A great activity for everyone

Touch Base Hide and Seek

Experience the thrill of a classic game with a twist – outsmart the seeker and reach the base in this exciting group challenge!

Touch Base Hide and Seek
By Jon Zajac

What is Touch Base Hide and Seek?

Touch Base Hide and Seek is an engaging and active group icebreaker that puts a fun twist on the classic game of hide-and-seek. The objective of the game is to be the first player to return to the base after successfully hiding from the designated seeker. As a seeker, I must close my eyes and count to ten while the other players find places to hide. Once I start searching for the hidden players, they attempt to sneak back to the base and touch it before being spotted by me. This game is best suited for groups of 5-10 players aged 5 and up, and requires no preparation or materials, making it an ideal choice for a spontaneous group activity. The changing roles and fast-paced nature of Touch Base Hide and Seek make it an exciting and enjoyable experience for everyone involved.

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Rules for Touch Base Hide and Seek

  1. Prepare a base for all players to return to.
  2. Pick a volunteer seeker.
  3. The seeker closes their eyes and counts to 10 while standing at the base, giving other players time to hide.
  4. After counting, the seeker looks for hiding players.
  5. Hiding players must try to sneak back to the base and touch it without being spotted by the seeker.
  6. The game ends when all players manage to touch the base or if the seeker finds all players before they can touch the base.

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Materials needed for Touch Base Hide and Seek

  • Base: A designated area or object that players must return to in order to win the game. This could be a table, tree, or other similar objects.

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Setting up for Touch Base Hide and Seek

To set up for the Touch Base Hide and Seek icebreaker activity, you need to prepare a base for all the players to return to. This can be any fixed object or location that will serve as a safe zone for the players. Decide on the base and inform the players about it before starting the game.

Next, choose a volunteer seeker who will close their eyes and count to 10 while the other players find places to hide. Make sure to explain the rules clearly so everyone understands their roles and objectives in the game.

That’s all there is to setting up Touch Base Hide and Seek - no materials are required, making it a convenient and easy icebreaker activity to organize on short notice.

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How to play Touch Base Hide and Seek

  1. Pick a volunteer seeker: I will choose someone to be the seeker for this round of Touch Base Hide and Seek. This player will close their eyes and count to 10 while the other players find somewhere to hide.
  2. Prepare a base: Before we start, assign a base that all players must return to. This can be something like a table in a room or a tree in the field. The base is crucial for winning the game.
  3. Seeker counts to 10: The seeker will close their eyes and count to 10 while standing at the base. All other players must find a hiding spot within these 10 seconds.
  4. Seeker searches for hiding players: After counting to 10, the seeker leaves the base and looks for the hidden players. If a player is found, they are eliminated from the round.
  5. Hiding players touch the base: While the seeker is looking for the hidden players, each hiding player must try to sneak back to the base and touch it without being spotted by the seeker.
  6. Winning conditions: The game ends when all players have managed to touch the base or if the seeker finds all players before any of them can touch the base. In the next round, we can switch roles and give someone else a turn as the seeker.

Touch Base Hide and Seek is an engaging icebreaker for groups of 5-10 players aged 5 and up, requiring no preparation or materials. This active game tests running and hiding skills in indoor or outdoor settings, providing fun and excitement on a whim!

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Benefits of Touch Base Hide and Seek

  • Encourages physical activity: Touch Base Hide and Seek is an active game that involves running and hiding, providing players with a fun way to exercise and engage in physical play.
  • Promotes strategic thinking: As a hiding player, you’ll need to think creatively and strategically to avoid being found by the seeker, helping to improve problem-solving skills.
  • Fosters social interaction: Touch Base Hide and Seek is a group game that encourages players to work together and communicate with each other, promoting teamwork and building relationships.
  • Provides a sense of excitement: The thrill of hiding and seeking adds an element of excitement to the game, making it enjoyable for players of all ages.
  • Customizable: Touch Base Hide and Seek can be played both indoors and outdoors, and with groups of any size, making it a versatile icebreaker that can be adapted to fit different settings and situations.
  • No preparation or materials needed: Touch Base Hide and Seek requires no advanced preparation or materials, making it a convenient and accessible icebreaker that can be played on a whim.

