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Outdoor

Capture the Flag

Also called Agawan ng Bandila, Steal the flag

Two teams each hide a flag on their half of the field and try to carry the other team's flag home without being tagged.

people
10–40
time
30 min
energy
High
materials
Household items
Kids-safeHR-safeChurch-safe
Watch it played
What you need3
How to play4

Before you start

Divide a field in half with a clear center line. Each team places its flag visibly on its half, at least 5 m from the edge, and marks a jail area. Split into two equal teams in colors.

  1. 1On the start signal, players cross into enemy territory to find and grab the flag.
  2. 2On their own half, players can tag any opponent. A tagged player goes to the tagger's jail.
  3. 3A teammate can free one prisoner by reaching the jail and tagging them without being caught; both get a free walk back.
  4. 4A team wins by carrying the enemy flag back across the center line. Best of three rounds.
What to say3
  1. 1“Your flag, their flag — bring theirs home and you win!”
  2. 2“Jailbreak! Somebody's coming to the rescue!”
  3. 3“THE FLAG IS HOME! Team Green takes the round!”
Host tips3
  • Teams guard their flag with five people standing on top of it and nobody scores for 20 minutes. Set a 'no guarding within 3 m of the flag' circle.
  • Arguments about who tagged first stall every round. Put a referee on each half and use light two-hand tags, no grabbing clothes.
  • Players in jail lose interest quickly. Cap jail time at 2 minutes, then they walk out free.
Variants2

  • No jail

    A tagged player just runs back to touch their own flag before rejoining. Faster and nobody stands around.

  • Glow night

    At dusk, flags are glow sticks and players wear glow bracelets. Only on a field you know well.

Safety4
  • Collisions at full speed are the main injury — no tackling, no shirt-pulling, light tags only.
  • Check the field for holes, sprinklers and roots before play; avoid trees and parking areas in the playing zone.
  • Make sure everyone drinks water between rounds in the heat; this game runs long.
  • Not for seniors or pregnant guests as runners — make them jailers or referees.
Good for

Occasions

Team buildingSchoolRetreatReunionFiesta

Venues

Outdoor
If this one dies early4