Contents copyright 2005 by RoByn Thompson

Please do not duplicate without authorization.

1. Airlift

Prep & Props: Inflate several small balloons per team.

Divide the players into two equal teams. In a yard or park, mark out a large rectangular area. One end of the area is home base, the other end is the outpost, and in between is enemy territory. The job of the airlift team is to carry supplies (balloons) from home base to the outpost without getting 'shot down' (tagged three times) by the enemy team. The airlift team may carry one balloon each or may let one or two players carry several while the other protect them as they race from home base to the outpost. Players who are tagged three times while carrying balloons are out, and the enemy gets their balloons. Those of the airlift team who are not carrying balloons may run freely without fear of being tagged. The team that has the most balloons at end of game wins.

2. Back-to-Back Balloon Lift

Prep & Props: A supply of inflated balloons

Pick teams of two parents, two children or parent and child teams. Have the pairs stand in a line, back to back, with a balloon held between their backs. On signal, they should press together and try to burst the balloon. If the balloon falls before breaking, they drop out. The first team to pop its balloon wins.

3. Ball Over

Prep & Props:  Blindfold, 1 soccer ball or volley ball

Draw a line to divide the area and have two teams take positions on either side. Players must not cross the line. Blindfold one Player and provide him with a whistle. When the whistle sounds, put the ball in play. The object of the game is to keep the ball in the opposing team's territory. One point is counted against the side that has the ball whenever the whistle is blown. The blindfolded Player can blow the whistle whenever he pleases. The lowest score wins. For variation, have four or five players touch the ball before it can be returned to the other side. Or create a 'no-man's land' along the dividing line. Teams, in getting the ball over, must bounce it into 'no-man's land'.

Variation: Use balloons or water balloons in place of balls. If broken, a point goes to the opposite team.

4. Ball Race

Prep & Props:  ball(s)

Players stand in a circle facing each other about 1-2 feet apart.

A player on one side takes the larger ball, while a player on the opposite side starts with the smaller ball.

At the same time, the players start to pass the balls to the player on their left as fast as possible.

The players must try to make one ball catch up with the other ball.

If a ball is dropped, play starts from the beginning.

For larger groups use more balls, and every time a ball catches up with another use one less ball. Variation: Use balloons or water balloons in place of balls. If broken, a point goes to the opposite team

5. Ball Tag

Prep & Props:  indoor baseball, volleyball, soccer or medicine bail

The circle of players is formed, "It" in the center.  Players in the circle pass the ball round in any direction, preventing "It" from tagging the ball.  If ball is tagged, last player to touch same is "It" and goes in center of circle. Variation: Use balloons or water balloons in place of balls. If broken, a point goes to the opposite team.

6. Balloon Baseball

Prep & Props:  Balloons, balloon baseball markers.

Players are divided into two teams. Each team designates a pitcher who pitches to his own team.

Each batter gets two pitches to hit a balloon with his fist. If the balloon is hit, the fielding team tries to blow the balloon to the ground before the batter runs around the bases. If they do not, a run is scored. Play continues until everyone on the batting team has been 'up to bat'. Then the inning is over and teams switch places.

The game continues for a specified number of innings.

Note: Depending on the age of the players, the distance between the bases may be altered.

7. Balloon Bounce

Prep & Props: inflated balloons

Have a contest to see who can keep the balloon in the air the longest using only their head. The person who can keep it in the air longest without using anything but their head is the winner. (This game can also be played in teams).

8. Balloon Basketball

Prep & Props:  A small supply of balloons; 2 boxes or wastepaper baskets for goals

Use a balloon for the ball and boxes or wastepaper baskets for the goals. Score as in basketball, except that a broken balloon counts 5 points off for the offending side

9. Balloon Battle Royale

Prep & Props:  A supply of balloons; string

Arrange all the players in a large circle or scattered around the room, each with a balloon hanging from a string tied to his waist. On signal, have each player try to break all of the other balloons. When his is broken, he leaves the game. The game continues until only one player is left.

Variation: Give each Player a new balloon if he correctly answers a riddle

10. Balloon Burst

Prep & Props:  Blow up lots of big sized balloons and before putting a knot in them, push a small wrapped candy inside (small tootsie rolls, individually wrapped lifesavers, dum-dum lollipops work well, or pieces of paper that name prizes).

Spread all the balloons around the floor at the party and let guests go wild sitting on them and popping them. Obviously once popped, they can have the treat that's inside. This can be great fun for young children

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