How to Play Steal the Bacon

Bacon: A soft, easily grabbable object such as a bean bag, small plush toy, or a rolled-up sock. This will serve as the “bacon.”

Markers: Cones, ropes, or any visible items to mark the boundaries of the play area and the center line.

Play Area: Choose a flat, open space suitable for running. An area about 20 to 30 feet in length works well for most groups.

Boundary Markers: Use your markers to delineate the play area’s boundaries, ensuring it’s clearly divided into two equal halves.
Center Line: Place another marker or a visible line at the midpoint of the play area to indicate where the “bacon” will be placed.
Team Zones: Assign each team to a half of the play area, making sure they’re on opposite sides.

Divide Players: Split participants into two teams, trying to balance the numbers and abilities as much as possible.
Assign Numbers: Secretly assign each player a unique number, ensuring players on opposing teams with the same number are matched up against each other.
Position Teams: Each team stands behind their boundary line, facing the center of the play area where the “bacon” will be placed.

Place the Bacon: Put the “bacon” at the center line, equidistant from both teams.
Call Numbers: The game leader or referee calls out a number at random.
Steal the Bacon: Upon hearing their number, the corresponding players from each team rush to the center to grab the “bacon.”

Score Points: To score, a player must pick up the “bacon” and return to their team’s side without being tagged by the opposing player.
Tagging: If the player with the “bacon” is tagged by their opponent before they cross back into their team’s area, no point is scored, and the opposing team may earn a point instead (depending on your variation of the rules).
Winning: The game continues with different numbers being called until a pre-decided number of points is reached or everyone has had a turn. The team with the most points at the end wins.