Considerations

                      Parameters

                      Characteristics

                      Structures:

                      Select Games:
 
 

 To Directory

 WIDE GAMES CONSIDERATIONS
                                                                                                                                                                                        To Games

ROUGHNESS:
The biggest problem in wide or war games is defining the degree of roughness that will be allowed or tolerated by the group.  The two areas in which this comes are the capture of prisoners and the killing of opponents.  Especially in Boy Scouts do we have a problem with the difference in size, age and abilities of the players.

The definition of capture or kill is difficult in that how subdued must a player be to be considered captured or killed.  In the real wars, capture occurs only when the captured person decides to quit resisting, either because he is physically completely unable to resist further, due to wounds, fatigue or restraints, or he makes the choice to become a prisoner rather than be killed or damaged by further escaping or resisting.  Obviously the second option is not open to us in playing.  The first is possible, but is the ultimate of roughness.  It is very difficult to achieve, making the game turn on either a group overcoming an individual, or a wrestling/tying contest.  If these are not desired in the game, or the object of the game would be damaged by the need for wrestling then some other option must be accepted.  The possible actions that could result in capture or kill are varied and some are summarized below:

 TAGGING:  The mere touching of the opponents body is the most commonly used means of capture or subduing.  This is most well known in the common game of tag as played by school children.  It merely requires a matching or greater speed and agility on the part of the capturer, not a difference in size or strength.  Variations upon tagging are limiting the portions of the body that must be tagged, or requiring both hands of the capturer to tag the opponent at the same time.  For instance, tagging behind, below the waist, or the two handed tag, or the combination, two hands, behind, below the waist.

 POCKET FLAGS:  Many times the teams will be required to have a flag or handkerchief hanging out of a specific pocket.  To lose this flag is to be captured or killed.  This is best known in the game of flag football.  Again, this required only speed and agility.  Size and strength are not as important.

 DYE PELLET GUNS:  These are expensive and hard to come by.  In large, organized games, they are useful, simulating the real situation as close as can be done.

 TACKLE:  Having to tackle or force to the ground to capture, requires much in strength and size and makes them determinants in the game.  (One can have the larger players give in to the smaller players, but this hurts the game for the larger players.)   If the group is uniform enough, or strength and size are desired aspects of the game, this is a possible option.  Tackling entails quite a degree of roughness and risk and these must be understood and accepted by all playing.

 TYING OR BINDING:  This is a very rough and risky definition of capture or kill, especially if resistance is permitted.  Certain rules (e.g. nothing around the neck, careful of overtightening, protection from injury by falling or environment, degree of harassment permitted) must be defined before play and adhered to.  It also involves some skills which may or may not be desired in the game.

 FORCIBLY RESTRAINING OR MANUALLY HOLDING:  This all too often degenerates into a wrestling match, unless a time limit is established.  Many of the traditional games set a ten count as the length of holding required to define capture.  In the game of Penetration, when played in the open, small areas for short rounds, holding makes for a fun game.  But usually is far too much work and far to reliant on differences in size, weight, wrestling ability, etc. to be of much use.

Some games call for the maintenance of prisons and prisoners.  In the real war, the Geneva Conventions are hopefully followed.  The problem can be eliminated by playing "no capture."  That is, no prisoners are taken and all captured are considered dead.  Most of our games are for such short times that such problems as feeding, bathroom privileges, sleeping conditions, protection from the elements, etc. are not problems.  Our problems lie in keeping the prisoner in, how if at all, can he be released to reenter play, and length of rounds so as to keep boredom to a minimum.  Certain items should probably rarely, if ever, enter into our play.  These would include torture, harassments, punishments, stripping, improper or lack of protection from weather and environment. and prolonged binding, tying or blindfolding.

If the game is to include forcible restraining, it must be well defined.  Penetration requires this.  As we usually play it, tying is used, and safety rules established.   Manual holding is rough and tiring.  Tying in prisons would be very unusual and should be carefully defined before the game starts.

