Tag

Universal children's playground chase game in which one player is 'It' and must tag another to transfer the role — with countless regional variants (Freeze Tag, Shadow Tag, Manhunt).

📐playground / open area⏱~30 min🌤outdoor

What is Tag?

Tag is a playground/chase game found in almost every culture worldwide, one of the oldest children's outdoor games. One player is designated 'It' (the chaser) and must physically touch (tag) another player to make that person the new 'It'. Rules and variants are almost infinitely diverse across regions and cultures: Freeze Tag (tagged players freeze; another player un-freezes them), Shadow Tag (tag by stepping on shadow), TV Tag (say name of TV show to be 'safe'), Blob Tag (all tagged players link arms and become part of chasing 'blob'), Zombie Tag, Manhunt (large-scale hide-and-tag hybrid), Duck Duck Goose (circle variant). Tag has also evolved into competitive sports: World Chase Tag (WCT) — a 2011-founded professional league with structured 20×20m tag courses, obstacles, timed chases, and prize money. In 2018-2020, WCT began broadcasting on ESPN. Tag is an excellent cardio + agility game for children and adults, requiring speed, evasion skills, and spatial awareness.

Quick facts

How it works

Objective

Depends on variant: 'It' aims to tag someone to transfer role; runners aim to avoid being tagged.

Match structure

'It' chases; other players run/dodge. When It tags a player, that player becomes new It. Continues indefinitely or until stopped.

Rules

Basic rules

One player is 'It'
Designate first It by counting rhyme, drawing straws, or volunteer.
It tags others
Physical touch (usually hand tap) = tag transfer. New tagged player becomes It.
No tag-backs (rule variant)
Common house rule: new It cannot immediately tag person who tagged them.
Base / safe area
Some variants designate 'base' — safe zones where It cannot tag. Cannot stay on base indefinitely.
Boundaries
Play area often bounded — leaving area = automatic 'It' or lose.

Advanced rules

Freeze Tag
Tagged players freeze in place; other free players un-freeze them by touch or crawling under legs.
Blob Tag / Manhunt Blob
Tagged players join It, linking arms; blob grows until only 1 free player remains.
Shadow Tag
It tags by stepping on player's shadow (rather than body).
TV Tag / Movie Tag / Categories Tag
Runner shouts a TV show/movie/category to be 'safe'; It can't tag while player is speaking.
Cops and Robbers
Cops chase Robbers; when Robber tagged, taken to 'jail' until freed by another Robber.
Manhunt
Large-scale night version: 'seeker' team hunts hiders across broad neighborhood.
World Chase Tag rules
Pro 20×20m course with obstacles; 20-sec chases; head-to-head elimination bracket.

Scoring

Traditional: no score, continuous play. World Chase Tag: elimination bracket with 20-sec chases.

Action	Points
Being It (casual)	Undesired role; tries to transfer
WCT chase evasion (20 sec)	Evader wins if not tagged in 20 sec
WCT tag	Chaser wins if tags evader within 20 sec

Win condition · Traditional: no formal win — game continues until stopped. WCT: elimination bracket; last team standing wins tournament.

Playing area

Called

playground / open area

Dimensions

Any open area — 20×20m minimum for small group. Manhunt can span entire neighborhood.

Open outdoor space with room to run. Sometimes bounded (e.g., 'no leaving the yard') or unbounded (manhunt).

Equipment

None (traditional)
Tag requires only bodies and space.
Flag / rope (variants)
Some variants use flags (Flag Football hybrid) or ropes (Blob Tag).
Sneakers
Athletic footwear for speed + safety.
Cone markers (World Chase Tag)
Boundary + obstacle markers for pro WCT courses.

Officiating

Casual play is self-refereed. World Chase Tag has formal officiating with video review.

Self-refereed (casual)
WCT: Referee, Judge, Timekeeper

Strategies

Change direction unpredictably
Zigzag prevents It from committing to a chase path.
Use obstacles (trees, tables)
Create physical barriers between you and It.
Team up in Blob Tag
Free players work together to distract Blob from tagging weakest.
Buy time in TV Tag
Take moment to think of unique TV show unlikely to be repeated by others.
WCT evader technique
Stay close to obstacles; use quick vertical parkour moves to break line-of-sight.

