Tug of War Setup GuideTug of War Setup Guide Field Day Operations: Station Layout & Safety Blueprint Preparation Checklist Rope: Use 1.5" diameter manila or soft-braid rope. Min length 50ft. Ground: Level grass surface. Remove all debris and hazards. Gear: 6 Safety Cones, 1 Center Ribbon, 1 Whistle, 1 Field Clock. Safety Priority CRITICAL: Never allow participants to wrap the rope around their hands, wrists, or waist. Use "Double Hand Grip" only. Field Layout (Overhead View) Center Ground Line Rope Ribbon Win Line Win Line Team A Pull Zone Team B Pull Zone 15ft Pull Space 10ft Neutral / Win Zone 15ft Pull Space Step 1 Mark the Center Tie the ribbon to the rope center. Mark a clear line on the ground with spray or tape. Step 2 Place Win Cones Measure 5ft from the center line in both directions. Place 2 cones on each side as win markers. Step 3 Define Boundaries Place final safety cones 20ft from the center to mark the "end of lane" for spectators.
Tug of War Safety PosterSafety Rules Official Protocol No Wrapping Standard grip only. Never loop the rope around your hands or waist! Stay On Your Feet If you fall, let go immediately. Do not sit or lie on the ground. Stop on Whistle Freeze and release tension the second you hear the signal. Proper Shoes Tied sneakers required. No flip-flops, sandals, or bare feet. Lane Setup Diagram Boundaries 5ft Win Zones Boundaries Total Lane: 50ft+ • Keep Spectators 6ft Back "Safety Is Our Strongest Link!"
Tug of War Official RulesOfficial Rules Station 01: Competition Guide Field Day 2026 Station Setup Diagram Single Lane Setup Win Line Win Line Team A Pull Space 5ft ← Center → 5ft Team B Pull Space Start Commands 1 "Pick up the rope!" Players grip with both hands, palms facing each other or up. 2 "Take the slack!" Teams lean back until rope ribbon is steady over center line. 3 "PULL!" Referee blows whistle. Pull ends when ribbon crosses a win line. Safety Fouls Hand/Waist Wrapping Immediate DQ. Safety risk is too high. Grounding/Sitting Players must stay on their feet at all times. Unsafe Release Letting go of rope while under full tension. Referee's Protocol Positioning Stand directly on the center line. Watch the ribbon. Do not blink at the moment of the win! Emergency Stop If a player falls or looks distressed, blow the whistle loud and repeatedly until all pulling stops. OFFICIAL COMPETITION MANUAL • TUG OF WAR SHOWDOWN DOC: TW-2026-FDM
Water Balloon Setup GuideWater Balloon Setup Guide Field Day Station: Toss & Splash Blueprint Station Prep Balloons: Fill 200+ balloons. Store in water-filled bins in a cool/shaded area. The Lane: Use one rope flat on the ground to mark the starting line. Cleanup: Provide a "Broken Balloon" bucket to keep the grass safe. Layout Tip Partners stand opposite each other across the rope. After each catch, they both take one step away from the rope. Field Layout (Overhead View) Start Line Rope Partner A Partner B Water Balloons 3FT Starting Gap Start: 3 Feet Level 2: 8 Feet Level 3: 15+ Feet 01 Set the Rope Lay one rope flat across the field. This serves as the "No-Cross" start line for all pairs. 02 Mark the Path Clear a path on BOTH sides of the rope. Pairs will back away from each other into these zones. 03 Prepare Supply Place bins nearby. Have a bucket ready for balloon scraps to protect the field and students.
Water Balloon Station PosterStation 03 Water Balloon Toss The Objective Toss and catch with your partner without breaking the balloon! 1 Take a step back after each successful catch. 2 Use gentle, underhand tosses. Think "Soft Hands!" 3 If your balloon breaks, get a new one and restart. 4 Stay with your assigned partner at all times. 5 Aim carefully—NEVER throw at faces or heads! Safety Warning No rough play. Use only underhand throws for safety.
