Welsh Chasing Games for Kids: 10 Fun Tag Games with Rules, Welsh Phrases & Free Printables
Looking for exciting Welsh chasing games for kids? Discover 10 easy playground tag games, with step-by-step rules, useful Welsh phrases, age recommendations and free printable activity cards.
Perfect for primary schools, outdoor learning, Reception, KS1, KS2, PE warm-ups and Criw Cymraeg groups.
Chasing and tag games are among the simplest playground activities for children. Most require little or no equipment, can be played in small groups and can be adapted to suit different ages and abilities.
When children play chasing games using Welsh instructions, they also have opportunities to practise listening, counting, colours, movement words and simple conversation.
This guide brings together 10 different chasing and tag game formats adapted for Welsh-language learning. They include partner games, team games, colour games, rescue games and cooperative activities.
These are not all traditional Welsh games. Many are familiar playground formats adapted with Welsh vocabulary. The rules below are practical versions for modern schools and families.
What Are Welsh Chasing Games?
Chasing games are activities in which one or more children follow, pursue or gently tag other players. They are also commonly called tag games, tig games or playground chasing games.
Welsh-language chasing games use the same basic idea while introducing words and instructions in Welsh. Children might count in Welsh before starting, identify colours, listen for a signal or use phrases when someone is caught.
In Welsh educational settings, playground language activities can provide opportunities for children to use spoken Welsh outside formal classroom lessons.
Estyn has highlighted playground activities such as Faint o'r gloch, Mr Blaidd? as examples of pupils practising Welsh through play, with older children sometimes leading the games.
For this collection, we concentrate on different types of tag and chasing games rather than repeating What's the Time, Mr Wolf?, which is covered in our first article.
Quick Guide: Which Chasing Game Should You Choose?
| Game | Age | Players | Equipment | Learning focus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Welsh Colour Tag | 4–8 | 5+ | None | Colours |
| Freeze and Rescue Tag | 5–11 | 6+ | None | Commands |
| Dragon's Tail Chase | 6–11 | 6+ | Fabric tails | Directions |
| Island Crossing Tag | 5–10 | 6+ | Markers | Movement |
| Animal Movement Chase | 4–8 | 5+ | None | Animals |
| Shadow Tag | 6–11 | 4+ | None | Nature |
| Number Team Tag | 6–11 | 8+ | Number cards | Numbers |
| Treasure Rescue Chase | 6–11 | 6+ | Beanbags | Teamwork |
| Partner Switch Chase | 7–11 | 7+ | None | Communication |
| Slow-Motion Tag | 4–11 | 4+ | None | Listening |
10 Fun Welsh Chasing and Tag Games for Children
Each game includes practical rules, age guidance, Welsh-language prompts and a variation to help teachers adapt it for different groups.
Welsh Colour Tag
Welsh Colour Tag combines a simple chasing activity with colour recognition. It is useful for children learning their first Welsh colour words.
How to Play
- Choose one child as the tagger.
- Mark a safe, clearly defined play area.
- A leader calls out a colour in Welsh.
- Children wearing that colour move to a marked safe zone.
- Everyone else must move across the play area while avoiding a gentle tag.
- Children who are tagged join the leader for the next round rather than being eliminated.
- Choose a new colour and tagger after every round.
Coch!
Red!
Glas!
Blue!
Gwyrdd!
Green!
Pa liw?
What colour?
Freeze and Rescue Tag
This is a cooperative tag game in which children help each other return to play. It provides practice in Welsh movement instructions and teamwork.
How to Play
- Choose one or two taggers.
- The other children move around the marked area.
- When gently tagged, a child freezes in place.
- A teammate can rescue them by approaching and saying the agreed Welsh phrase.
- The frozen player can then rejoin the game.
- Change taggers frequently.
- Finish after a short timed round.
Stopiwch!
Stop!
Help!
Help!
Diolch!
Thank you!
Ewch!
Go!
Dragon's Tail Chase
Inspired by Wales's famous red dragon symbol, this playground game combines team movement, coordination and direction vocabulary.
This is a Welsh-themed modern adaptation, rather than a claim that the activity originated in Wales.
How to Play
- Divide children into small groups.
- Each group forms a loose single-file line.
- Place a fabric tail on the last player using a safe, easily detachable attachment.
- The first player is the dragon's head.
- The head tries to approach another team's tail.
- Players must remain connected only by keeping close together, without pulling or gripping one another.
- A point is scored when the head gently collects another team's detachable tail.
- Stop frequently and rotate positions.
Draig!
Dragon!
I'r chwith!
