A person’s feet tell us two very important facts about someone: where they are standing and in which direction someone is going. A firm stance and a steady gait are traits we admire in others. During the New Year, we often look back on the journey that has gotten 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 young people arrive, collect their footprints. My personal preference is to have sheets of colored paper, the kind that doesn’t smudge when it gets wet. (Try it first so you don’t leave permanent fingerprints on your carpet!). Ask the participants to remove 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 over 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? Prizes are awarded to the person who correctly identifies the most feet! With the Incredible FEAT!
- foot tag – Two players shake hands with both hands. On “go”, both players try to touch the top of their opponents foot with their own foot. The first to do so wins. Winners then play winners until there is a top 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?
- less feet – Each team tries to stand on as few feet as possible. For example, 5 players have 10 feet and try to only have 3 or 4 feet on the ground.
- disc coasters – A cup holder or plastic cap is held between the toes and thrown as far as a frisbee. The farthest 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 young person to be the first kicker and ask him to start the game by moving one of his feet (this foot is called the kicking foot) to touch one of the feet of the person to the left of them. Once the striker decides which foot he wants to move as he kicks 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 in their turn. Play proceeds by going around the circle clockwise (to the left), with each player taking their kicking foot and hitting 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 knocked out. 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 knocked out, the next person in the circle continues play by choosing which foot they want to use as the striking foot. As the youth are removed, there will be gaps in the circle that make it difficult for 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 kicker loses their balance or breaks any of the other rules, they are out. Note that kickers do not necessarily have to lift their kicking foot when kicking, but may also slide one foot across the ground for balance; once contact is made with the other person’s foot, the kicker’s feet must be frozen. 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 and throw them off balance.
- foot pictionary – This is like standard pictionary, but instead of drawing with their hands the artist will draw with their feet, having the marker tied to one of their feet with the handkerchief. 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 draw even the simplest of things and make them recognizable. Maybe even buy and use “Junior Pictionary” for suggested words and categories.
- banana foot peel – Bring about 4 students, ask them to remove 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 to 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.
- spell my feet – Take 5 people and ask them to remove 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 N (one letter on each foot), in the next person 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 get into a position so that the bottom of their feet spells the word you called out. You can do this with two teams of five if you want and see who spells the word first. Use these words: teacher, roast, smudge, gowns, husky, ten graduations, get spammed, great 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 that refer to 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
- get a foot in the door
- have cold feet
- get off on the wrong foot
- stand
- wet your feet
- has two left feet
- have a 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 outta here
- land on your feet
- do a face swap
- My foot!
- we football
- on your back foot
- pussy around
- put a foot in wrong
- put your best foot forward
- lift your foot
- put your foot on the ground
- put your foot in it
- put your foot in your mouth
- shoot yourself in the foot
- sit at the feet of a master
- stand on your own feet
- stepping on someone else’s foot
- step on the accelerator
- stop dead
- 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 underfoot
- 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 – “Keep the path of your feet And all your ways will be established.”
- god’s protection – “…to him who is powerful to keep you from falling, and to present you blameless before his glory with great joy” (Jude 24, RV). Hab 3:19; 2 Samuel 22:34; Ps 18:33 – “The Lord God [is] my strength, and he will make my feet like those 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 shod your feet 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 in which 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 which 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 need to step on a few toes to do so. 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 in 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? In what areas do you need to watch your step on the journey ahead?
(As a meaningful reminder, give participants the piece of paper with their footprint on which to write the answer to the questions above. Encourage them to post it on their bedroom door as a reminder that every day they walk through that door they also need to give a step in the right direction for your life in the New Year!)