Tag (game) - Basic Rules

Basic Rules

A group of players (two or more) decide who is going to be "it", often using a counting-out game such as eeny, meeny, miny, moe. The player selected to be "it" then chases the others, attempting to get close enough to tag them—a touch with the hand—while the others try to escape. A tag makes the tagged player "it" (in some variations, the previous "it" is no longer "it", while in others, both players are still "it", and the game ends when all players are "it"). The game can continue indefinitely.

There are many variants which modify the rules for team play, or place restrictions on tagged players' behaviour. A simple variation makes tag an elimination game, so those tagged drop out of play. A no tag-backs, no returns, or can't tag your master rule prevents a player from tagging the person who has just tagged them.