To the left!
I'r dde!
To the right!
Araf!
Slow!
Island Crossing Tag
Island Crossing Tag encourages children to listen for Welsh directions and move between different safe zones.
How to Play
- Mark four large areas as islands.
- Choose one or two taggers.
- Everyone starts on an island.
- A leader calls a direction in Welsh.
- Children move to the island indicated by that direction.
- Taggers gently tag moving players between islands.
- Tagged children become helpers who call directions for the next round.
Ewch ymlaen!
Go forward!
I'r chwith!
To the left!
I'r dde!
To the right!
Yn ôl!
Back!
Animal Movement Chase
Animal Movement Chase adds an imaginative twist to tag games while introducing simple animal names in Welsh.
How to Play
- Choose one child as the tagger.
- The leader calls an animal in Welsh.
- Everyone moves using an agreed safe movement for that animal.
- For example, children might take small rabbit hops or walk like a slow tortoise.
- The tagger moves in the same way as everyone else.
- When someone is gently tagged, they become the next leader.
- Introduce a different animal each round.
Cwningen!
Rabbit!
Cath!
Cat!
Ci!
Dog!
Crwban!
Tortoise!
Shadow Tag
Shadow Tag is an outdoor activity combining play with observation of sunlight and shadows.
How to Play
- Choose a level outdoor area with visible shadows.
- One child becomes the shadow tagger.
- The other players move within the boundaries.
- The tagger attempts to step gently on another player's shadow, avoiding physical contact.
- When a shadow is tagged, that child becomes the next tagger.
- Repeat with short rounds.
Cysgod!
Shadow!
Haul!
Sun!
Ble mae'r cysgod?
Where is the shadow?
Welsh Number Team Tag
Number Team Tag links Welsh number recognition to team-based movement.
How to Play
- Divide the class into two teams.
- Give each child a numbered card.
- Children memorise their Welsh number.
- The leader calls two numbers in Welsh.
- The corresponding players from each team enter a marked central area.
- One player becomes the tagger and the other tries to reach a safe line without being gently tagged.
- Rotate roles, keeping rounds short.
Un!
One!
Dau!
Two!
Saith!
Seven!
Deg!
Ten!
Treasure Rescue Chase
Treasure Rescue Chase combines a team collection challenge with gentle tag rules. It encourages cooperation and simple Welsh communication.
How to Play
- Place several beanbags in a central treasure zone.
- Mark two team bases.
- Assign one or two defenders to the treasure zone.
- Other children attempt to collect one beanbag at a time.
- Defenders may gently tag players who enter their zone.
- Tagged players return to their own base and try again.
- Count how many treasures each team collects during the round.
Trysor!
Treasure!
Un!
One!
Dau!
Two!
Da iawn!
Very good!
Partner Switch Chase
This chasing game encourages children to communicate while finding a new partner.
How to Play
- Arrange most children in pairs, standing apart around a safe area.
- Choose one chaser and one runner.
- The runner moves between pairs while avoiding the chaser.
- The runner can stand beside either member of a pair.
- The player on the opposite end of that pair becomes the new runner.
- If the chaser tags the runner, they exchange roles.
- Change roles regularly so all children participate.
Ffrind!
Friend!
Dy dro di!
Your turn!
Barod?
Ready?
Ewch!
Go!
Slow-Motion Tag
Slow-Motion Tag is a lower-speed chasing game that helps pupils practise Welsh listening commands.
How to Play
- Mark a small, clear play area.
- Choose one or two taggers.
- Everyone moves at a slow walking pace.
- The leader calls out movement commands in Welsh.
- Children respond by walking slowly, stopping or changing direction.
- The taggers attempt gentle tags while obeying the same speed rules.
- After being tagged, a child may become a new tagger or take a short helper role.
Yn araf!
Slowly!
Stopiwch!
Stop!
Ewch!
Go!
Trowch!
Turn!
Interactive Welsh Chasing Game Picker
Not sure which playground tag game to choose? Select the children's age group and whether you have equipment, then let the game picker suggest a suitable activity.
Free Printable Welsh Chasing Game Cards
Use our free printable Welsh chasing games activity cards for primary-school playground sessions, PE warm-ups and Criw Cymraeg activities.
Each card contains a game title, recommended age, equipment, simple rules and Welsh vocabulary.
Printable format: Two A4 portrait pages, with five activity cards on each page.
The print button opens a separate document containing only the activity cards. No Blogger sidebar, navigation or article content is included. Choose A4 portrait, 100% scale and disable browser headers and footers.
