Rainy Day Relays

Why Relay Games Work Well Indoors

Wet weather can leave young people restless, especially when outdoor activities get cancelled. Relay races offer a practical solution for youth groups stuck inside on rainy days, provided you have enough space to run them safely. They help expend energy, keep everyone involved, and create a bit of friendly competition without needing much equipment.

Relays also encourage teamwork. Children and teenagers have to cooperate, communicate and support each other to get their team across the finish line. This makes them useful for building group cohesion, particularly with newer members who may still be finding their place.

Most relay games can be adapted for different age groups and ability levels. You can make them faster or slower, sillier or more challenging, depending on what suits your group. The games below work well in church halls, scout huts, school gyms and similar indoor spaces, though you should always check that your venue has sufficient room for safe movement.

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Classic Indoor Relay Ideas

These relay games need minimal preparation and use everyday items. They suit groups of around eight to twenty young people, though adjusting for significantly larger or smaller numbers may affect how well they work in practice.

Trouser Relay. Find an oversized pair of trousers. For older or taller participants, you may need to sew two pairs together at the waist. Split the group into two teams, then have each team divide into pairs. Each pair must put one leg each into the trousers and waddle together from one end of the room to the other. When they return, the next pair takes over. The first team to get all their pairs through wins. This one tends to produce a lot of laughter and works best when pairs have to coordinate their steps.

Orange Pass. Teams line up in single file. The first person tucks an orange under their chin and must pass it to the next person without using their hands. The receiver has to grip it with their own chin and neck, then pass it on down the line. If the orange drops, it goes back to the start of the line. This game requires concentration and gets progressively funnier as participants contort themselves to make the transfer.

Balloon Knee Relay. Similar in spirit to the orange pass, but using a balloon held between the knees. Players must waddle from one end of the room to the other without dropping the balloon or using their hands to hold it. If it falls, they start again from where they dropped it. You can make this harder by adding obstacles or requiring players to transfer the balloon to the next person knee to knee.

Dressing Up Dash. Place a pile of oversized clothes at the far end of the room for each team. This might include a large shirt, hat, scarf and gloves. Each player runs to the pile, puts on all the items, runs back to their team, removes everything, and hands the bundle to the next player who must do the same. Using charity shop finds keeps costs down and adds to the comedy when items are several sizes too big.

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Keeping Things Safe and Fair

Indoor relay games can get boisterous, so a few precautions help keep everyone safe. Clear the playing area of furniture, bags and anything that could cause a trip or collision. Check the floor surface and make sure participants have suitable footwear, or consider having everyone in socks if the floor is smooth and clean.

Set clear boundaries for the playing area before you start. Young people caught up in competition can easily run into walls or doors if limits are not established. Having leaders positioned at turning points can help manage this.

Be mindful of physical contact games. Activities like the orange pass involve close proximity and brief physical contact, which may not suit all participants. Always offer alternatives for anyone who prefers not to take part in a particular game, perhaps as a timekeeper or cheerleader for their team.

For groups with mixed ages or abilities, consider handicapping systems to keep things fair. Older participants might have to complete an extra task, or younger ones could have a shorter distance to cover. The aim is participation and enjoyment rather than outright victory.

Making Relays Part of Your Regular Programme

Relay games can work well as warm up activities at the start of a session or as a way to use up remaining time at the end, depending on your group and what else you have planned. They can also form the centrepiece of a games evening when combined with other team activities.

Having a few relay ideas ready means you are never caught out by bad weather. Keep a box of simple equipment to hand: balloons, oranges, old clothes, beanbags and similar items that can be used across multiple games.

Organisations like Girlguiding and The Scout Association publish additional game ideas on their websites, though some resources may require membership access. These can be helpful for expanding your repertoire over time.

Rainy days do not have to mean bored young people. With a bit of preparation and a willingness to let things get lively, relay races can make for a genuinely enjoyable session.

The Next Step

Now that you have read through the advice above, you might want to put it into practice. Our Youth Group Game Finder lets you match games to your specific group needs by filtering across age, group size, space, and activity type. Try it now →