Prisoner transport is a problem and could be defined in various ways.  Usually once a player is captured, he is considered captured until released according to the rules of the game being played.  Transport could be handled by tying hands or the use of leg or ankle shackles.  This would have to be agreed upon before play starts.  Another means would be to require physical contact  with the prisoner.  If contact is lost through fault of the capturer, the prisoner must be recaught according to the rules of the game being played.  This may be the rule is such games as Capture the Flag.  Terms of the contact and amount of resistance on the part of the prisoner can be defined in various ways to make for variation and control of the degree of roughness and fair play.
 

If, as in Capture the Flag, a prison is used and release is a possibility, it must be defined.  The easiest definition of release is tagging or sharing of a flag.  i.e.  If a prisoner is tagged by a player of his team, he is free and back in the game.  Sometimes he must touch a base or get another flag before he can reenter the game.  If the game involves objects thrown, as in War Ball,  the prisoner could be released if he catches a ball thrown by a member of his team.

If the game is to have long rounds, the group may decide that players captured will join the capturing side.  This calls for a flexibility on the part of the players.  However it is an excellent means of not having someone sit out too long and avoids the problems of prison and release therefrom.  Boredom and not returning for future sessions is a real problem if the rounds are too long.  Another suggestion is that those caught may be tied.  When they have gotten themselves out of the tie, or a teammate has untied them, they are back into the game.  This can be controlled by limiting the amount of rope (say two pieces 8' long for each player to carry.) available.  Of course, for safety, a tied player may not be left alone, and thus the tying would have to be in a predetermined area.  This prevents losing a player tied far out in the field, but brings up the problem of guards or observers.

At times, a group will want to go "all out."  Short of having something to replace the gun as an enforcer and controller, it is very difficult and touchy.  Even with definations and agreements before starting, all players will have to watch that no player becomes mad.  All of us have taboos and limits to what we will allow done to ourselves.  These vary greatly between individuals.  Many times even in full discussion these are not mentioned, or thought of, or are considered to be obvious.  e.g. Tickling is tolerated by most youth, but found intolerable by others.  If a person who could not tolerate tickling was in a game which allowed tickling, trouble would ensue.  Also, definitions of fairness are often assumed.  At times, a player gets along well until he accidentally gets slugged, or into a losing position, then he loses his cool.  I suggest that groups that want to go "all out" sit down and discuss at length the possible situations.  They should then play several rounds over several weeks, gradually increasing the roughness allowed.  This allows those who wish to opt out to do so.  At all times, each player must be careful of the attitudes and moods of the other players.  The group should also practice the Golden Rule.  i.e. They must not do to others what they would not allow done to themselves.

SIZE OF AREA
Most of the youth prefer very interactive games.  I remember a game of Capture the Flag we one time played over about ten acres of heavily wooded land.  The game became a search and tactical game rather than much interaction with the other team.  On the other hand, one of the most fun games of Capture the Flag I ever played was played on a football field.  The type of game desired dictates the size of the area on which the game is played.  If extensive searching is desired, a larger area is utilized.  If more interaction is desired, a smaller area is defined for the field of play

COVER OR DARKNESS:
Penetration played in very dense cover at night almost ensures that the penetrators will get through.  On the other hand, if it is played across an  open area in the daylight, the penetrators will seldom get through.  Convict Search played at night with much cover is a game entirely of search.  Some players may prefer this.  It is more exciting played in a more limited area, with a small amount of cover.  The amount of cover and amount of darkness at the time of the game will affect the decision as to which game, and by what rules it will be played.

DIVIDING THE GROUP INTO TEAMS:
This can be a real problem.  If captains are chosen, and they pick alternately, the same boys are left to last each time.  This makes for unhappiness.  If the group is lined up and numbered alternately one, two, the size or strength of one team may be more than the other team.  If random pulls from the hat are done, the teams, again may be uneven.  If the leader assigns the teams, nobody is happy, and usually the game doesn't last long.  If natural patrols are used, most often numbers don't match up.  Over the years, I have found that using captains who pick is usually the most acceptable to the youth, especially in a group where the players know each other well.  (Many group leaders decry and criticize this option, but it seems to make for the greatest happiness.  Most of the youth do recognize their strengths and weaknesses. If strengths are found in the various activities of the group for all and the captains are fair, it works out best.  The trick is educating the group so that the captains pick without hurting feelings.)  Changing the composition of the teams frequently helps.  This can be done after a pre-set number of rounds, or as the game played changes.  At different game sessions, the team composition should be rechosen.

