15,14

“15, 14” was another one of my favorite games to play with my friends when I was younger. I remember that we spend the whole day at a playing ground only playing this game. It is a kind of hide-and-seek game, but with a little bit more action and running is involved too. I am sure you will like it!

What do you need?
A big space with trees, climbing frames and suchlike that can be used as hiding spots.

Who plays?
The game is the most fun with a lot of players, but theoretically, two people are enough to make it work. I recommend 5- 30 players, of course, also depending on the size of the playing field. Kids of preschool age and older enjoy playing it, but you can never be too old for a game of “15, 14”.

https://www.istockphoto.com/photo/group-of-children-playing-hide-and-seek-gm500491579-43233562?phrase=hide+and+seek

How to play “15, 14”
First of all, you have to choose a player who starts being ‘it’. He or she stands in the middle of the playground and all the other players gather around, touching him/her somehow. Then, ‘it’ starts counting down starting from 15. All the players run away, trying to find a good hiding spot.
When the 15 seconds are over, the player that is ‘it’ starts to search for the other players. If he or she sees someone, the player has to identify the other one and the found player is out. The player that is ‘it’ is also allowed to take three steps, however big he or she can.
When no one else can be found, ‘it’ starts to count down from 14. All the players have to be fast now, to run from their hiding spot to the player who is searching and touch him/ her. Then they are allowed to return to their hiding spot or also hide in a new spot. ‘It’ is again allowed to take three steps and then he or she can start counting down from 13. The round after it starts from 12 and it goes on like this until everyone is found.
The first person that was found in the beginning gets to be ‘it’ in the next round.
The game is also a lot of fun because you can come up with different tactics on how to trick the other players. The person who is ‘it’, for example, can use the three steps to go away as far as possible from the other players that are hiding, so that they can’t make it in time anymore. Or he or she decides to hide him-/ herself so that the players can’t find him.
For the others, it is also possible to trick the searcher by tapping him on one side but running to the other side while making noises. You can get creative with this game and come up with your own methods on how to win.
Just remember to play fair and follow the rules that you agreed on,
Have fun playing!