A person’s feet tell us two very important facts about someone: where someone is standing and which way someone is going. A firm posture and a steady walk are traits we admire in others. During the New Year, we often look back on the journey that has brought us to where we are now and make decisions about where we want to go next year.
Games using Feet
- Identify the Footprint – As the youngsters arrive, collect their footprints. My personal preference is to have sheets of colored paper, the kind that doesn’t stain when wet. (Try it out first so you don’t leave permanent marks on your carpet!). Ask the participants to take off their shoes and socks, then step on a wet towel and finally step on the paper. A wet footprint will be left behind. Quickly trace it with a dark colored marker and let it dry! You may also want to number the prints and have a list of numbered names so that you can correctly identify the prints later. Review the numbered footprints and ask the youth to match the footprint with the person who made it. Can you even identify your own footprint? Reward the person who correctly identifies the most feet! With the Incredible FEAT award!
- foot tag – Two players shake hands with both hands. On “go”, both players attempt to touch the top of their opponents foot with their own foot. The first to do so wins. The winners then play winners until there is a main winner.
- whose feet – 5 – 8 members of the group sit behind a curtain. Only bare feet peek out from under the curtain. Can one player (or the rest of the group) figure out whose feet they are?
- fewer feet – Each team tries to stand on as few feet as possible. For example, 5 players have 10 feet and try to get only 3 or 4 feet on the ground.
- disc coasters – Hold a coaster or plastic lid between your toes and throw as far as possible like a frisbee. The furthest shot wins.
- foot relay – Divide your group into teams of 6-8. Then each team lines up and sits on the floor. The object of the game is to pass a lemon along the line and vice versa using only your feet. If the lemon hits the ground, the team has to start over from the beginning.
- feet – This game is similar to Twister but without the game props. Start the game with all players standing in a circle around one shoulder, width apart. Select a youth to be the first kicker and ask them to start the game by moving one of their feet (this foot is called the kicking foot) to touch one of the feet of the person to their left. Once the striker decides which foot he wants to move as he strikes the foot, the other foot becomes the pivot foot. The pivot foot cannot be lifted off the ground. Once the first attacker has made his move, he must freeze both feet in the position in which he came into contact with the other person and must remain frozen until his next turn. The foot of the person who was hit becomes the kicking foot of the next person on their turn. Play progresses by going around the circle clockwise (to the left), having each player take their kicking foot and hit the next player. As the game progresses, players will start to find themselves in positions that make it difficult to balance, so people will start getting eliminated. Players are eliminated if they touch the ground with something other than their foot, if they lose their balance, if they try to regain their balance by grabbing another person, if it is their turn and they mistakenly move the foot that did not touch the previous striker’s foot or if they move their feet out of turn. If someone is eliminated, the next person in the circle continues the game by choosing the foot he wishes to use as the hitting foot. As the youngsters are eliminated, there will be gaps in the circle that will make it difficult for the strikers to reach the foot of the next person in the circle. If, while trying to reach the foot of the next person in the circle, the beater loses his balance or breaks any of the other rules, he is eliminated. Note that strikers do not necessarily have to lift their striking foot when striking, but may also slide one foot along the ground for balance; once contact is made with the other person’s foot, the kicker’s feet should freeze. As the game progresses, players will find that they are getting very close to each other and it becomes more difficult to keep their balance. Players may touch each other, but may not grab, push, hit or hold other players to try to knock them off balance.
- pictionary foot – This is like standard pictionary, but the artist instead of drawing with his hands will draw with his feet, having the marker tied to one of his feet with the scarf. In “Go”, the player will do their best to draw the assigned image, while the rest of their team tries to guess the image. Keep the assigned images simple, as it will be difficult to even draw the simplest things and make them recognizable. Maybe even buy and use “Junior Pictionary” for the suggested words and categories.
- banana foot peel – Bring about 4 students, ask them to take off their shoes and socks, and give each of them a banana. When the leader says, the contestants are supposed to peel the banana with their feet as fast as they can. They can use both feet to do it. Judge the winner by the speed and the final condition of the banana.