Bounce Blast Setup GuideBounce Blast Setup Station 04: Slalom Hopper Relay Blueprint Station Inventory Hopper Balls: 2 balls (1 per lane). Ensure firm inflation. Slalom Gates: 4-6 pairs of small cones to create "gates." Turn Points: 1 tall cone per lane at 40ft distance. Slalom Concept Setup resembles downhill skiing. Students must bounce through each set of cones (gates) before reaching the turnaround. Slalom Course Diagram Start / Finish Line Lane 1 Lane 2 Lane Width: 15ft Gate Gap: 4ft Total Length: 40ft 01 Set the Center Lay a long rope or use a chalk line down the middle to separate Lane 1 and Lane 2. 02 Build the Gates Place pairs of small cones 4ft apart. Stagger them in a zigzag pattern down each lane. 03 Add Turnaround Place a tall cone at the end of each lane. Racers must go through all gates before turning.
Bounce Blast Station PosterStation 04 Bounce Blast Objective Bounce through the gates and back as a relay team to win! 1 Sit and hold the handles at all times while bouncing. 2 Bounce through the gates, go around cone, and return. 3 Tag your next teammate's hand to let them start. 4 Stay in your lane while bouncing through the gates. 5 If you fall off, get back on and keep going! Slalom Layout Bounce Through Each Gate • Return Around Cone Safety Check Use on grass only. Keep distance between racers!
Sack Race Setup GuideSack Race Setup Station 06: Slalom Hop Relay Blueprint Station Prep Sacks: 2-4 heavy duty sacks. Ensure no holes for safety. Slalom Gates: 3 pairs of cones per lane (6 total). Turn Points: 1 tall cone per lane at 40ft distance. Slalom Setup Arrange cones in staggered pairs (gates). Students must hop through each gate like a downhill skier before turning back. Slalom Hop Diagram Start / Finish Lane 1 Lane 2 Lane: 15ft Gate Gap: 5ft Total: 40ft 01 Center Line Mark a 40ft long center line to divide the two lanes. Place turnaround cones at the far end. 02 Set Gates Stagger pairs of small cones every 10ft. Ensure the gap is wide enough for a student in a sack. 03 Safety Clear Ensure at least 6ft of clear space around the entire course. Surface must be level grass.
Sack Race Station PosterStation 06 Sack Race Objective Hop through the gates and back as quickly as you can! 1 Keep both feet inside the sack at all times. 2 Hold the sack at your waist with both hands. 3 Hop through the gates and around the turn cone. 4 Stay in your lane while hopping. 5 If you fall, get back up and keep going. Slalom Layout Hop Through Gates • Turn Around Cone • Return to Start Safety Check Use on grass only. Keep distance between racers!
Duck Rescue Setup GuideDuck Rescue Setup Station 07: Water Gun Relay Blueprint Station Inventory Pencil Water Guns: 1 per team (min. 2). Check for easy suction. Water Source: 2 large bins filled with clean water. The Ducks: 2 rubber ducks and 2 5-gallon buckets. Rescue Mechanic Ensure buckets are empty but stable. The duck should sit at the bottom. As students add water, the duck will float to the top. Relay Course Diagram Start Line Fill Station Fill Station Duck Bucket Duck Bucket Uphill Path Team 1 Team 2 Lanes: 10ft Wide Distance: 25ft Buckets: 5 Gallon 01 Fill Stations Place two large water bins at the start line. Provide 1 pencil water gun per team. 02 Bucket Target Place empty 5-gal buckets at the finish line. Drop 1 floating rubber duck into each. 03 Safety Setup Mark lanes clearly. Ensure the uphill path is clear of any trip hazards or obstacles.
Duck Rescue Station PosterStation 07 Duck Rescue The Objective Fill your bucket until your duck reaches the top and swims to victory! 1 Fill your pencil water gun at the start line bin. 2 Run safely up the hill to your team's bucket. 3 Squirt ALL your water into the bucket to raise the duck. 4 Only one student per team goes at a time! 5 First team to raise their duck to the top WINS! Safety Check Watch for slippery grass. Walk if the ground is too wet!
