Tails

Set up

• Coach wears a tag belt loaded with lots of colourful tag tails all the way around the waist.
• Set 5–6 home bases in a wide ring around the outside using cones or shapes, one per mini-pack.
• Leave plenty of space around the coach so children can approach from every angle.

How to play

1. Tell the children: “Coach has a belt full of colourful tag tails. Can your Pack collect them one at a time and take them safely back to your home base?”
2. Children may take one tag tail at a time, then must run it back to their home base before coming back for another.
3. Coach moves, turns and changes pace to make the chase fun, without running through children.
4. Play a short round, then call PAWS/READY and count each Pack's tag tails.
5. Reset the belt quickly and play again.

Coach cues

• “One tag at a time!”
• “Back to your home base!”
• “Let everyone have a go!”
• “How many did your Pack collect?”

Early Years 3–5

Coach moves slowly and theatrically. Children simply grab one tail and walk or run it home.

KS1 5–7

Coach changes direction more often, children carry a rugby ball to and from home, or two tag-tail coaches work at once.

Safety

• One tag tail per visit.
• Children pull the tail only — never clothing or the belt itself.
• Coach moves under control and avoids sudden turns into children.
• Stop and reset if children bunch around one adult.