Protect the President
Protect the President
A Fun Youth Group Game
Watch the Tutorial Video
Protect the President is a fast-paced dodgeball game where one player has to defend another player from everyone else in the room.
Overview
Ideal # of Participants: 8 to 30
Where to Play: Indoor
Age of Participants: Middle School / High School
Approximate Time to Play: 10 to 45 Minutes
Materials Needed: Dodgeballs, Cones (optional)
How to Play Protect the President
Set Up the Playing Area
In the center of your gym, define a small region of about 12 feet by 12 feet.
This is where the president and the bodyguard will stand.
Everyone else needs to stay outside of a larger region of about 40 feet by 40 feet.
Our gym has conveniently placed lines on the ground, but you can also use cones to visually represent your areas.
Choose the President and Bodyguard
Choose one player to be the president and another player to be their bodyguard.
The president and bodyguard stand inside the smaller center region.
Everyone else stays outside of the larger region and gets ready to attack.
Protect the President
Here’s the basic flow of the game:
The players around the outside will try to hit the president with a dodgeball, while the bodyguard tries to protect them.
Because it’s a little too easy to avoid being hit when there’s only one ball, I recommend starting with two dodgeballs and slowly adding more until you’ve reached peak chaos.
The bodyguard’s job is to do everything they can to keep the president from getting hit.
Change Roles When the President Gets Hit
When the president is hit by the ball—and this is the important part—the president leaves the center circle.
The person who was just the bodyguard instantly becomes the new president.
Whoever hit the president with the dodgeball enters the circle and becomes the new bodyguard.
That means every successful hit completely changes the roles in the game.
Keep the Chaos Going
Most of the time, this transition goes smoothly.
But because of that small window where the newly inaugurated president has no immediate protection, sometimes there’s a very rapid shuffling of roles.
A player can become president and almost immediately get hit again, forcing another role change.
Keep playing and let the roles continue to change as students hit the president.
How to Win
If you really want to crown a winner, you can keep track of how long each person spends in the middle circle.
The person who spends the most time as president can be considered the winner.
But as always, just being able to hit your friends with dodgeballs is enough of a reward.
Tips for Playing Protect the President
- Start with two dodgeballs. One ball makes it too easy for the president to avoid getting hit.
- Add more balls gradually. Keep adding dodgeballs until the game reaches the level of chaos your group enjoys.
- Clearly mark the playing areas. Gym lines are great, but cones work if your space doesn’t already have clear boundaries.
- Make the center area large enough. The president and bodyguard need enough room to move around and defend themselves.
- Keep everyone outside the larger boundary. This gives the president a defined space and keeps the game organized.
- Emphasize the role changes. The game works because students immediately switch roles when the president is hit.
- Be careful with throws. Remind students to play safely and avoid intentionally throwing dodgeballs at someone’s head.
- Track time if you want a winner. If your group wants a competitive ending, record how long each student spends as president.
Lesson Handout
Want to make this easy to share with your volunteers or students? Download the “Protect The President” 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.
