A triptych of strange 3 legged games

There are few feelings in party gaming better than that heady, slightly sick, feeling one gets when tied to a partner you then have to rush around completing some crazy task or other. Below are three of the best three legged games ever.

3 Legged Frisbee Golf
Although frisbee golf is considered a serious sport in some parts of the world 3 Legged Frisbee Golf is superior in almost every way. For teams of two players. Playing pairs have their legs tied together. Each team possess a frisbee. On a starting command all teams set off by throwing their frisbee, chasing after it as quickly as possible, picking it up and throwing it again. The first team to get their frisbee to the 'hole' ( a pre-determined object as far away as you like) wins. A great variety is Zombie 3 Legged Frisbee Golf - here after the starting throw a team can either carry on trying to finish quickly or aim their frisbee at a competing couple. If they score a hit then that couple falls over 'dead'. This adds a superb competitive/chance element to the game.

3 Legged Monster Chase
For large groups: pairs are formed and have their legs bound together. Each pair is give a sheet of coloured stickers - a different colour for each team. On a starting command the players set off, the objective being to place their stickers on the backs of their competitors and avoid being 'stickered' themselves. After a set time of pandemonium play stops and the team that have been stickered the least wins.

3 Legged Butterfly Hunting
Yet again it was at one of Herbert Rowsell's summer garden parties that as a callow youth I first played this enchanting game. Players are paired up, legs are tied and then each team are given one butterfly net. The aim is, by working together as a team, to catch a member of the order Lepidoptera. Last team to catch one, loses.
This is a good game for adults to play, especially if they have had a couple of glasses of Pimms. The sight of two players tumbling helplessly into a Buddleia bush is one to be treasured.

strange games no:104

Welsh Bunny Hopping

As Easter approaches, every Strange Gamer finds themselves itching to buy masses of cotton wool and double-sided sticky tape, dress themselves up as a rabbit and hop down their local high street. For the past three years the Welsh town of Llangollen has hosted the Easter Bunny Hop. Competitors of all ages and sizes don their rabbit costumes and hop madly through the centre of the town. Unfortunately the organisers have cancelled this years event, and any future activities, claiming they can not afford the cost of the public liability insurance. Surely it's a sorry state of affairs when the common man and woman are denied the basic pleasures of being a bunny and making a fool of themselves.
The accompanying photograph is of last year's event. The man on the left in the orange T shirt is one Dai Evans from Glyndyfrdwy - seconds after this shot was taken Dai stumbled awkwardly and broke his leg so seriously that he had to be put down.

strange games no:103
web:welsh daily post article on bunny hopping
weird web: ultimate reference about Bugs Bunny in Drag:filmography, stills, analysis!

Strange Games with Bubblewrap #2 - Grasshopper

As an addition to Strange Games with Bubblewrap #1 my good friend Maurice Tweddle tells me of a game he still plays based on the 1970's TV show Kung Fu.
Simply get a long roll of bubble wrap and lay a path out on top of a solid floor. Players take it in turns to walk barefooted along the length of bubblewrap - just like Kwai Chang Caine did on rice paper in Kung Fu. Any player who is heard to pop a bubble is out until it's his turn again. To add to the game a candle can be placed at the end of the path for the kung fu master to place his hand in the flame and yet feel no pain.
A non-player can commentate on proceedings using the words of the masterly Masters Po and Kahn:-

What must we say of a mirror that receives tranquillity, yet reflects a troubled brow

Discipline your body Grasshopper, that your mind may find a greater power.

weird web:the kung fu guide
strange games no: 102

Strange Games with Fire #2: Knee Balance Burn

You can't beat a party game with a lit candle for the wonderful feeling that you may be sued at any moment by a litigious parent. And all because little Tommy suffered minor burns. Strange Games with fire number 1: Snapdragons reminds me of the wonderfully strange game: Knee Balance Burn.
For two players at a time. Each faces the other, then both players go into a single knee balance. (Balancing on one knee is a great skill to learn that is bound to come in useful in later life) One player holds a lighted candle, the other holds an unlighted one. Their aim is to touch candles and get the unlighted candle burning before their raised knees touch the floor. If they fail then it is someone else's turn. The team that performs the task fastest without burns wins.

Strange Games no:101
weird web:celebrity dreams

The Clapping Game

If you want to play a game that needs a combination of balance, timing and power and one that corresponds to Newton's third law then the Clapping Game is the one for you.

For two players. Stand facing each other as close as possible, toes touching, so you are almost but not quite falling backwards. Then on a count of three each player raises both hands and tries to push his opponent backwards by pushing against his hands only. If both players remain in position then continue until a winner is found.

Strange Games no:100
Strange Games the Videos: The Clapping Game

Brat Sack

There are many Victorian parlour games based around guessing the identity of a hidden person. Various means from examining ankles to listening to them impersonate animals are used, however Brat Sack brings a more dynamic edge to these games.
Players are paired up. One set leave the room whilst the remaining players are given a large hessian sack to climb into, the top of which can be loosely tied and then the sacks/players are distributed evenly about the room. The other players are then introduced back into the room and the race is on to find their partners and release them from their sack.
Variations include blindfolding all the seeking players and allowing the 'sacked' players to shout out pre-selected words to help them ( a la Kittiwake)

strange games no:99

Human Fly

In January it was reported that there is a trend towards increasingly lavish children's parties - we are talking stretch limos, hiring of pop musical beat combos, nintendo DSs in the party bags and more, all to make it an unforgettable experience. The sad fact is that all you need to spend is a few pounds on some rolls of gaffer/masking tape - then you can play Human Fly.
Split the players into groups of 4 or 5. Give each group a high stool and some wall space. The teams select one of their number (usually the lightest) to sit on the stool with his back against the wall. They then proceed to tape him as firmly as possible to the wall using the gaffer tape supplied. The tape must be placed over this player's middle and outstretched arms - not over any bare skin areas. After a set time taping is stopped and the highlight of the game occurs- the stools are removed leaving the players fixed to the wall. Last player to peel off is the winner.

strange games no:98
Strange Games the Videos: Human Fly

Get Away!

My previous post on Big Brother reminds me of a game from my youth that we called Get Away!... a game that contains an almost perfect balance of tension, exercise and violence

All players stand in a large circle, facing inwards, with hands held behind backs and eyes tightly closed. A game organiser walks around the outside of this circle holding a rolled up newspaper - or some other suitable beating device. At random the organiser places the rolled up newspaper into the hands of a player. This player can now open his eyes and hit the player on his right (usually around his buttocks) The hit player must now run away anti-clockwise around the circle with the first player chasing him and trying to land more blows. The play stops when the running player returns to his place. Eyes are shut again and the play continues.

strange games no:97