In many games, the groups do not need, in fact should not be, equal in number, size, strength, speed or any other factor.  Examples here are Penetration,  Ambush, Infiltration.  In other games the groups should be equaled in some fashion.  Examples are Ditch'em, War Ball.  The teams may be made equal by having fewer large players on one team playing against more smaller players on the other.  Some games, such as Penetration or Convict Search are best played with one or two it, versus the group.  It may be rotated so all get to play the lead role.

SPECIFIC GAME RULES
In the descriptions of the games,  I have deliberately not been specific in the rules of play.  I have done this for two reasons.  The first reason is to allow the youth leaders room to experiment and adjust the games to the situations in which they are played.  This includes players' age, personality, desires, size, abilities, etc. and the playing conditions of type and size of field, amount of light, weather, time etc.  The second is to allow the games to be adjusted as to the above conditions.

To Directory

To Games

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    To Games
  Specific Game to be played
 

 Division into Teams

  Number of teams
  Number of players per team
   Relative size and experience of team members
   Weight Ratio (if relevant)

   By random selection
    Counting off
    Drawing
    Assignment of leader
   By captain selection

  Arm Bands
  Colored Flags
  Shirts vs skins
  Hats, shoes, etc.

  Determined by
   Game
   Playing field conditions
   size & number of teams
   Time of Day & Light conditions
  Markers
  Neutral Areas
  Non Play areas
   Tent areas are always nonplay areas

  Positions
  Signals

  Object of actions of teams and subteam groups
  Prebriefing
  Debriefing
  Communication during Play

  Means of Capture
   Tackle
   Timed holds
   Flags
   Tie
   Tagging
   Arm bands
  Resistance by capturee

  Conditions
  Escape
  Release from
  Treatment of Prisoners
   Golden Rule
   Length of time can be held
  Transport and conduct to Prisons

  Breaks
  Rest Periods
   Individual time outs
  Play over meal & sleep times

To Directory

A Game has five essential elements or imperatives to be considered a game.  These are:

 Element of Chance or Application of Skill
 Strategy
 Reward
 Challenge to Player
 No other object than the experience of the game is achieved.  (i.e. no production of services or goods)
 

In our games, we must also apply the Imperative of Fairness,
 

There are also five characteristics of an ideal game.  These are:

easy to learn the rules
playable at many levels of skill
challenging to the game audience (participants)
Fit the time, situation, boundaries, etc. at the time of playing.

Golf, tennis and chess are examples of near perfect games.

Games are based on several principles:

 1.  The Game is playable at various levels of skill., allowing more to partake.
 2.  The Game is easily explained and understood by those desiring to play.  (The degree of difficulty can vary from Tag to "Go," but must be acceptable to those desiring to learn.
 3.  The Game is a challenge and fun for the players involved.  (Boys 11-18 will not play Ring around the Rosy, or London Bridge is Falling Down.)
 4.  The Game fits into the time, location, age group, situation parameters.  (We don't list "Run for the Sun" as that game involves going as far west as possible before sunset ; the individual furthest west at sunset wins.  Obvious difficulties with time, space, property, judging and returning)
 5.  The Game reflects the culture it is played in.  (The multiple parameter games of today did not exist in the Native American Culture, or even when I was 11 - 18.  Many of the Native American games involve too much endurance for our Youth to play them.  Yet, childrens' games are one of the most constant aspects of human culture, reflecting the constancy and basic similarities of human cultures. cf. the painting Children at Play by Bruegel.)
 6.  The Game has some aspect of satisfaction when completed. (There is a culture that runs races, the goals of which are for all runners, while all running hard, to finish at the same time.  Competition, and winning, but also cooperation, learning, skill mastery, exercise, or just simply a pleasant time are all suitable goals.)
 

To Directory

To Games

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    To games
Games and  Competitons can be constructed in many different forms.  Below are a listing of numerous forms that are possible, and samples of each.  This list is not all inclusive, other forms are possible.  Also, many variations and comibnations of the structures presents are possible.

Races

 Useful for skills that are time dependent, or in increasing competancy in a already learned skill, such as knots, first aid, firestarting, physical fitness, swimming.

