Heads, Shoulders, Knees, Toes, CUP!
Heads, Shoulders, Knees, Toes, Cup!
A Fun Youth Group Game
Watch the Tutorial Video
- This intense, easy-to-set-up game will bring out the competitive side of your youth group. All you’ll need are cups for each pair of players.
Overview
You can use classic Red Solo Cups if you don’t mind them getting crushed each round, or use a sturdier cup to avoid waste.
Ideal # of Participants: 8 to 20
Where to Play: Indoors
Age of Participants: Elementary School / Middle School / High School
Approximate Time to Play: 10 to 30 Minutes
Materials Needed: Red Solo Cups
How to Play
Have everyone find a partner and follow these steps:
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Setup: Place one cup between each pair of players. Partners should crouch across from each other, foreheads almost touching.
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Follow the Leader: When the leader says “Heads,” both players put their hands on their heads. When they say “Shoulders,” players touch their shoulders, and so on for “Knees” and “Toes.”
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Grab the Cup! The leader will mix up the commands a few times, but as soon as they shout “Cup!” both players will race to grab the cup first.
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Scoring: The first player to grab the cup earns one point.
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Switch Partners: After each round, everyone finds a new partner—preferably someone they haven’t faced yet.
Tips for Running the Game
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Mix up your tone and rhythm when calling out commands. Try shouting “Heads!” with energy, then casually saying “Cup” to catch everyone off guard.
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Add variety by including other funny body parts (like “elbows” or “hips”) for extra laughs.
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If you want every player to face each other exactly once, you can use a Round Robin tournament structure — check out this helpful guide: Round Robin Scheduling Method.
Why This Game Works
This game is one of the best fast-paced youth group icebreakers because it requires zero prep, builds instant excitement, and works across all age levels. It’s also great for large groups looking for something competitive but still lighthearted.
You’ll see your students laughing, cheering, and bonding—without realizing how much connection they’re building along the way.
Lesson Handout
Want to make this easy to share with your volunteers or students? Download the “Heads, Shoulders, Knees, Toes, Cup!” Lesson Handout (PDF) below!
More Youth Group Games
Looking for more creative youth group ideas? Explore our free Youth Group Game Index — it includes 80+ short, easy-to-lead tutorials that you can filter by group size, location, and materials.
Next-Level Youth Ministry
The best way to teach a lesson is through active learning, that’s why we produce high-quality Game-Driven Lessons — youth group curriculum that has a fun game that ties into the lesson you want to teach. Check out our membership program ActuallyFun PRO to get these Game-Driven Lessons for a discounted rate, as well as tons of other benefits that help take your youth ministry to the next level!