Players: 6 or more
Time: 10 minutes
You need: Open ground
Ages: 6 and above
Type: Traditional Indian games

Who it suits and when to play

Chain Tag suits six or more children of six and above on open ground. Every player who is caught joins hands with the catchers, so the chain grows and the game gets funnier and harder. It ends by itself when everyone is in the chain, which makes it a good last game of the evening.

How to play

Mark the edges of the play area. Choose one chaser.
The chaser tags a runner. They hold hands and chase together.
Each new player caught joins the chain. Only the two players at the ends can tag, with their free hands.
If the chain breaks, a tag does not count.
The last free runner wins and starts the next game as chaser.

Tips and variations

Free runners may break through the chain between two players if your group allows it. Decide before you start.

Common problems and how to fix them

The chain breaks while chasing. A catch does not count if hands were apart. The chain must join again before it can catch.
Children are pulled and fall. The chain moves at the speed of its slowest member. With small children, play at a fast walk.
The last runner is never caught. Make the area smaller by half when three runners are left.

More traditional Indian games

Need fair teams or someone to go first? Use the team maker. See all 45 games.