Zombie Tag Challenge – Adaptability Exercise

Purpose

This high-energy physical activity is designed to explore team communication, adaptability, strategic decision-making and leadership under pressure. This is a playful and immersive version of the classic ‘Zombie Tag’ game. It also creates space for spontaneous collaboration and helps delegates experience how coordination evolves in dynamic environments. While it’s undeniably fun and energising, it also prompts deeper reflection, response to chaos and how individuals behave under changing conditions. It is ideal for leadership courses, acting, team building and decision-making. You can use as energisers that lead into sessions on collaboration and resilience.

Objective

Delegates engage in a structured version of Zombie Tag, where some begin as ‘zombies’ and attempt to infect ‘humans’. Once tagged, humans become zombies and help tag others. The game ends when only one human remains.

What You Need

• Open indoor or outdoor space with clearly defined boundaries.
• Optional props such as pool noodles for tagging, hula hoops for ‘zombie movement’ and cones or ribbons to mark zones.
• Stopwatch or timer.
• Flashlights (optional for themed versions).

Setup

• Mark a defined play area with clear and safe boundaries.
• Explain that the goal for humans is to survive.
• Explain the goal for zombies is to infect as many humans as possible.
• Select one or two delegates to begin as zombies. These players must walk like a zombie, with stiff legs and outstretched arms. Zombies cannot run. The rest of the group are humans.
• Set safety guidelines such as no pushing and avoiding contact near the face.
• Emphasise the strategic element: humans can’t just run; they must communicate, support others and adapt.
• Allow humans a 15–20 second head start before zombies begin moving.
• When a human is tagged, they immediately become a zombie and must adopt the zombie movement.
• For debrief after the exercise observe:
  • Is there a systematic communication pattern?
  • Who takes leadership roles?
  • Are there alliances forming among humans or zombies?
  • Are some players acting solo or supporting teammates?
• Game continues until only a sole uninfected human survivor is left.
• Gather everyone and finish with a debrief.

Timing

Explaining the Exercise: 5 minutes

Activity: 10-15 minutes

Group Feedback: 10 minutes

Discussion

Ask reflection questions based on your training needs such as:

For Humans:

• How did you decide where to run or hide? Did you coordinate with anyone?
• Were there moments you had to choose between helping others and saving yourself?
• Did anyone naturally take on a leadership role?

For Zombies:

• What strategies worked to corner or tag humans?
• How did your approach change when more people joined you?
• Did you work as a team or act individually?

General:

• What parallels can you draw between this game and real-life team challenges at work?
• How did it feel to switch roles? Did it change your mindset or approach?
• What made someone an effective team player in this game?
• In what ways did communication or the lack of it affect the outcome?

Variations

Doctor’s Antidote

• Assign one human as a ‘doctor’ who must reach a home base with an antidote.
• If the doctor reaches it, humans win. If tagged, the zombies win.
• Encourages protection, leadership and prioritisation under pressure.

Halloween Prop Version (Spooky Edition)

• Add noodles for tagging and hula hoops for zombie dragging movement.
• Play in low light with flashlights.
• Great for seasonal training or energising an afternoon session.
• Encourages imagination, playfulness, and role immersion.

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