 The Teams or Individuals are given a skill or a set of skills to accomplish.  The first with all portions done properly wins.

 Useful to have each individual in the patrol perform the skill or skills on their own, but yet have the patrol win or lose depending on the total time or performance outcome of each individual.  Very useful for knots, first aid skills, physical fitness,
 The teams are lined up behind a line, the skill performance area is some distance away, usually within easy sight and hearing (25').  At the go command, the first member of each team races to the skill performance area, performs the skill, returns and tags the next who then does the same.  The first team through wins.  In case of uneven numbers on the various teams, those with fewer individuals may have to have some do the performance twice.

 Useful for any skill which has an outcome that can be easily compared to another patrols outcome, or that has concrete type answers such as a definate number or definate outcome, such as flag folding, firestarting, woodstools.
 Variation I.  Each Team or Individual stands ready.  At the command go, they commence upon the assigned skill.  The best done wins.
 Variation II.  Each Team or Individual does the skill in sequence, either with the other teams in observation or not.  The best done wins.

With the group in a line, each person recites the list thus far, adding one more item to the list (drawn from recent activity, or knowledge list they should know).  Works best in moderate size groups (4-16).  In smaller groups each individual will have more than one turn, with the list getting longer as the process moves through the group several times.

 Useful for any list such as poisonous plants, presidents of the United States, Animals found in an area, Plants found in an area.
 Each individual (or patrol functioning as a unit in the contest) is given time to create a list, and then in sequence around the room, provides the entire patrol with one member of the desired list.
Patrol Production
 Useful for having those in a patrol teach  younger in the patrol the skill.  Especially useful for knots, lashes, animal or plant signs identification, first aid, orienteering.
 The patrol is assigned a task, skill or set of skills to produce as a group.  The first done or the best done wins.  (Similar to Races and Skill Performance above, but patrol based rather than individual based.)

Scavenger or Treasure Hunt

 Useful for those skills which have a wide range of objects or subproduction units, such as knots and lashes, animal or plant indentification.
 The Patrol is given a list of items to find, skills to perform, items to produce.  The scoring can be first done, or best done.

 Use for sequence type of knowledge such as time lines, history, geology etc.
 Each Patrol is given set of 5x3 cards with one fact or item listed on each card.  Their assignment is to put the cards in order.  Then on one table, each patrol lays its cards in sequence from left to right, in such fashion that the first of set lines up, the second lines up etc.  The leader remves the wrong cards.  A point may be given for each correct card left.

 Useful for narrative or sequence type knowledge.  Very Good for Scout History, American History, Campsite setup.  Also useful for indoor performance of outdoor skills such as firestarting in which each individual would tell part of the sequence of starting a fire.
 Each individual tells a portion of the narrative, is interrupted, and the narrative passed to the next person.  If the knowledge is not well known by the individuals, outlines or hints can be passed out, and each person contributes his bit or portion as appropriate.

 Useful for situations where many small skills are to be evaluated and the ability at the sum total is the area of mastery of interest.  Useful for Scout Oath, Law, Motto, Slogan, Patrol Name, Yell and Call, Physical Fitness, Knots and Lashes, and for scoring any multiple site, or skill contests.
 Each of the skills is assigned a point value.  As the individual performs that skill, he is awarded the points or partial points based on his performance.

Hangman

 Useful for skill production in most of the skill areas, providing a means of scoring that in itself increases interest.
 As each individual or team performs a skill, or produces a bit of knowledge, they may continue until stumped.  At this point a portion of the hanged man (generally with seven parts, but this is variable) is drawn on their portion of the scoreboard.  The first tean stumped enough times to complete the hangman, loses.

 Useful like hangman for most skills, provides a means of scoring that increases interest.
 A baseball game like set up is structured.  As each player comes up to bat, he must answer the question or perform the skill.  The defending team may or may not be able to counter by performing a skill to see if he gets to base.  The difficulty of the question or skill determines if it is a one, two, three base hit or a homer.  Players on base are pushed around by those performing after them.  Three misses or strikes puts a player out, three outs changes the sides.

 Use for point games when there are only two teams.  As each group earns it point, they get to chose the position on the board where it goes.  If they miss their point, they loss their turn.