- foot signing contest – Ask 5 students to come to the front of the room and remove their shoes and socks. Give everyone a marker or pen. At the signal, they run into the crowd and see who can get the most signatures off the bottom of their feet in the time limit. No person may sign more than three feet. You can use both feet. Signatures must be legible.
- Balancing foot balloons – Only using the feet, one or more balloons must be kept in the air without the balloon touching the ground. This can also be timed.
- charm my feet – Take 5 people and ask them to take off their shoes and socks. Take a marker and write a large letter on the bottom of each of their feet so that if they sit facing you and keep their feet in the air, you can read the letters. In the first person put an A and an N (one letter in each foot), in the next an E and a T, then GR, OM and SP. You will call out different words for them to spell and they have to cross their legs, stretch and position themselves so that the bottoms of their feet spell the word you called out. You can do this with two teams of five if you like and see who spells the word first. Use these words: teacher, roast, stain, togas, husky, ten graduations, get spammed, big son
TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL
Today’s games involved all feet. Many of our English idioms and common sayings refer to “feet”. Share some appropriate idioms or the entire list of idioms with the group. Which of these idioms best describes you? Why?
- Idioms referring to the feet
- back on your feet again
- dip your toes in the water
- drag the feet
- fall at his feet
- find your feet
- soccer fleet
- pay the bill
- step foot in the door
- have cold feet
- get off on the wrong foot
- stand
- wet your feet
- he has two left feet
- have one foot in both camps
- have feet of clay
- have one foot in the grave
- keep your feet on the ground
- hold someone’s feet to the fire
- hot foot out of here
- land on your feet
- make a face change
- My foot!
- us soccer
- on your back foot
- pussy around
- set foot in wrong
- put your best foot forward
- lift your foot
- put your foot down
- put your foot on it
- put your foot in your mouth
- shoot yourself in the foot
- sit at the feet of a master
- stand on your own feet
- step on someone else’s foot
- step on the accelerator
- stop short
- sweep someone off their feet
- take a load off
- take a stand
- take steps towards something
- the ball is at your feet
- thinking about your feet
- throw yourself at someone’s feet
- tiptoe through it
- get under the feet
- vote with your feet
- watch your step
- the world is at your feet
MAKE IT SPIRITUAL
- standing firm – Many of the proverbs speak of straightening our paths, of stumbling, of taking care of our step, of our walk with God. Proverbs 4:26 – “Take heed to the path of your feet, And all your ways will be established.”
- God’s protection – “…to him who is able to keep you from falling, and to present you blameless before his glory with great joy” (Jude 24, KJV). Hab 3:19; 2 Samuel 22:34; Ps 18:33 – “The Lord God [is] my strength, and he will make my feet like the feet of hinds, and he will make me walk on my high places.”
- evangelism – Romans 10:15 – “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” Ephesians 6:15 – “And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace”
- servitude – John 13 – Jesus washing the feet of the disciples.
MAKE IT PRACTICAL
- What is something you have taken a stand for in the last year? What are some things you need to take a stronger position on in the coming year?
- What are some steps you have taken in the right direction with your life? The wrong address?
- What are some areas where you have stumbled along your journey?
- What are some ways we can make our walk safer? How can you get back on your feet and take a new step in the right direction with your life? In what areas do you need to watch your steps?
- Taking a stand and finding your footing in life isn’t always easy, especially when you may have to step on a few toes to do it. How can you find the balance between taking a stand on the things that are important to you without stepping on your toes too much? Should you worry about stepping on your toes? Why or why not?
MAKE IT PERSONAL
- As a footnote to this lesson, identify at least one area of your life where you need to get back on your feet. How can you take a new step in the right direction with your life starting today? What areas do you need to watch your steps in on the journey ahead?
(As a meaningful reminder, give participants the sheet of paper with their footprint on it to write down the answer to the questions above. Encourage them to post it on their bedroom door as a reminder that each day they walk through that door they also need to give a thumbs up.) step in the right direction for your life in the New Year!)