KNOT GAMESBlackout Knots GameEquipment Risk

1 x rope per Player none

All Players have a piece of rope. Assign a specific knot. Shut out lights for a specified time and see how adept group is in the darkness. Vary knots called and time lights are out.

KNOT GAMESBlind man’s Knot GameEquipment Risk

Blindfold and 1 rope per Player

1 x rope per team

Set up teams of at least 6 people. Teams are blindfolded. The leader passes down the line, holding a piece of cord knotted in one of the familiar knots. Each Player may touch the knot for 10 seconds to discover which knot it is. At the word "Go" each blindfolded Player makes the knot they consider the right one. The quickest (if correct) wins.

KNOT GAMESBowline/Sheet-bend Draw Challe

ngeEquipment Risk

1 x long rope per Player Knots slip and Player fall over

Divide the unit into pairs. Each pair lines up across from each other. Each Player is given a piece of rope long enough to tie around his/her waist and leave a couple of extra feet. These ropes should be on the ground by the Player's feet.

At the “GO” signal, each Player picks up his/her rope and ties a bowline around their waist. Then they join the rope with their partners’ rope using a sheet-bend. They then back up until the ropes become taught, lean back and hold their hands in the air.

KNOT GAMESAs a team competition, the first team to have all of their pairs done, wins. As an individual competition, each team competes independently. Check the knots, if they are wrong, have them start over, with time running

Knotting Baseball GameEquipment Risk

2 x ropes Trip/fall when racing

Hit by thrown rope

Two teams one batting and one fielding. Pitcher and batter each have a piece of rope. Pitcher calls name of knot and throws his rope to a fielder.

If batter ties correct knot and reaches Pitcher first then safe and 1 point, Batter changes. If Fielder Reaches Pitcher with correct knot the Batter out.

If Batter ties incorrect knot or can’t not tie the knot he is out.

KNOT GAMESIf Pitcher ties incorrect knot or can’t not tie the knot the Batter safe and scores 1 point.

Knotting Circle GameEquipment Risk

1 x rope Trip/fall when running

Players form a large circle with room to run around the outside.

One Player, walking around the circle, ties a knot in a bit of rope and drops it at the feet of one of another group, who must name the knot correctly. Whilst the Player tries to guess the knot the other Player has to run around the outside of the circle.

If the guesser gets the knot correct before the runner/tier gets back to them they win, otherwise the runner/tier wins.

The winner ties the next knot and the game repeats.

KNOT GAMESKnotting Relays RelayEquipment Risk

Rope per team Trip/fall when running

Split Unit into teams and stand them at one end of a room and rope at the other. Call the name of a knot and first team Player has to run up to the end and tie a correct knot, first person to do so gets a team point.

Call next knot, next Player runs up unties

first knot and ties new knot. First team to complete gets a point.

KNOT GAMESKnotty Challe

ngeEquipment Risk

1 x rope per team none

Two Players sit face to face with about 8 feet between them. Players take in turns to tie any number of simple, single knots on it, from one to four with the rope behind their back and when tied brings hands to front. His opponent guesses how many knots there are on the cord. The guesser only has one chance.

The Player making the knots tries to fool his opponent by only making one knot, none, or several knots in the time it should take to make one, in order to fool his opponent. His face can give the expression that his hands are idle when they are actually busy or vice versa.

KNOT GAMESKnot Relay RelayEquipment Risk

2 x rope per team Trip/fall when running

Split players into teams, teams have a practice rope and a rope for relay at the other end of the room.

Tell teams predetermined list of knots and the order they must tie them in. On go teams must decide on Player order for relay and Players take in turns to run to end and tie the knot, if incorrect they can return to their team and be shown how to tie the knot if they can’t do it.

Teams should select Player who can tie knots or teach others the knots. First team to complete sequence of knots wins.

KNOT GAMESRope Throw Rescue RelayEquipment Risk

1 x long rope per team

1 x target per team

None

Each team has a coil of rope. A target (circle on ground) represents a drowning victim in the water.

Each Player in the team takes turns in throwing the rope, if it ands in/on the target the rope passes to the next player. If the Player misses the target they have to recoil the rope and try again.

KNOT GAMESKnot Step Contest Contes

tEquipment Risk

1 x rope per person none

Line up the Players at one end of the room. Each is given a 6-foot length of rope.

