What is Put One Leg In and Out?

Put One Leg In and Out splits a group of 6 to 14 into two teams. The passive team squats in a circle and links hands to defend it; the active team stands at the edge, trying to move one leg into or out of the circle before a raised hand catches it.

It works because the passive team's only defense is a raised hand moving in sync — one player who lifts late lets the leg straight through, so holding the circle turns into an actual coordination test. Clear the first leg and the active team goes back in for the second, this time stepping over hands instead of past them, which raises the stakes without changing the rule.

It needs open floor space and a group that's comfortable with light contact and squatting down. For a room with mobility limits you haven't accounted for, build in the chair-or-support option below rather than skipping the activity outright.

The rules

Split into two equal teams — one active, one passive.
The passive team squats in a circle, holding hands.
Active players stand at the circle's edge, ready to move a leg.
On a count of three, or a count to 10, active players try to move one leg in or out of the circle without getting tagged.
Passive players lift their joined hands, trying to tag any leg in motion.
Clear a leg and your team goes back in for the second one, this round stepping over the passive team's raised hands — most clears wins.

Before you start

Group size: 6–14 active players, split into two equal teams. One team stays active, trying to move a leg through the circle; the other stays passive, defending it.
Space for two teams to move. Indoors or outdoors both work — you just need enough room for the circle and for active players to stand around its edge.
Hands free for the passive team. They'll squat and hold hands to form the circle. Nothing else to bring — no materials for the base game.
Say the rules once, out loud. Cover both rounds before anyone squats down: the first leg moves past raised hands, the second steps over them.
Build in a mobility option. Let a player with mobility limits use a chair or other support to move their leg in and out — the tag mechanic still works.

How to run it

Split into two teams 1–2 min
Divide the group evenly — one team active, one team passive. Explain each job before anyone moves: the active team is trying to slip a leg through the circle, the passive team is trying to tag it.
Form the passive circle 1 min
The passive team squats down and links hands. Check that the circle feels stable and nobody's at risk of toppling over before you start.
Position the active team and count 3–4 min
Active players stand at the edge of the circle. On a count of three, or a count to 10, they try to move one leg in or out without getting tagged, while the passive team lifts its joined hands to catch them.
Send them back for the second leg 3–4 min
A team that clears the first leg goes back in to attempt the second — this round, stepping over the passive team's raised hands instead of past them.
Tally clears and rotate 2–3 min
The team that clears both legs the most times wins. Switch which team is active and which is passive between rounds so nobody squats the whole game.

← one leg in, one leg out, no in-between.

Facilitator tips

Keep the instructions shortPlain language and a couple of clear sentences beat a long rulebook — everyone should know their job before the first squat.

Build in a mobility optionLet a player with mobility limits use a chair or other support to move their leg in and out. The tag mechanic doesn't need two working legs.

Swap roles every roundMove players between active and passive each round. It spreads out both jobs and keeps the same players from squatting the whole game.

Use the wait as a warm-upPlayers waiting their turn can trade names or a quick question — no dead air while the circle resets between rounds.

Read the room on contactTagging a leg is light contact, but it's still contact. Check comfort levels before the first round, especially with a group that's new to each other.

Variations

Both legs at once

For a harder round, require active players to move both legs in or out at the same time — same rules, more to track.

Rotating roles

Switch which team is active and which is passive after every round, so the tagging job and the moving job both make the rounds.

Why it works

Coordination beats speedThe passive team can only tag as fast as its slowest raised hand — that forces 6 to 14 people to move as one unit instead of racing individually, which is where the actual teamwork happens.

A built-in excuse to stand upThere's no equipment to fetch and no setup beyond a circle, so it works exactly when a group's been sitting too long — after a meeting, before a presentation, mid-training.

The second leg raises the stakes without new rulesClearing the first leg doesn't end the round — it earns you a harder one. That structure keeps a completed task from feeling like the finish line.

HELLO, MY NAME ISJon

"This is the one I run right after everyone's been sitting too long. No gear, no age limit, and the second-leg round turns a simple game into a real coordination test for whoever's holding hands."

Jon Zajac · Founder & Chief Icebreaker

Reflection questions

A few minutes of these turn a squatting circle into an actual conversation about how the group handled the pressure.

What did you enjoy most about the game?Surfaces what actually worked for this group — useful for deciding whether to run it again.
Was it hard to move your leg without getting tagged? Why or why not?Gets active players naming the strategy they used, or wished they had.
What was it like being on the passive team, trying to tag legs?A quick pulse check on how the group handles the defending, coordinating side.
Did you get to interact with people you didn't know before this?Names the social payoff directly — this is the actual point of running it.
Was this an effective icebreaker for this group? Why or why not?Closes the loop for you as facilitator — feedback for the next time you run it.