Oversized Sweatpants
Oversized Sweatpants
A Fun Youth Group Game
Watch the Tutorial Video
Oversized Sweatpants is a team-building game where students race to inflate balloons and stuff as many as possible into an oversized outfit.
Overview
Ideal # of Participants: Any Number!
Where to Play: Indoor / Outdoor
Age of Participants: Elementary School / Middle School / High School
Approximate Time to Play: 10 to 20 Minutes
Materials Needed: Oversized Sweatpants, Oversized Sweatshirts, Balloons, Blindfolds/Bandanas
How to Play Oversized Sweatpants
You’ll need one huge T-shirt or sweatshirt and one huge pair of sweatpants per team.
Divide your group into teams of around 4 to 6 people each, and spread uninflated balloons all around the floor of your room.
One person on each team will wear the oversized clothes, and the rest of the team’s job is to stuff that person’s outfit with as many inflated balloons as possible.
The trick is that everyone on the team except for the person in the oversized clothes will be blindfolded, so they’ll need to be led by their oversized captain.
Blindfolded Balloon Challenge
Once the game starts, the blindfolded players need to find balloons, inflate them, and get them into their captain’s oversized clothing.
The captain is the only person who can see, so they’ll need to guide their teammates as they try to inflate and stuff as many balloons as possible.
This creates a chaotic team-building game for youth that requires communication, cooperation, and plenty of patience.
Make Sure the Balloons Are Big Enough
Now you might be thinking, what’s to stop someone from barely putting a little air in a balloon, tying it off, and then trying to get credit for it?
Before the game starts, take one of the balloons and fill it up yourself, then show that balloon to everyone.
Tell them that any balloon that is smaller than the one you are holding will not count toward a team’s final score.
When I played, I found that you really don’t need to check the balloons when scoring, because once you’ve told them this, they fill the balloons up extra large just to be safe.
When Does the Game End?
You can set a time limit, or play until all of the balloons are inflated.
Normally, I play until one of the teams reaches a point where they just can’t fit any more balloons into their captain’s outfit.
At that point, count up how many balloons each team managed to stuff into their captain’s oversized clothing.
The stuffiest student wins!
Tips for Playing Oversized Sweatpants
- Use really oversized clothing. The bigger the sweatshirt and sweatpants, the more balloons students can fit inside.
- Use plenty of balloons. Especially with a large group, you’ll want enough balloons for every team.
- Give each team the same amount of space. This keeps the game fair and makes it easier for students to find their balloons.
- Use bandanas as blindfolds. They’re easy to find and work well for this game.
- Set a time limit for a faster game. A short time limit can make the game even more chaotic.
- Have a camera ready. The final appearance of each captain is usually one of the funniest parts of the game!
Lesson Handout
Want to make this easy to share with your volunteers or students? Download the “Oversized Sweatpants” 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.