Call out the name of a knot. Each Player ties the knot. Judges check the knot.

Each Player who tied the knot correctly can take one step forward.

The process is repeated until a Player is across the finish line.

KNOT GAMESDrop the Knot GameEquipment Risk

1 x rope Trip/fall when running

Stand on people’s fingers

The group sits in a circle with their hands behind their back. One person walks around the outside with a piece of rope. They select someone, place the rope in their hands and say the name of aa knot.

They then continue around the circle (run). The challenge is for the knot to be completed correctly before they return to the same place. If the knot is not finished or not correct, the person tying it changes place with them and goes around the circle with the rope.

KNOT GAMESKnot Dodge GameEquipment Risk

1 x rope and 1 x soft ball(s) Hard balls can cause injury

Two teams are numbered off. The leader of the game calls out a number and a knot. The person with the corresponding number from team one has to go to a designated point and tie the knot.

The person from the other team with the same number has to go to another point and try to hit the person tying the knot by throwing a ball (or a beanbag) at them. The person tying the knot has the double challenge of tying the knot correctly while also dodging the throws.

If the knot is tied wrong the thrower gets a free throw (tier has to stand still).

KNOT GAMESHuman Knot GameEquipment Risk

none Twisting/turning could hurt someone – be careful

Up to twelve people stand in a circle. Each would first put in their right hand and hold with another one (not adjacent to you). Then put in the left hand hold with another one (not adjacent to you). You must get the group untied without letting go of hands.

KNOT GAMESRound-Robin Knots Competi

tionEquipment Risk

1 x rope

Each Player takes it in turns to tie a given knot with times recorded – create a leader/world record board.

Increase complexity by asking for two, three or four…. Different knots

Or, give them a list of knots and see who can tie the most in 60 seconds.

KNOT GAMES"Champ-Not" GameEquipment Risk

1x rope per person None

All the Players form a circle, each with a length of rope.

The instructor calls out a knot, and the Players tie it, then drop the rope at their feet when finished.

The first one to correctly tie the knot drops out, then the remaining Player go for it again on signal. This process continues, using the same knot, until only one Player is left, who is then declared the "champ-not" for that knot.

(The beauty of this game is that the Player who needs the most practice gets the most practice.)

Repeat with a different knot.

KNOT GAMESGiant Clove Hitch Challe

ngeEquipment Risk

1 x large pole in a circle

1 x large rope (30 ft+)

none

Put a pole in a ten-foot circle.

Hand each end of a thirty-foot plus rope to two Players, and tell them to tie a clove hitch on the pole, without stepping into the circle, and without letting go of the rope.

Time the team and set up a competition and leader board.

KNOT GAMESBlind Knots GameEquipment Risk

8-10 knots in individual bags none

Tie 8-10 different knots and put them in bags of textile fabrics, one in each bag. See if anyone can recognize all of the knots without opening the bags. You can let them put their hands in the bag or just touch on the outside.

KNOT GAMESKnot Pairs Competi

tionEquipment Risk

1 x rope per team None

One Player from each team compete, each Player holding a length of rope in their right (or left) hand. The other hand is placed behind the back and may not be used.

On the word "Go" each Player must tie the required knot using one hand only each.

Variant – two Players from each team, using one hand each only, work together to tie the desired knot.

KNOT GAMESShank Tug Competi

tionEquipment Risk

1 x long stout rope Rope burns or being pulled over

Two Players compete against each other. A sound piece of rope is required. The Players have a tug-of-war and at the same time each endeavours to tie a given knot in their own end of the rope. The first to succeed wins.

KNOT GAMESKnot Hoop Relay RelayEquipment Risk

1 x long rope per team None

Split into teams. On signal, the first Player in each team ties the rope into a hoop with a sheet bend (or other agreed knot) and passes it over his head and down his body. They step out of the hoop, unties the knot and passes the rope to the next Player in the team who repeats the method and so on down the line. A judge for each patrol will observe the knots.

KNOT GAMESTwo-person knotting Challe

ngeEquipment Risk

1 x long rope Non

Two players are asked to tie a knot – one player ties the knot the other can only assist using words. Experienced Players help less experienced players. Can be run in teams as a competition.