Tag (also known as it , tips , dobby , chasey , tig , tick , and many other names) is a playground game played worldwide that involves one or more players chasing other players in an attempt to "tag" or touch them, usually with their hands. Most forms have no teams, scores, or equipment.
Basic rules
A group of players (two or more) decide who is going to be 'it', often using a counting-out game such as Eeny, meeny, miny, moe. 'It' then chases the others to get close enough to 'tag' them — a touch with the hand — while the others try to escape. A 'tag' makes the tagged player 'it'. The game continues indefinitely.
There are many variants which modify the rules for team play, or place restrictions on tagged players' behaviour. A simple variation makes tag an elimination game, so those tagged drop out of play. A cry of "time-out" may be a signal to stop temporarily, and "time-in" to resume the game. Variants of tag include additional rules regarding whether another player is eligible as a target. A 'no tag-backs', 'no returns', or 'can't tag your master' rule prevents a player from tagging the person who has just tagged them. Players may be "safe" from being tagged within a pre-determined area, when off the ground, or when touching a particular structure; traditional variants are Wood Tag, Iron Tag, and Stone Tag, when a player is safe when touching the named material.
Bans and restrictions
Tag and other chasing games have been banned in some schools in the US and UK due to concerns about injuries and complaints from children of harassment. In 2008, a 10-year-old boy in Omaha died while playing tag when he suffered brain injuries from falling onto a metal pole, and a school dinner lady in Dorset who was left partially paralyzed after a 13-year-old boy playing tag ran into her in 2004. She failed in her attempt to sue him for compensation.
A principal who banned tag in their school said that "In this game, there is a 'victim' or 'It,' which creates a self-esteem issue. The oldest or biggest child usually dominates." A dislike of elimination games is another reason for banning tag. In some schools only supervised tag is allowed, sometimes with a type of tagging called “butterfly tagging” — a light tap on the shoulders, arms or upper back.
The president of the US National Association for Sport and Physical Education said that "Tag games are not inherently bad ... teachers must modify rules, select appropriate boundaries and equipment, and make sure pupils are safe. Teachers should emphasize tag games that develop self-improvement, participation, fair play, and cooperation." The UK Local Government Association encouraged the playing of tag in 2008, saying that children are 'wrapped in cotton wool'.
Variants
Build Ups
Build Ups (also known as Virus, Spider, Gang up and Manhunt) is a variant where players do not lose their 'it' status when they tag another player. 'It' players work together to tag players. The last person tagged wins. The winner and the player who started as 'it' may not be chosen as the starting 'it' for the next game.
British bulldogs
Main article: British bulldogs (game)British bulldogs is mainly played in the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada and other Commonwealth countries, and banned from many schools. One or two players start as the "bulldogs" who stand in the middle of the play area, while the other players stand at one end of the area. The aim is to run from one end of the area to the other without being caught by the bulldogs. When a player is caught they become a bulldog themselves. The winner is the last player or players 'free'.
Sharks and Minnows is a water-bound variation of this game.
Chain tag
This is a variant of Build Ups where the first person to be caught joins hands with 'it' and the two must chase the others as a pair. As more people are caught they too join hands, forming a lengthening chain. Only those at the ends of the chain are able to catch someone, as they are the only ones with a free hand. A variant has chains of four splitting in two.
Octopus tag
Octopus tag is a mix between Red Rover and tag. 'It', or 'Octopus', attempts to tag the other players. The playing field is known as the ocean. The players, or 'fish', line up along one side of the ocean and trying to run to the other side without getting tagged. In a variation once the 'fish' run to the other side without getting tagged the game pauses until the 'octopus' starts it again. Upon getting tagged the 'fish' become 'seaweed' and must freeze or sit where they were tagged, but can wave their arms around and assist the 'Octopus' in tagging other 'fish' within their reach. The last 'fish' to be tagged becomes the next 'Octopus'.
Duck, duck, goose
Main article: Duck, duck, gooseIn Duck, duck, goose, a group of usually young children sit in a circle facing inward. One player, the 'picker' or 'fox', walks around tapping or pointing to each player in turn, calling each a 'duck', until finally picking one to be the 'goose'. The 'goose' then rises, chases and tries to tag the 'picker', while the 'picker' runs around the circle to try to sit where the 'goose' had been sitting. If the picker succeeds, the 'goose' is the new picker, otherwise the picker tries again.
Hospital tag
When you are tagged, you don't become 'it', but you must hold your hand in place where you were tagged on your body. The second time you are tagged, you must hold your other hand where you were tagged the second time, while still holding your first hand in place. The third time you are tagged, you are 'it'.
Kiss chase
Kiss chase is a tag variant in which tagging is performed by kissing. All members of one gender are 'it' at once and chase the opposite sex until everyone is caught, when the roles are reversed. "The game is not about who can run faster or slower, as in the standard versions of Tag, so much as the strength of each individual's desire to kiss the girl or boy they are pursuing". A variant is that one member of a gender can be 'it' and with assistance from those of the same gender they chase all members of the opposite sex and kiss one of them, who is then 'it' on behalf of the other gender.
Last tag
Last tag was played in the early 20th century, when it was a way to say "goodbye" when leaving school for home. A player tags another and makes them "it" before leaving on their way home. There is "no tagging back." It was a point of honour not to be left with the "last tag".
Shadow tag
In shadow tag, players try to step on the shadow of another player to 'tag' them, and can be played in schools where games involving physical contact are banned.
Shipwrecked
Also known as 'budge', one player is 'it' and tries to tag the other players. There are safe zones, such as circles, but their number is one fewer than the number of the other players. If someone else enters your safe zone, you must leave it. If you are tagged, you become 'it'.
Stuck in the mud
Also known as 'freeze tag', or 'Ice And Water' in Asian countries, players who are tagged are 'stuck in the mud' or 'frozen' and must stand in place with their arms stretched out until they are 'unfrozen'. An unstuck/unfrozen player performs an action to unfreeze them, such as tagging them, crawling between their legs, or 'flushing' them by hitting their outstretched hand (Toilet Tag).
Variants exist where to 'unfreeze' someone the player must also call out a certain TV show, sports team or object. Once called it can no longer be used to unfreeze someone.
Team tag
Cops and Robbers
Cops and Robbers, sometimes called 'team tag', 'Chase', 'Police and Thief', or Prisoner's Base, has players split into two teams: cops (the 'it' team who are in pursuit) and robbers (the team being chased). The cops 'arrest' the robbers by tagging, and put them in 'jail'. Robbers can stage a jailbreak by tagging one of the prisoners without getting tagged themselves. The game ends if all the robbers are in jail. (At some times, robbers get to on two bases. Cops cannot enter these bases. once a robber leaves on base, he cannot return to the base he has just left. he must go to the other base and make sure he does not get caught.)
Manhunt
Main article: Manhunt (urban game)Manhunt is a mixture of hide and seek and tag, often played at night. One person is 'it', while the other players have to hide. Then, the person who is 'it' tries to find and tag them. The game is over when all players are out. Manhunt is sometimes played with teams. In one variant there is a home base in which a player is 'safe'. That version ends when all players who aren't safe are out.
Prisoner's Base
In Prisoner's Base, each team starts in a chain, holding hands, with one end of the chain touching the base. The end two players break from the chain and try to tag each other, taking them to their base if they do. The end pair progressively break from the chain and join the tagging. As with Cops and Robbers, prisoners can be f
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