Giant Darts Setup GuideGiant Darts Setup Station 08: Double Target Precision Blueprint Station Prep Targets: 2 Giant Inflatable Targets. Use sandbags/weights to secure. Throwing Objects: 12 Velcro-tip or soft-tip lawn darts. Boundary: Rope or tape for 2 separate "Throw Lines." Power Check Ensure targets are fully inflated. If using a constant-air blower, keep cords away from student pathways and retrieval zones. Field Layout (Overhead View) Target 1 Target 2 Throw Lines Team 1 Team 2 15-20ft 2 Separate Lanes Distance: 15-20ft Safe Zones: 8ft Wide 01 Inflate Targets Position the two inflatable targets side-by-side with 10ft of space between them. Stake or weight them down. 02 Measure Lanes Mark two separate throw lines 15ft away. Use cones to define the "throwing lane" for each target. 03 Retrieval Zone Ensure no students enter the retrieval zone until all throwing has stopped and the whistle is blown.
Giant Darts Station PosterStation 08 Giant Darts Objective Throw objects at the giant inflatable targets to score big points for your team! 1 Always throw from behind the designated line. 2 Take turns—only one student throws per target at a time. 3 Aim for the targets ONLY. Never throw at people. 4 Wait for the signal before retrieving your objects. 5 Encourage your teammates and always try your best! Scoring Guide 5 PTS 3 PTS 1 PT Safety First Stay back while others throw. Watch for flying darts!
Hydro Racers Setup GuideHydro Racers Setup Station 09: String & Cup Relay Blueprint Station Prep The Line: 2 lengths of smooth nylon string (20-30ft). Tie TIGHT between posts. The Racer: 2 Plastic cups with a small hole in the center of the bottom. Power: 4+ Water squirters and 2 large water bins. Setup Note String must be under high tension. If the cup hangs too low, it won't slide. Add a drop of soap to the string for extra speed! Field Layout (Overhead View) Station 1 Station 2 Spray Line Fill Fill 2 Separate Stations Lane length: 25ft No-Cross Zone: 5ft 01 Cup Prep Poke a hole in the bottom of a plastic cup. Thread the string through before tying it to posts. 02 Tighten Up Tie the string TIGHT. Any sag in the line will make the race much harder for the students. 03 Refill Zone Place water bins behind the spray line. Keep extra cups ready in case of cracks.
Hydro Racers Station PosterStation 09 Hydro Racers Objective Use your squirters to move the cup along the string to the finish! 1 Spray water ONLY at the cup. Keep your aim steady! 2 Always stay behind the starting line while spraying. 3 Take turns or work together with your team. 4 Refill your squirter quickly and return to play. 5 Safety First: NEVER spray water at other people. Station Layout LANE 1 LANE 2 Spray Cup to Move it • Stay Behind Line Safety Check Watch for wet, slippery grass. Walk to the refill bins!
Nine Square Setup GuideNine Square Setup Station 02: Rotation Challenge Blueprint Station Prep The Grid: One 15ft x 15ft square divided into a 3x3 grid of nine smaller squares. Equipment: 1 lightweight ball (gator skin or volleyball style). Marking: Use cones at intersections or field paint/tape to define squares. Rotation Logic The player in Square 5 (The King) serves. When someone is "out," everyone behind them moves up one number, and the new player enters at Square 1. The 9-Square Grid (Overhead View) 1 2 3 4 5 King 6 7 8 9 Player Queue Enter Here Full Grid: 15ft x 15ft Individual Square: 5ft x 5ft Surface: Grass or Turf 01 Mark Perimeter Measure a 15ft by 15ft outer square. Mark the four corners with tall safety cones. 02 Divide the Grid Mark lines every 5ft vertically and horizontally to create nine equal 5ft x 5ft squares. 03 King's Square Clearly designate Square 5 (the center square) as the 'King' square. This is where the game begins.
Nine Square Station PosterStation 02 Nine Square Objective Keep the ball in play while rotating through the squares to reach the King! 1 Every serve must go into another player's square. 2 Hit the ball UP, not down. Spiking is NOT allowed. 3 The ball must bounce ONCE before being hit. 4 If you miss or hit it out, rotate to the end of the line. 5 Be ready for anything and keep the game moving! Rotation Map 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Move up 1 square New player enters at 1 King is at Square 5 Safety Check Watch for ball impacts. Stay in your square to avoid collisions!
