Relays

All of these relays need a referee, if only to blow the whistle.

You'll need prizes and music to go with any of these. If you want just the classics, try: Wheelbarrow, Leapfrog, 3-Legged Potato Sack, and the old Balance a Beanbag on Top of Your Head relay. But if you want to go beyond the classics, try these:

T-Shirt Quick Change Every racer puts on a big T-shirt and runs the course. At the hand-off, he has to pull it off and the next racer puts it on, then runs.

Crayon Relays Supply one box of crayons per team. Distribute the crayons, one per runner, and put the empty boxes at the finish line. Goal? Fill up the boxes, crayon by crayon. (Or use easy puzzles and assemble them piece by piece.)

One Off Gather a shoe from everybody and pile them all up. The goal? Run to the pile, put on your shoe, and dash back to the next runner.

Baseball Bat Spinner Your goal? Run to the halfway line. Pick up a baseball bat that's lying there, pin it between the ground and your forehead and spin around it 10 times, keeping it vertical. Then wobble back to the finish.

Wethead Relay Your goal? Carrying a paper cup of water, run to the halfway line where your partner is lying on her back with a sports-drink bottle on her forehead (no hands allowed). You have to pour your cup of water into the bottle and go back for another cupful.

Balloon Relay Another race for pairs. The two players must keep a balloon in the air, batting it back and forth, as they run to the finish. You can play with no hands for additional challenge.

Backball This relay is run in pairs. A ball (or sweater) is stuck between the backs of two players. No hands are allowed! They have to "run" that way without dropping the item, or back to the start they go.

Water Balloon Toss Last but not least on our list, this is probably the best relay ever invented. Players form two lines, one step apart. Your partner is the person standing directly in front of you. On the first round, toss a water balloon to your partner. If it's caught and doesn't break -- or if it hits the ground and doesn't break -- then each of you has to back up one step and try again. A broken balloon means you're out. The winning team is the last one with an intact balloon.