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Nicofiends activity

Rescue Run

A fast team game where players must reach the finish together and rescue any teammate who gets tagged.

What it explores

This active game explores what happens when a team can only succeed by noticing who has been left behind. Players must reach the finish zone together. Anyone who is tagged moves to the rescue zone and needs a teammate to return for them. The activity helps young people think about support, responsibility and what a good teammate notices.
Time
10 to 15 mins
Age
Ages 11 to 16
Setting
Sports Clubs, Youth group, Community setting
Group size
6 to 20 players

Activity at a glance

Best for

Team support, noticing when someone needs help, backing teammates and shared responsibility.

You’ll need

Cones. Bibs. Open space.

Key message

A strong team does not leave people behind. Support can start with noticing, checking in and helping someone find the right person to talk to.

How to run it

  1. Mark out three areas:
  2. A start zone.
  3. A finish zone.
  4. A rescue zone at the side of the playing area.
  5. Choose one or two taggers.
  6. All other players form one team and begin in the start zone.
  7. On “go”, the team tries to move all its players from the start zone to the finish zone.
  8. The start zone and finish zone are safe.
  9. The main playing area is live.
  10. If a player is tagged in the live area, they move to the rescue zone.
  11. A teammate can rescue them by running to the rescue zone and giving them a high-five.
  12. Taggers cannot stand beside or guard the rescue zone.
  13. After a rescue, both players return to the start zone using a route outside the live playing area. They cannot be tagged during this return.
  14. Players who reach the finish zone are safe.
  15. A player in the finish zone may choose to leave it and rescue a teammate. Once they leave, they are back in play and can be tagged.
  16. The team wins when every player is in the finish zone at the same time and nobody is left in the rescue zone.
  17. Stop after two or three minutes, reset and rotate the taggers.

Discussion prompts

  • Did your team leave anyone behind?
  • What made someone decide to rescue a teammate?
  • Was it easier to succeed when the team worked together?
  • Did anyone notice someone needed help before they asked?
  • What does a good teammate notice?
  • How can someone check in without judging?

Reflection

The team could not win by focusing only on the fastest players.

Players had to notice who was missing, decide to help and accept that supporting someone might mean leaving a safe position.

Good support is not about solving everything. It can mean checking in, staying with someone or helping them speak to a trusted adult.

Download printable materials

Link To Smoking, Vaping or Nicotine

A young person under pressure may not always say they need help.

They might be finding it hard to go without nicotine, leaving sessions to vape, feeling worried about pressure from others or wanting help to stop.

Backing a teammate can mean noticing a change, checking in calmly, avoiding judgement and helping them speak to a coach, leader, parent, carer or another trusted adult.

Adapting the activity

Make it Easier

Use one tagger.

Move the finish zone closer.

Make the finish zone wider.

Let rescued players return directly to the finish zone.

Use walking, skipping or another lower-intensity movement.

Make it Harder

Add a second tagger.

Make the live area larger.

Move the rescue zone further away.

Add a rule that players in the finish zone must decide whether to stay safe or leave to rescue someone.

Safety Note

Check the playing area for trip hazards and give players enough room to move safely.

Use light touch tagging only.

Do not allow taggers to block or crowd the rescue zone.

Adapt movement, distance and roles so every young person can take part.

Keep discussion general. Follow the setting’s safeguarding process if a young person raises a concern about pressure, nicotine use, supply or feeling unsafe.

Ready to Run The Acitvity

Download the activity PDF or go back to the resource hub to find another activity.

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