Game version
Shadow swap: step on your partner’s shadow and you swap roles right away. Everybody keeps playing.
Shadow Step Tag
A chasing game for a sunny day: try to step on your partner's shadow while they run and dodge to keep it safe.
By Coach Evan Waechtler Youth coach (U11, Cache Valley, Utah) and founder of SSTracker Updated October 30, 2026
Set up
Pick a clear, sunny space with soft ground.
Core: Medium. Notice how soft your steps can be.
- Ages
- 5 to 10
- Time
- 8 min
- Players
- Just you
- Space
- Yard or field
- Bring
- Sunny yard or open space
- Level · skill
- Beginner · Approach & Start
The steps
How it works
- Pick a clear, sunny space with soft ground.
- One person chases and tries to step on the other's shadow.
- Swap roles every time someone is caught or every 30 seconds.
- Rest and drink after every three rounds.
Coaching point
Quick little steps, then go!
Safety: Play on soft, clear ground away from roads and hard edges. Tag gently with a hand on the arm or back.
Make it fun
Play it, don't drill it
Challenge
Choose your space: Less (a small yard), Core (medium), More (a partner who keeps moving). Notice how soft your steps can be.
Story
You are a ninja cat chasing a shadow friend across the moonlit yard.
My best
Beat your own count
Notice how soft your steps can be. Only your own number counts: today against last time.
Practice makes progress
Print it now, or save it free
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