52 Card Stick-Up
52 Card Stick-Up
A Fun Youth Group Game
Watch the Tutorial Video
- This game will have your group rolling on the floor laughing—literally. It’s a hilarious, active indoor game that’s perfect for breaking the ice and getting everyone moving.
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All you’ll need is:
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1–2 rolls of duct tape
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A deck of playing cards
(Fair warning: the cards are going to get bent—so don’t use your best deck!)
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Overview
Ideal # of Participants: 8 to 12 (can be 2 to 20+)
Where to Play: Indoors
Age of Participants: Middle School / High School
Approximate Time to Play: 10 to 20 Minutes
Materials Needed: 1 to 2 Rolls of Duct Tape, Deck of Playing Cards
How to Play 52 Card Stick-Up
Setup
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Divide into Teams: Split your group into two teams.
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Wrap with Duct Tape: Wrap each participant from shoulder level down to their waist—or even their knees if you want maximum stickiness! The sticky side of the tape should face outward. The more surface area you cover, the better.
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Spread the Cards: Scatter all 52 cards across the floor. Try to spread them out unevenly—some in clumps, some by themselves.
Gameplay
Line up both teams and count down from 3. When you shout “Go!”, watch the chaos unfold as everyone rolls, crawls, and dives to stick as many cards to themselves as possible using the tape.
Remind players to be careful—if they fall, they won’t be able to catch themselves easily because of the tape!
Depending on your group size, you can either:
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Play for a set time limit, or
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Continue until all cards have been collected
When time’s up, have everyone freeze. Count the cards stuck to each team, and crown the team with the most cards as the winners!
Tips for Success
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Try adding bonus cards worth extra points (like Jokers or face cards).
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Use different colors of duct tape for each team—it can make scoring easier.
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If you have a small group, make it a solo free-for-all instead of teams.
Lesson Handout
Want to make this easy to share with your volunteers or students? Download the “52 Card Stick-Up” Lesson Handout (PDF) below!
Where Games Meet God's Word...
Most leaders just look for games to play, but miss their true value. When used well, games help teach your lesson, because experiential learning is by far the most effective way to teach a lesson that sticks.
If you want to see this principle in action, check out Uplift, our FREE youth group lesson that is built for engagement. It contains a fun game, but then your students’ experience from the game ties into the Christ-centered message you’ll teach.
