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Wolves and Rabbits

Two Wolves take the middle of the field, everyone else lines up as Rabbits on the baselines, and one signal sends the whole line sprinting for the far wall. It works because getting tagged only benches you for the round — the last two Rabbits standing become tomorrow's Wolves.

15 min4–30 peopleEasyNo materialsIn-person onlyClassroom ✓
By Jon Zajac · Founder & Chief Icebreaker · Last updated February 19, 2024

What is Wolves and Rabbits?

Wolves and Rabbits puts two Wolves in the middle of the field and lines everyone else up as Rabbits on the baselines. On the signal, the Rabbits sprint for the far wall and back while the Wolves try to tag as many as they can — any tagged Rabbit sits down where they're caught, and the last two still standing become the next round's Wolves.

It works because nobody's watching from the sidelines for long: every Rabbit runs the same crossing at the same moment, and getting tagged only benches you for the current round, not the rest of the game. The role keeps rotating, so most players get a turn at both hunting and being hunted before it's over.

It needs real open ground — a gym, a field, a cleared hallway — so it doesn't translate to a desk or a video call. And because it's a full-speed running game aimed at players 6 and up, keep an adult watching the field when younger kids are playing.

The rules

  1. Pick 2 players to start as the Wolves; they stand in the middle of the playing area.
  2. Everyone else lines up as Rabbits along the baselines at opposite ends.
  3. On the signal — “Run, rabbits, run” — the Rabbits sprint for the far wall and back.
  4. The Wolves try to tag as many Rabbits as they can during the crossing.
  5. A tagged Rabbit sits down where they're caught and becomes a spectator for the rest of that round.
  6. The game repeats until only two Rabbits remain uncaught; those two become the next Wolves.

Before you start

  • Group size: 4–30 players. Works from a small class to a full field-day crowd — the only real limit is how much open ground you've got.
  • An open indoor or outdoor space. A gym floor, a field, or any room with two clear baselines. Remove anything sharp or unsafe from the play area before you start.
  • A wall or marker at each end. Rabbits need something to touch on the far side before turning around — a wall, a cone, or any fixed line works.
  • No materials, no setup. Nothing to bring and nothing to build. Two teams and an open floor are the whole requirement.
  • Age check. Works for players 6 and up; younger kids may need an adult watching the field for safety.

How to run it

  1. Choose the Wolves 30 sec

    Pick 2 players to start as the Wolves and have them stand in the middle of the room.

  2. Line up the Rabbits 30 sec

    Everyone else lines up at opposite baselines — this is the Rabbits' starting and finishing line.

  3. Give the signal 5 sec

    Call “Run, rabbits, run” and the Rabbits take off for the far wall while the Wolves try to tag as many as they can.

  4. Tag and sit 15–30 sec

    Any Rabbit who gets tagged sits down on the spot, becoming a spectator for the rest of that round.

  5. Repeat until two remain 5–8 min

    Restart with the same signal each round until only two Rabbits are left uncaught.

  6. Crown the next Wolves 3–5 min

    The last two Rabbits standing become the new Wolves, and a fresh round begins.

← the last two Rabbits become tomorrow's Wolves.

Facilitator tips

Count a tag only when they're standing stillFor players with different abilities, only tag a Rabbit who has stopped moving. It lets everyone reach the other side safely and still stay in the round.
Let Rabbits link armsA "rabbit chain" — Rabbits holding hands or linking arms as they cross — turns the sprint into a small team effort without changing the rules.
Swap the callout for something neutral"Go, players, go" works exactly as well as "Run, rabbits, run" and reads warmer for a mixed-age or newly-met group.
Randomize the first two WolvesDraw two names instead of picking favorites — it heads off any perception of bias before the first round even starts.

Why it works

Nobody waits for a turnUnlike Duck, Duck, Goose, where one player moves while the rest sit and wait, every Rabbit sprints at once — the whole field is active from the first "Run, rabbits, run."
No gear, no gym requiredIt runs on grass, in a hallway, or on a gym floor with nothing to bring — nothing to pack means nothing delays the start.
Everyone plays both rolesGetting tagged doesn't mean sitting out for good — the round ends with two new Wolves, so most players get a turn at both hunting and being hunted before it's over.
HELLO, MY NAME ISJon

"I like that nobody's just standing around waiting for their turn — the whole field is moving the second you call it. No equipment, no setup, and it scales from a handful of kids to a full field-day crowd without changing a single rule."

Jon Zajac · Founder & Chief Icebreaker

Reflection questions

For camps, classrooms, and gym-class debriefs — seven questions that turn the chase into a conversation.

  1. What did you enjoy most about playing Wolves and Rabbits?A quick temperature check on what actually landed, so the next round can lean into it.
  2. Did you find it easy or challenging to work with your fellow Rabbits?Opens up how the group handled teamwork under pressure, even in a game that's technically every Rabbit for themselves.
  3. How did you feel when you were tagged, and what did you try to avoid it?Gets at how people handle getting caught and what strategies they reach for under pressure.
  4. Would the game feel different with more or fewer players?Gets the group thinking about how group size changes the dynamics of a chase.
  5. Did your strategy as a Rabbit change as the game went on?Surfaces whatever adjustments people made round to round — dodging gets smarter with practice.
  6. How does this compare to other group games you've played?Useful context for facilitators picking what to run next with this group.
  7. What did you learn about your teammates while playing?Names the actual point of the game out loud before everyone scatters.

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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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