Outdoor
Sack Race
Also called Takbuhan sa Sako, Karera ng Sako, Potato sack race
Players stand inside a sack and hop to the finish line; the first one across wins.
- people
- 4–40
- time
- 10 min
- energy
- High
- materials
- Cheap to buy
Kids-safeHR-safeChurch-safe
Before you start
Mark a straight course of 10–15 m on grass with lanes about 2 m apart. Lay one sack per lane at the start line.
- 1Players step into the sack and hold it up at the waist with both hands.
- 2On “Go!”, they hop to the finish line. Falling is allowed; get up and keep hopping.
- 3Stepping out of the sack or running with feet poking through is a restart from the start line.
- 4First across the line wins the heat; heat winners race a final.
What to say3
- 1“Sacks up to your waist — hold on tight!”
- 2“On your marks… get set… HOP!”
- 3“Down goes lane 3 — but she's up again! What a comeback!”
Host tips3
- Plastic rice sacks are slippery on tiles and smooth floors and people go down hard. Run this on grass or sand only.
- Long courses kill it: adults are exhausted after 15 m and the race turns into a slow walk. Keep it short and run several heats.
- Run heats by size. A 6-year-old and a 12-year-old in the same race is not a contest.
Variants2
Relay
Teams of 4–6: hop to a cone and back, step out, and hand the sack to the next teammate.
Pair sack
Two kids share one large sack and must hop in sync. Kids only — adults fall too hard.
Safety3
- Players fall forward with their hands trapped in the sack — face and wrist injuries are common. Grass or sand only, and tell players to let go of the sack when falling.
- Not for seniors, pregnant guests, or anyone with knee or ankle injuries — make them judges.
- Check sacks for staples or wire ties first.
Good for
Occasions
FiestaSchoolTeam buildingReunionBirthday
Venues
OutdoorIndoor, large
If this one dies early5
- Egg and Spoon RaceRace to the finish while balancing an egg on a spoon; drop it and you go back to start.
- Three-Legged RacePartners stand side by side with their inner ankles tied together and race to the finish line as one three-legged runner.
- Wheelbarrow RaceOne partner walks on their hands while the other holds their legs like a wheelbarrow; first pair to the finish wins.
- Sponge RelayTeams soak a sponge, run it to an empty bucket and squeeze it out; the first team to fill its bucket to the line wins.
- Santa's Sack RelayEach runner pulls on a Santa costume, carries the sack to the chimney, delivers one gift and hands the outfit to the next teammate.