 Useful like hangman for most skills, providing a means of scoring that itself increases interest.
 A path or track is set up, divided into many compartments.  Each individual or team is represented by a token on the track.  The various compartments are skills to be performed or questions to be answered, good luck landings or bad luck landings.  To play, a player throws a six sided die (may vary depending on availability of other sided dice) and advances the number of squares indicated.  If he can perform that skill, he stays there, if not, returns to where he was previously.  First player to end of the raceway wins.

 Using a Trivial Pursuit board, the questions asked are skills or Scouting Questions.

 Various Structures are possible,  One is that three sets of cards are set up.  A set of "skill cards" is set up, each with a skill to perform or question to answer.  A set of "consequence cards" set up with a penalty to be extracted.  A set of "reward cards" each with a reward or prize.  The players in turn draw from the Skill Card pile.  If the player can perform the skill or answer the question, he draws from the reward pile, and receives the prize thereon (points, candy piece, favor etc.).  If he cannot perform the skill or answer the question, he then draws from the consequence pile, and must suffer the penalty there upon (lose of piece of candy, lose of points, 10 pushups, performance of favor for other players etc.).  Before commencing play, all players must agree to all rewards and to all consequences in the cards.
 A varation closer to the Truth or Consquence structure, would be to have an individual play monitor and ask for the skills or question, and dictate the rewards and/or penalities.

 Much like Dare, Dare, Double Dare, Each player in turn is it.  The remainder of the players determine a skill, a double skill (harder) or a triple skill (very hard) for that player, and a consequence if he fails.  The player who is it, is asked if he wishes, a Skill, a Double Skill or a Triple Skill.  He selects one, and is informed of the skill.  He then attempts the performance of the skill.  If he suceeds, the games passes to the next round with another player.  If he fails, he suffers the consequence the group has decided.  A caution is that the parameters of the consequences must be decided by the entire group before hand so all consequences are acceptable to all players.

 Using a Roulette Wheel, each of the numbers represents a skill to be performed.  These may either be known or unknown to the players.  Each of the players places his chips upon a skill.  The wheel is spun.  If it stops at a number a player has put his chips on, he must perform that skill.  If he can perform the skill, he collects all the chips on the wheel.  If he cannot, he forfeits the chips he placed to the bank.  Another chance for the players to change their bets and for the last player to place his new bet is given, and the wheel respun.  If the wheel stops at a number not bet on, it is respun.

 The challenger states he can perform three skills, at least one of which the person challenged cannot.  The skills must be based on requirements of Tenderfoot, Second Class First class, or a required for Eagle Merit Badge, and must be reasonable.  First the Challenger performs a skill, and then the challenged performs the skill.  This is repeated three times.  If the challenged individual can perform all three skills, he wins.  If he cannot, he loses.

 A game that may go on for months, with portions at various Scouting Meetings and Events.
 One individual declares that he is the King of Scouting Skills, or a specific skill area, or a specific skill.  Each of the other Scouts may challenge him to skill performance.  Any of the Scouting Skills are open.   If the Skill King can be bested in two of three skills selected by the challenger, then he loses his title to the challenger.  The challenger is then open to being challenged.

 Each of the players receives a number of points, which he may then in turn risk either a portion or all.  The moderator will assign a skill commensurate with the number of points risked.  If the player performs the skill, he gains the number of points bet.  If he fails at the skill, he loses the number of points bet.  Winner is the player with the most points at the end.

 The Group is divided into teams.  One team conceives of a Scouting related skill or item to diagram on the chalk board.  As the drawing is done step by step, the other Patrols attempt to guess the skill or item.  A point is awarded to the patrol guessing the skill or item.  If none guess it, before drawn or two minute time limit, a point is awarded to the patrol drawing.

 A skill or activity is chosen in which a winner is easily selected.  It is decided to play on individual person or patrol basis.  A pair of individual or patrols competes, the winner is proclaimed champion.  Any other Patrol or individual may then challenge the Champion.  A previously losing individual or patrol may rechallenge any succeeding champion, or the champion that beat them after all others have had a chance to compete.  This may be an ongoing competition or a short run spectacle.

 A patrol choses an item, scouting skill, or activity.  Each of the other patrols in turn asks one question.  The first patrol to guess the item, scouting skill or activity wins.

To Directory

To Games