Fill-in games - Mushroom

This game has come to be known as mushroom, don't ask me why but it is.

Yet another circle game that's got the extra benefit of helping you and the Youth learn each others names.  Which is always useful!

Equipment

Nothing but the players!  Oh and a bit of space helps.

Rules

• The game starts with one person saying their name and someone elses name.
• The person mentioned then does the same verbally passing the game around.
• The job of the person in the middle is to catch the person before they've passed it on by tapping them!
• If they succeed then that person becomes the one in the middle and whoever got them then starts the next round.
• Try not to point or look at the person you've passed to or it'll be easier for the person in the middle!
• And so on...

How to play

1. The game starts with the usual attempt at making a circle.
2. Then you start in the middle to explain the rules!
3.  Get the game going and give them a chance to get used to the game before starting to attempt to catch someone before they pass it.
4. Once they get the hang of it you can change the category.  Like simpsons characters, albeit starting to get out of date already!  Or animal names, or better noises.  It can become rather loud so why not throw in a category of signs where no noise is made but a sign with their hands (no rude ones obviously!).
5. Start again

Overall

This game is really useful for remembering names, so for new youth groups or camps but also works well when they know the game.  You can ask them to give you ideas of categories and then play with them.  Therefore really good as a fill-in game!