Farmers & Gophers

Objective:

• The game begins with everyone as farmers.

• When the coach shouts “The Gophers are coming!”, all players must run and jump onto a spot (gopher hole).

• Then split the group into Farmers and Gophers.

• Farmers try to cover the gopher holes and collect food, while gophers try to sneak food onto the holes before the farmers can stop them.

Set-up:

• Mark a large rectangular play area with boundary cones.

• Place spots (flat markers) inside the area to represent gopher holes.

• Place hula hoop barns on each side of the area.

• Divide players into 2 groups:

  • Farmers – protect the holes and collect food.

  • Gophers – place food (bean bags, balls, or other items) onto the holes.

How to Play:

• Gophers carry bean bags and place them onto any gopher hole.

• Farmers try to cover holes by standing on the spots before gophers place food.

  • If players reach the hole at the same time → settle with Rock-Paper-Scissors.

• If a bean bag is placed on a hole, the farmer must pick it up and return it to the barn (hula hoop).

  • Farmers can only carry one piece of food at a time.

• Play for a set time limit (e.g., 3 minutes).

• At the end:

  • If many holes have bean bags → Gophers win.

  • If most food is collected in barns → Farmers win.

Progressions / Variations

• Tag Rule: Farmers can tag gophers. Tagged gophers must freeze for 5 seconds.

• Gopher Feeders: Pick 1–2 “super gophers” who can place two bean bags at once.

• Barn Raiders: Gophers can steal food back from the barns if not guarded.

• Timed Waves: Alternate turns – gophers get 10 seconds to place food, then farmers get 10 seconds to collect.

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The Game Encourages

• Agility and spatial awareness

• Team cooperation and strategy

• Quick decision-making (attack vs. defend)

• Fun role rotation between offense and defense

Equipment

• Spots/flat cones (gopher holes)

• Bean bags, balls, or small items (gopher food)

• Hula hoops (barns)

• Boundary cones