Useful Welsh Phrases for Chasing Games
These words and phrases can be introduced gradually before playing. Practise pronunciation together and use picture or action prompts where helpful.
| Welsh | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| Barod? | Ready? | Before starting |
| Ewch! | Go! | Start signal |
| Stopiwch! | Stop! | Stop signal |
| Yn araf! | Slowly! | Slow movement |
| I'r dde! | To the right! | Directions |
| I'r chwith! | To the left! | Directions |
| Dy dro di! | Your turn! | Taking turns |
| Da iawn! | Very good! | Praise |
| Un, dau, tri! | One, two, three! | Counting |
| Pa liw? | What colour? | Colour Tag |
| Ble? | Where? | Location questions |
| Diolch! | Thank you! | Cooperative play |
How to Use Welsh Tag Games in Primary Schools
Reception and younger children
Choose short, simple games with predictable instructions. Start with Colour Tag, Animal Movement Chase or Slow-Motion Tag. Use visual demonstrations and limit each session to a few minutes.
Key Stage 1
Introduce games that include taking turns and following Welsh movement commands. Freeze and Rescue Tag and Island Crossing Tag are useful examples.
Key Stage 2
Older pupils can take on leadership roles, explain the rules and organise team challenges. Try Number Team Tag, Partner Switch Chase and Treasure Rescue Chase.
Criw Cymraeg playground activities
Criw Cymraeg pupils can demonstrate rules and lead a different chasing game each week. Ask leaders to introduce three Welsh phrases before each session.
Older pupils can also make bilingual game signs, introduce a daily Welsh playground phrase and encourage younger children to join in.
Five-Day Welsh Playground Chasing Games Plan
| Day | Activity | Welsh focus |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | Welsh Colour Tag | Colours |
| Tuesday | Freeze and Rescue Tag | Instructions and greetings |
| Wednesday | Animal Movement Chase | Animals |
| Thursday | Number Team Tag | Numbers 1–20 |
| Friday | Slow-Motion Tag | Movement commands |
Safety Rules for Playground Chasing Games
Chasing activities need clear rules, sufficient space and appropriate adult supervision. Before starting, check the surface and boundaries.
- Explain how to stop immediately when instructed.
- Use gentle hand tags or agreed non-contact alternatives.
- Never allow pushing, pulling or grabbing clothing.
- Keep children away from steps, walls and obstacles.
- Use walking games where running is unsuitable.
- Provide rest breaks and drinking water.
- Adapt games to children's individual needs.
- Avoid rules that leave children excluded for long periods.
Teachers should follow their school's risk-assessment and safeguarding procedures when organising playground and PE activities.
Making Chasing Games Inclusive
Not every child can or wants to participate in running-based activities. The most useful games are those that can be adapted without excluding anyone.
Consider allowing children to walk, wheel or use alternative movement methods. Offer non-contact tagging, visual instructions, shorter distances and cooperative scoring.
Children can also take meaningful roles as language leaders, timekeepers or callers. These adaptations can make the games enjoyable for a wider group.
Frequently Asked Questions About Welsh Chasing Games
What are Welsh chasing games?
Welsh chasing games are playground tag or chasing activities played using Welsh words, phrases or instructions. Some are common games adapted for Welsh-language learning.
What are good chasing games for KS1?
Colour Tag, Freeze and Rescue Tag, Island Crossing and Animal Movement Chase are good starting points. They can be simplified for younger pupils.
What are good chasing games for KS2?
Number Team Tag, Partner Switch Chase, Dragon's Tail and Treasure Rescue Chase offer more complex rules and teamwork opportunities.
Which tag games need no equipment?
Colour Tag, Freeze and Rescue Tag, Animal Movement Chase, Shadow Tag, Partner Switch Chase and Slow-Motion Tag can all be played without equipment.
Can Welsh chasing games be played indoors?
Some can be adapted for large indoor halls, particularly Slow-Motion Tag and non-contact variations. Avoid running games in ordinary classrooms or cramped spaces.
Are these traditional Welsh games?
Not all of them. This collection contains familiar chasing-game formats adapted for Welsh-language practice. For documented historical games, see our separate Traditional Welsh Playground Games guide.
Are the printable game cards free?
Yes. The ten activity cards are free for home and classroom use. No registration is required.
Further Reading and Educational Sources
For more information about Welsh-language learning through play, consult these educational resources:
- Estyn – Education and Training Inspectorate for Wales
- Hwb – Welsh Government Educational Resources
- Playful Childhoods Wales
Language note: Welsh usage can vary by region and school. Teachers may wish to check phrases against their school's preferred language conventions.
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