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Skills built with Touch Base Hide and Seek

  • Running: Touch Base Hide and Seek requires players to run back to the base while avoiding being spotted by the seeker, which helps build running skills and endurance.
  • Hiding: As a hiding player, you need to find creative places to conceal yourself from the seeker, which can help improve your stealth and observation skills.
  • Teamwork: Although Touch Base Hide and Seek is not a team game, players can work together by creating distractions or helping each other reach the base, which fosters collaboration and communication.
  • Spatial Awareness: Finding good hiding spots requires an understanding of your surroundings, which can help improve your spatial awareness and navigation skills.
  • Agility: Quickly moving from one hiding spot to another or changing directions while running back to the base can help build agility and reflexes.

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Why I like Touch Base Hide and Seek

I really enjoy the Touch Base Hide and Seek icebreaker because it’s a fun and engaging group game that can be played on short notice, as it requires no prior preparation or materials. The game’s simplicity makes it easy to understand and play for people of all ages, making it an inclusive activity for everyone to enjoy.

One aspect I like about Touch Base Hide and Seek is its adaptability to different group sizes and settings. Whether playing indoors or outdoors, with a small or large group, the game can be easily modified to suit the situation. This flexibility ensures that the game remains exciting and enjoyable for everyone involved.

Another reason I like Touch Base Hide and Seek is its combination of physical activity and strategy. The game encourages players to think creatively and strategically, using their running and hiding skills to outwit their opponents. This balance of mental and physical engagement makes the game even more enjoyable and engaging.

Overall, I find Touch Base Hide and Seek to be a great icebreaker that is easy to organize, adaptable to different situations, and highly engaging for all participants. Its combination of physical activity and strategy ensures that everyone stays involved and has fun, making it an ideal game for any group gathering.

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Tips for making Touch Base Hide and Seek more inclusive

  • Tip: Modify the base to accommodate players with mobility limitations. For example, if the base is a tree in the field, consider having an alternative base that’s easily accessible for all players.
  • Tip: Encourage hiding spots that are easy to reach and safe for everyone. This can help prevent accidents and make sure that all players feel included in the game.
  • Tip: Make sure everyone understands the rules of the game before starting. Consider going over the rules as a group, so that no one feels left out or confused.
  • Tip: Allow players to choose their own hiding spots, rather than assigning them. This can help ensure that all players feel comfortable and included in the game.
  • Tip: Consider setting a time limit for the seeker’s turn, to make sure that everyone gets a chance to hide and find. This can also help prevent the game from becoming too one-sided.
  • Tip: Encourage teamwork and cooperation among players. For example, players could form groups or pairs, and work together to find hiding spots and evade the seeker.
  • Tip: Make sure everyone has a chance to be the seeker. This can help ensure that all players feel included in the game, and prevent any feelings of favoritism or exclusion.

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Reflection questions for Touch Base Hide and Seek

  1. What did you enjoy most about playing Touch Base Hide and Seek? This question can help participants reflect on the positive aspects of the game and what they enjoyed the most, which can lead to better engagement and participation in future group activities.
  2. How did you feel when you were hiding from the seeker? Understanding how participants felt during the game can provide insights into their emotions and reactions to different situations, helping facilitators create a more empathetic and supportive environment.
  3. What strategies did you use to avoid being found by the seeker? This question can encourage participants to share their problem-solving skills and critical thinking abilities, which can be useful in other group activities that require similar skills.
  4. How did you feel when you were the seeker? Knowing how participants felt when they were the seeker can help facilitators understand their leadership qualities and decision-making abilities, which can be valuable in future group activities that require these skills.
  5. What would you do differently if you played Touch Base Hide and Seek again? This question can encourage participants to reflect on their experiences and identify areas for improvement, which can lead to better performance and engagement in future group activities.
  6. How did playing Touch Base Hide and Seek help you build connections with other participants? Understanding how the game helped participants connect with each other can provide insights into the importance of team-building activities and their impact on group dynamics.

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About the author

Jon Zajac

Jon Zajac

Founder & Chief Icebreaker

I started Icebreaker Spot because I truly believe that strong connections are the foundation of successful teams. I wanted to create a platform that would make it easy for people to find and share icebreakers and team building activities, empowering them to build trust, foster collaboration, and ultimately, achieve greatness together.

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