Terminology

It / Tagger / Chaser: Player designated to chase others.
Runner / Evader / Chased: Player fleeing the It.
Base: Safe zone where It cannot tag runners; time-limited stay.
Tag / Tap: Physical touch that transfers role.
Freeze: Freeze Tag: tagged players stand still until unfrozen.
Un-freeze: Free player touching frozen teammate to release them.
Blob: Group of tagged players linked as It (Blob Tag).
Manhunt: Large-scale hide + tag hybrid over big area (neighborhood, park).
No tag-backs: Common rule preventing immediate re-tagging person who tagged you.
Cops and Robbers: Team variant with jail mechanic.
Quad course (WCT): 20×20m obstacle course used in pro Ultimate Tag league.

Major competitions

World Chase Tag Championship
annual · worldwide · since 2016
WCT Ultimate Tag League
annual · worldwide (USA + UK) · since 2019
Ultimate Tag (Fox TV show)
one season · USA · since 2020

Where it is played

Governing bodies

World Chase Tag (WCT)
Founded 2011 · Guernsey, UK
Official site ↗

Famous names & records

Famous athletes

Sean Malto (USA) — Pro WCT athlete + parkour crossover
Jonny Foulds (UK) — WCT Champion
Vinnie Bettles (UK) — WCT founder + player
Christian Devlin (USA) — Multiple Ultimate Tag TV competitor
Youth playground champions (no formal names — universal childhood game)

Records

Longest continuous game of tag
Group of USA friends — 23 years (informal, on-and-off since 1990) (2013)
WCT fastest chase
Various pro chasers — Tag within 3-5 sec of start on quad course (2023)
Largest simultaneous game of tag
Guinness World Record — 2,275 participants (Chicago 2013) (2013)

Learn this sport

beginner

1
Play with friends outdoors
Basic tag needs only 2+ people and open space.
2
Learn variants
Freeze Tag, Blob Tag, Shadow Tag — endless creative variations.
3
Build sprint speed
Speed helps both as It (catching) and runner (escaping).

intermediate

1
Parkour basics
Vault, climb, and land safely for WCT evasion.
2
Cardio + interval training
Sprint intervals build tag-relevant fitness.

advanced

1
World Chase Tag tryouts
Application-based pro league; parkour + tag hybrid.
2
Ultimate Tag (TV show)
Fox's Ultimate Tag TV competition (2020 season).

Frequently asked

How do you play tag?+

One player is 'It' and chases the others. When It tags (touches) another player, that player becomes the new It. Play continues indefinitely. Many variants exist: Freeze Tag, Blob Tag, TV Tag, Manhunt, etc.

How old is tag?+

Ancient — a form of tag has been played in nearly every culture for thousands of years. Earliest documented reference: 1738 Denmark 'Tik'. Predates written history.

What is World Chase Tag?+

A professional Tag league founded 2011 in Guernsey UK. Teams of chasers vs evaders on 20×20m obstacle courses; 20-second chases; head-to-head bracket. Broadcast on ESPN since 2018.

What are the most popular tag variants?+

Freeze Tag (frozen when tagged, unfreeze by touch), Blob Tag (tagged players join chasing blob), TV Tag (name TV show to be safe), Manhunt (large-area hide + tag), Sharks and Minnows (swimming variant), Cops and Robbers (jail mechanic).

What's the longest game of tag?+

10 friends from Spokane, WA, USA — played a continuous game of tag for 23+ years (1990-2013+), documented in a Wall Street Journal article and inspiring the 2018 film 'Tag'.

Is tag good exercise?+

Excellent cardio + agility workout. Sprint intervals + directional changes engage all major leg muscles. Kids can burn 300-500 calories/hour playing tag.

Sources & provenance

Last verified 2026-08-24.community