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Endzone Trappers

Two teams throw beanbags at each other's feet to send players to jail, then throw footballs back across the field to spring them loose. It works because nobody's ever really out — a caught football brings a teammate straight back into the game.

30 min12–20 peopleAverageBeanbags + footballsIn personClassroom ✓
By Jon Zajac · Founder & Chief Icebreaker · Last updated February 19, 2024

What is Endzone Trappers?

Endzone Trappers splits a group into two teams of 6–10, each guarding a jail at opposite ends of the field. Players throw beanbags at opponents' feet to send them to jail, then throw footballs across the field so a caught pass springs a trapped teammate loose. The game ends when one team's fully trapped or the timer runs out, and whichever team's jail holds more prisoners wins.

It works because getting hit doesn't take you out of the game — it just changes what you're playing for. A player in jail is still watching every football thrown their way, and their teammates are still throwing, so the whole field stays live until the last whistle.

Skip it without a large outdoor field — you need enough open ground for two jail areas and a scramble zone in between. For a smaller group or a tighter space, Dodgeball covers the same throw-and-dodge instinct with a lot less real estate.

The rules

  1. Two teams of 6–10, each with a jail at their own end of the field.
  2. Beanbags and footballs start in the middle, equal distance from both jails.
  3. Hit an opponent's foot with a beanbag and they go to your jail.
  4. A trapped player is freed when a teammate throws them a football they catch.
  5. Guard your jail — the other team can free their prisoners the same way.
  6. Game ends when one team's fully trapped or time runs out; most prisoners wins.

Before you start

  • Group size: 12–20 players, split into teams of 6–10. Even teams matter more than exact headcount — a lopsided split turns the game into a rout fast.
  • Find a large outdoor field. You need enough open ground for two jail areas at opposite ends, plus a scramble zone between them where the beanbags and footballs start.
  • Mark two jail areas with cones or ropes. Each jail needs to be big enough to hold 6 to 10 players while leaving room for the rest of the team to run.
  • Stage the gear dead center. Pile the beanbags and footballs in the middle of the field, equal distance from both jails, so neither team gets a head start.
  • Assign a referee and a timer. The referee starts play, keeps time, and calls hits — which keeps the game moving instead of stuck in arguments.

How to run it

  1. Brief the room 2–3 min

    Explain both halves of the mechanic before anyone throws anything: a beanbag to the feet sends a player to jail, a caught football springs them loose. Say it in one pass — the rules are simple, but both directions need to land.

  2. Referee starts the clock 1 min

    Beanbags fly first. Any hit to an opponent's foot sends that player straight to your jail.

  3. Run the rescue attempts 10–15 min

    Trapped players wait on a football thrown from their own team. A catch frees them; a drop doesn't. Both teams can run rescues at the same time, so watch your own jail while you're attacking theirs.

  4. Guard while you hunt 5–10 min

    The team ahead on prisoners still has to defend its own jail — a good defense buys time, a good offense buys prisoners, and the game rewards teams that do both at once.

  5. Call time and count prisoners 2 min

    The game ends when one team is fully trapped or the timer runs out. Count who's holding more prisoners in their jail — that team wins.

← nobody's really out, just waiting on a rescue.

Facilitator tips

Mix up the ball sizesNot everyone throws or catches a football or beach ball easily. Offer a couple of sizes and weights so everybody has one that works for them.
Swap foam for beanbagsBeanbags thrown from a distance are hard to see coming. Soft foam balls cut the risk while keeping the hit-the-feet mechanic intact.
Bend the rules for the roomIf some players can't keep up, let them catch with their hands instead of needing a clean grab, or shrink the jail area.
Demo before you startShow the throw, the catch, and the jail boundaries before the first beanbag flies. A quick walkthrough heads off most rule disputes.

Why it works

Getting hit doesn't end your gameA caught football sends a trapped player straight back onto the field, so a beanbag hit only pauses your play — it doesn't end it. That keeps everyone moving until the final whistle.
Freeing a teammate takes two peopleIt requires a completed catch, not just a strong throw, so both the thrower and the catcher are on the hook — while the rest of the team keeps guarding its own jail.
HELLO, MY NAME ISJon

"I like this one for the age range — teens and adults play it together without anyone feeling babysat. The rules are simple enough that the referee is really just there to keep things fair, not to run the show."

Jon Zajac · Founder & Chief Icebreaker

Reflection questions

For teams that want the debrief — pick two or three of these to turn the game into an actual conversation.

  1. What did you enjoy most about playing Endzone Trappers?Surfaces which part of the game people actually want to play again.
  2. How do you think communication and teamwork contributed to your success in the game?Names the coordination the jail-and-rescue mechanic forces, out loud.
  3. What challenges did you face while playing Endzone Trappers, and how did you overcome them?Gets people talking through their own problem-solving, not just the score.
  4. How did you feel when you were caught by an opponent's beanbag and sent to their jail?A quick check-in on how getting caught actually landed — useful for gauging whether the game read as friendly or too competitive.
  5. What strategies did you use to free your teammates from the opposing team's jail?Draws out the rescue tactics people used without realizing they were strategizing.
  6. How did playing Endzone Trappers help you get to know other participants in the group?Connects the game back to why the group played it in the first place.
  7. What lessons or takeaways do you think can be applied to real-life situations beyond this icebreaker game?Bridges the field game to collaboration and communication skills off the field.

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Jon Zajac

Founder & Chief Icebreaker

I started IcebreakerSpot because I believe strong connections are the foundation of successful teams. This site exists to make it easy to find and share the icebreakers and team-building activities that build trust, spark collaboration, and help groups do great things together.

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