Our Side, Their Side: Intro to Invasion Games

Invasion games are team games where the goal is to 'invade' or enter an opponent's territory to score a point, like shooting a basket or scoring a goal.At the same time, you have to defend your own territory to stop the other team from scoring on you! These games are awesome because they teach us how to work together, think fast, and play fair.

Moving from defense to offense!Imagine you are playing soccer. Here's how you invade the other team's side:Step 1: Your goalie stops the ball on your side of the field. This is defense!Step 2: The goalie passes the ball to you. Now your team has the ball and is on offense.Step 3: You look up and see a teammate running into an open space on the other team's side.Step 4: You pass the ball to them. They dribble closer to the goal and SCORE! Your team successfully invaded their space.

Protect your flag, grab their flag!Capture the Flag is a perfect invasion game. Here's the plan:Step 1: Your team has a flag on your side ('our side'), and the other team has a flag on theirs ('their side').Step 2: Some of your teammates are defenders. Their job is to stay on your side and tag anyone from the other team who tries to take your flag.Step 3: You are an attacker! Your job is to run across the middle line into their side, avoid being tagged, and grab their flag.Step 4: If you get the flag, you have to bring it all the way back to your side to win! That's a successful invasion.