Hungry Hungry Hippos

High energy team game.

• Set Up

  • Create a large square playing space

  • Place 4 balls at each corner

• Equipment

  • 4-8 cones

  • 16 balls

• Objective

  The object of the game is to have the most cones or balls at your station.

• Directions

  1. Mark off a large, square space; place a cone at each corner and at least as many balls/cones as there are players in the center. 

  2. Split the group into four even teams, each team in line by their “nest” cone. 

  3. Only one player per team can leave the nest at a time. A player can only take one cone/ball at a time to bring back to their nest. The player must run all the way to their cone and high-five the next player in line, before the next player can leave. 

  4. On “Go”, one player per team runs to the center to collect an object (a ball or a cone). 

  5. The team that ends up with the most objects wins. 

  6. Once a player has brought back a ball/cone to their nest, it is safe and another team cannot take it. 

  7. For an easy transition, in the next round, have the players do the reverse and place the cones/balls back in the center.

• Variations

  ● Allow players to steal an object from another team’s nest. And use fewer balls. 

  ● If a team cheats, the team loses all the objects in their nest. 

  ● Put a time limit on the round. 

  ● To make the game more challenging add in a skill such as: use soccer balls and dribble with their feet, or use basketballs and dribble with their hands.

  ● To add additional physical activity, between rounds, on GO, have players sprint/skip/hop to different nests. 

• Coaching Points

  • Give time to strategize

  • Highlight good sportsmanship

Reflection: Social Awareness & Responsible Decision Making

1. How did you encourage your teammates?

2. What strategies did you use to be successful in this game?

3. Who can you shout out?