Youth Group Games

Popular Youth Group Games

2Ping

If you can't play baseball or softball outside, consider trying this new game, 2Ping. All you need is a room about the half-size of a regular indoor gym. Have the players get in position as if to play a regular baseball game. Instead of using a ball and bat, you'll be using a ping-pong ball and one paddle. Each player gets two chances to hit the ping-pong ball thrown by the pitcher. If they hit the ball, they can walk to first base. Follow the same rules as a baseball game to determine the winning team. 2Ping is an easy game to play with no baseball gloves required.

Shave the Balloon

There are two versions of this game. Both versions of this game are best played outdoors because of the resulting mess. Since cheap razors are used, this game is for teenagers, not small children. The first version is to cover blown-up balloons with shaving cream. Each team has to shave as many balloons as they can (you can predetermine a number of balloons) without popping any. The team that shaves the most balloons without popping them wins.

The second version includes filling the balloons with water first. Each team has a member sitting on a chair. The person sitting on the chair has to hold a water balloon on his or her head. A partner has to cover the balloon with shaving cream and then shave it. Whichever team can shave the most balloons without them breaking, wins. You can protect the person sitting under the balloon a little with a plastic bag poncho.

Photo Scavenger Hunt

Each scavenger team needs to have a digital camera and at least one watch. The same rules as a regular scavenger hunt apply. Give each team a list of items that they have to photograph. Assign a specific time that everyone needs to return, regardless of whether the team has all of the items photographed or not. The first team who gets the most photos of the required items will win. Once all of the groups have returned from the hunt, it is fun to share the photos with the group.

Sock Blitz

Sock Blitz is an easy game for tweens and teens to play. Divide a room in half with masking tape. Give each team the same number of socks. The more socks you have, the better. When the leader says, "go," each team member has to roll the sock into a closed ball and then throw it over the masking tape line. Socks that aren't rolled don't count if they make it over the line. The team with the fewest number of socks left when you call, "stop," wins.

A variation of this youth group game is to give each team a pile of socks that they have to sort and pair. The team with the most number pairs when the leader calls, "stop," wins.

Alphabettios

Get several cans of alphabet Spaghettios, open them and place the contents into a bowl. You can have a bowl for each person, or make this a team game and have a bowl for each team. The more people you have, the more alphabet Spaghettios you'll need. The goal is to have each person put the letters in alphabetical order in front of them (use a plate or piece of paper). If you buy the variety with mini meatballs, they can serve as wild cards for letters that can't be found. You can limit the number of wild cards each player or team can use. The team or person who finishes the alphabet first, wins.

Youth Group Resources

There are so many more games that youth groups can play, both indoors and out. The following websites offer dozens of youth group games for kids of all ages:

• Pastor 2 Youth
• Jubed
• Egad Ideas
• Fun-Attic
• Youth Pastor.com