Supplies needed: One large beachball per team. (A balloon will work too; but have extras in case you break one) .
Rules, Relayers!No hands, arms or feet allowed to move the beachball forward. You team up with a partner and move it toward the finish line with your mid-section only. NO HANDS ALLOWED, except for picking up the beachball if it falls; AND, no forward movement is allowed until it is properly placed again. Sorry, Charlie!
Note: It's a race against time as each team struggles to keep the beachball from falling as they move forward.
Dress-up Relay Race
Supplies needed: A suitcase, briefcase or shopping bag... plus clothing for each team; e.g...<
tee-shirt
soft hat
gloves
scarf
necktie
sweater
boots
slippers
flip flops
wig
belt
beads
high heels
jewelry
sunglasses
Rules, Relayers! Players are divided into teams and take turns racing to a designated spot to put on all the items in the suitcase (over their own clothes); return to the starting line, remove and put the stuff back in the suitcase; and give it to the next player. The more outrageous the clothes the more fun it is. Note: OR buy a costume for a simpler dress-up. Boys especially like to dress-up as pirates ... or even train engineers. Cheerleader dress-ups rock, too. Make up your own rules!
Egg and Spoon Relay Race
Supplies needed:Eggs and spoons; plus extra eggs if you use hard-boiled eggs. ^.^
Rules, Relayers! Team members have to balance eggs in a spoon as they race to pass it on. Don't drop the egg 'cause if it falls off the spoon the runner has to get it before continuing the race.
Note: Mom, Dad, this can also be done as a swimming event (swimmers hold spoon with their teeth). Just remember, you have to stick around and supervise this race!
Flag Relay Race
Supplies needed: A flag of your choice (national, school, club, etc) for each player; a bucket or flower pot for each team, sand or dirt.
Rules, Relayers! Fill buckets or flower pots with sand or dirt and divide players into teams of equal number of racers. Players take turns racing to plant their flag in the container. The first team to finish planting their flags wins. . . OR put a single flag in each container and the first racer of each team races to get it, then return to hand it off to the 2nd racer who replants it for the 3rd racer and so on.
Rules, Relayers! Divide into teams. Each racer steps into his/her sack and while holding it hops to the finish line so the next racer can continue until every kid has taken a turn. The tricky thing is to keep your balance and not trip or fall! If there aren't enough racers to form teams, then run as individuals.
You'll love these relay race ideas at Buzzing Kids World, too... see the other pages.