gives everyone ownership. There are always excellent ideas suggested that I would never have thought of.
Now that the kids are all having an awesome time playing the youth group game you introduced, it is time to kill the game before the kids get tired of it. By ending on a high note, you will have the kids eager to come back and play it again another day. Never flog a dead horse. If your youth group game is not going to plan, or you see the kids losing interest- bring it to an end and have a break, then play the next game you have prepared.
