Don’t Touch the Wolf Game

Games: Don't Touch the Wolf Game (aka Bodyguard)

Dick Moss, Editor, PE Update.com

Here's a game that gives students the chance to exercise their “parental” instinct and protect their young'uns. It's also sometimes called “Bodyguard.”

How to Play
Have a group of students form a circle. In the center of the circle place three students: two “wolf cubs” and a “mother (or father) wolf.” The cubs hold hands and stand behind the parent wolf.

The players on the perimeter of the circle pass a Nerf ball to each other. When they think they can hit the wolf cubs, they throw the ball at the cubs. The parent wolf protects the cubs by attempting to block the ball before it hits them. The cubs avoid the ball by jumping, crouching and ducking while continuing to hold hands.

Any perimeter player who hits a cub becomes the parent wolf, the parent wolf becomes a cub, and the cub who was hit joins the perimeter players.

All throws must be below the waist and any hits above the waist don't count.

Caveat
Be careful if you decide to use "human targets" AKA "dodgeball"-type games. As reader, Kevin Tiller, said in a recent email, the American NASPE's appropriate practices guidelines specifically cite human target games as an inappropriate practice. Kevin has presented on this topic at his state PE conference, and in the past several years, teachers and school districts have been taken to court for allowing these types of games to be played in P.E. class.

References:
1. André Larouche, “Do not touch the wolf cubs.” 150 Games for All, Positive Publishing, 1996.
2. Susan Ragsdale, Ann Saylor, Great Group Games for Kids, Search Institute Press, 2010.

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