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Sharks and Minnows·Playground Games
Sharks and Minnows
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Playground Games
1–50 players
both
8 essential rules
Sharks and Minnows is a group tag game. Minnows try to cross an open playing area while sharks try to tag them. As minnows are caught, they become sharks, making each crossing a little trickier. The last minnow remaining wins.
Swimming-pool and ball-dribbling versions also share the name, but require separate equipment, playing conditions, and safety procedures. They are outside this land-based ruleset.
No equipment or special uniform is required for this land-based ruleset. Players need an appropriate open space with clearly understood boundaries.
Choose a flat, clear area with two opposite end lines and two sidelines. The space between the end lines is the active tagging area, sometimes called the ocean.
Ready to dive deeper?
Begin with one shark and at least two minnows. Larger groups can start with two or more sharks if everyone agrees.
Swimming-pool and ball-dribbling versions also share the name, but require separate equipment, playing conditions, and safety procedures. They are outside this land-based ruleset.
As an optional scoring variation, give each minnow one point for every completed crossing and compare totals over an agreed number of rounds. Rotate starting sharks so everyone receives comparable chances to score.
Use simple, consistent consequences that keep the game moving. Ordinary boundary or start errors change a player's role; unsafe contact requires an immediate pause and correction.
Inspect the surface before play and remove loose obstacles. Avoid slippery ground, holes, sharp debris, and areas where players could run into traffic or hard structures.