Outdoor Games
How to play Relay Races
Pass a beanbag between alternating runners and keep the team moving until time is called. This format has no winning score.
What you need
Cones, one beanbag or baton per team, open running space and timer
Set up the game
- Make teams of four to six and number teammates. Odd numbers wait at one end; even numbers wait at the other.
- Place paired cones about twenty feet apart, adjusted for the group, and separate team lanes. Explain a short duration and stop signal.
Playing Relay Races
- Runner one carries the object across and places it directly in runner two’s hand. Do not throw it.
- The receiver returns to the opposite line for the next numbered teammate. Continue in order without switching places or false starts.
- Keep clear of other teams. Tired players may slow down. Continue the repeating sequence until the leader calls time.
The cycle repeats
Players one and three begin near; two and four begin far. One hands to two, two returns to three, three hands to four, and four returns to one. Repeat until time, without removing the slower runners.
Plan the waiting area
Keep waiting players behind and to the side of each exchange point, leaving an arrival route open. Show where a runner rejoins the line. An observer can help a confused participant identify the next teammate without stopping every lane. This is particularly helpful when several groups are moving and spoken directions are difficult to hear.
If you want a competitive race
A fixed number of legs and a finish order creates a different version. Agree beforehand on equal running distance, equal team size and dropped-object handling. Do not add a winner halfway through an activity after teams have been formed for cooperation. The continuous format instead lets participants concentrate on moving and passing reliably.
Beginner decisions
- Rehearse a slow handoff. The receiver shows an open hand while the arriving runner slows near the cone.
- Adjust the distance for the group rather than copying a stadium race. Very short lanes can crowd the exchanges; overly long legs leave teammates waiting.
Common rule mix-ups
- Declaring a fastest team in a deliberately noncompetitive format.
- Putting every teammate at one end.
Questions about this game
What if the object drops?
A simple local adaptation is to retrieve it safely and complete the handoff. Explain this first.
Can we skip instead of run?
Yes, Playworks suggests movement variations. Choose one everyone can perform.
Sources and edition notes
Playworks Continuous Relay, a cooperative timed shuttle format without winners or elimination. Competitive track relays differ.
Sources and stated format checked October 14, 2026. This records a document check, not a claim of hands-on testing.
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