Zombie Tag with Hula Hoops
One zombie, a few safe zones, and the whole room screaming.
10–80 players · about 15 minutes · Run around · Big room, Gym, Outdoors
What you need
- 6–12 hula hoops (fewer than half the number of players)
- Optional: a glow stick or bandana for the first zombie
Setup
Scatter the hula hoops around the floor. These are the safe zones. Pick one or two players to start as zombies.
How to play
- Zombies must walk stiff-legged with their arms straight out in front of them, moaning. No running!
- Humans can run anywhere. If a zombie tags you, you become a zombie too.
- Standing inside a hula hoop makes you safe, but only one person per hoop, and only for a count of five.
- When someone new steps into an occupied hoop, the person already in it has to leave.
- Every minute or so, the leader removes a hoop. The safe zones shrink and the zombie horde grows.
How to win
The last human standing wins and starts as the zombie next round.
Leader tips
- Turn the lights down (not off) and play spooky music for a huge reaction.
- Call out "Zombie rush!" for 10 seconds where zombies can speed-walk.
- Big groups: start with 3–4 zombies so rounds stay short.
Safety: Make the "zombie walk" rule strict. It keeps the chasers slow so little kids and big kids can play together safely.
Ways to change it up
Zombie Cure
Give two humans a pool noodle "cure." A zombie tagged with the noodle becomes human again.
Glow Zombies
Play in the dark with zombies wearing glow sticks so humans can see them coming.
Tie it to your lesson
Sin spreads like the zombie horde, and nobody stays safe for long on their own. But God is a refuge that never gets taken away.