Steal the Bacon: The Running, Yelling Game That Makes Kids Tactical Heroes

The curtains open. Two groups face each other like gladiators for battle. No ball. No bats. No net.

Just a shoe. Or a water bottle. Or a valid piece of foam bacon.

A finger is abruptly yelled out. Two boys burst from their flanks. By racing in full gallop.

They wrestle. Duck. Dart. One grabs the object and fires back as their group explodes in applause.

Welcome to Steal the Bacon, a game that seems absurd until you see it. Then it’s a bonafide strategy-loaded adrenaline sport in the guise of a gym class activity. It’s half a tag. Half capture-the-flag. Half playground war.

It quickens, sharpens, makes you sneaky and brave. And to generations of schoolkids, it was the greatest grab-for-glory lunchtime adventure.

What Is Steal the Bacon?

Steal the Bacon is a team field game that involves running, fast thinking, and sneakiness.

• Two teams are lined up against each other.
• An object (the “bacon”) is placed in the middle.
• Every player is assigned a number equal to an opposing team player.

If the game host announces a number, then the respective players scramble to steal the object and get back to their own team side without getting tagged.

Sounds simple.

It is not. Games turn into instant bluffing, chasing, sliding, and doorbell escapes. And what of added complexity? The game is merely organized chaos in the best of all possible universes.

Why Is It Called “Bacon”?

No one really knows. But the term “bacon” has meant something desirable or swipeable (i.e., “bring home the bacon”) for centuries. The game doesn’t require actual bacon. In fact, it’s most commonly:

• A shoe
• A ball
• A towel
• A foam baton
• A stuffed animal

Or if you’re fancy: a custom-cut piece of foam cut into the form of bacon.

But whatever it is, it’s always The Prize.

The Goal.

The Thing You Have to Steal.

Classic Rules: Playing Steal the Bacon

Begin at the trailhead.

Setup

Divide players into two equal groups.

Number the players. Each number must be accounted for on both teams. (When playing with 10 on each team, number them 1–10.) Place the “bacon” in the center of the field between both teams.

Objective

Reach the bacon first and make it back to your team’s side without getting tagged by the other player with your number.

How to Play

Players line up behind their team’s line (opposite field sides). The leader shouts a number.

Both players with this number go to the middle. The first player to reach the bacon can:

• Try to run back to their line (reaching a point)
• Or fake, wait, or dodge to evade being tagged

When the untagged bacon-grabber reaches home, he scores a point. When he is tagged by the other player before he reaches his line, the other team scores the point. The bacon is re-set, and the next number is called.

Winning

Play until a point value (e.g., 10) or until everyone has had a turn. It’s fast. It’s even. It’s thrillin’.

Steal the Bacon Variations: Twist the Madness

You thought one-on-one was crazy?

Get a kick out of these mind-bending variations.

Multiple Numbers Called

• Call out 2 or 3 numbers at the same time.
• Now 3v3 is a complete madness free-for-all!
• Reward bonus points for team combinations or decoys.

All-In Mode

• Call “ALL NUMBERS!”
• All charges.
• Brace yourself for collisions, guffaws, and pure playground anarchy.

Double Bacon

• Place two objects in the center.
• Requires multitasking and teamwork.
• Some rounds may allow players to grab both for double points.

Blind Bacon

• Blindfold the players and have teammates provide instructions to call out.
• Great for a belly laugh and building trust.

Invisible Bacon

• Hide bacon behind boxes or cones.
• Players have to creep before they swipe.

Tag and Toss

• Instead of running home, the player needs to toss the bacon back.
• The opponent can intercept, block, or tag on the toss.

Reverse Bacon

• Once you have pinched the bacon, take it to the other side’s rearline and score.
• Forces players to move around and come forward.

Educational Benefits

This is more than a short dash.

It teaches:

• Agility and speed – Encourages fierce movement.
• Reaction time – Players must react in a hurry to their number.
• Sportsmanship – Win or lose. But with respect.
• Strategic thinking – Mind tricks and bluffing.
• Listening skills – Players must focus to hear their number.
• Team support – Team members strategize, coach, and cheer.
• Conflict resolution – Negotiating tags, resolving rules, and group consensus.

It’s used in:

• Physical education classes
• Leadership training camps
• Corporate retreats (with grown-ups stealing stress balls)
• Drama and improv workshops for warm-ups

It’s basically the most educational slapstick chaos you’ll ever supervise.

Coaching Tips: How to Run an Epic Game

Want to make your next Steal the Bacon session unforgettable?

This is how it works:

• Setup Tips
• Mark team boundaries and center zone with cones.
• Bring an attention whistle or bell.
• Ensure the play area is safe (no rolled ankles, thank you).

Game Leader Tips

• Shout random numbers.
• Listen to your own brain, whisper, scream, sing the number.
• Pay very close attention to early starts (players popping up too soon).
• Award ties to re-start or use tiebreaker battles.

Safety Tips

• Do it on soft grass or gym floors.
• Don’t tackle or push, isolate it to tagging.
• Warm up in advance before sprinting rounds.
• Bacon softer objects (e.g., stuffed animal or cloth roll).

The Best Homemade “Bacons” to Utilize

Bacon is not necessarily bacon.

Here are some amusing and witty ideas to utilize:

• Old sneaker – The original classic
• Squeaky dog toy – Brings laughter
• Fake slice of foam bacon – Yes, it’s on Amazon
• Sponge block – Softer and more graspable
• Pool noodle slice – Cut and curl into “bacon”
• Stuffed pig plushie – Adorable and ironic
• Glowstick – For nighttime playtime
• Custom 3D printed bacon – For über-nerds

Whatever you pick, make sure it’s easy to see, safe to pick up, and iconic enough that kids will fight over them.

Party Mode: Pillage the Bacon for Birthday or Camp

Want to turn this into the pièce de résistance of your party? Test out these party hacks:

• Color War Bacon – Teams are colors; bacon is colored rope
• Theme Song Mode – Have proper music play while players sprint (e.g., Mission Impossible)
• Glow Bacon – Have blacklight and glow-in-the-dark bacon
• Costume Rounds – Competitors must costume up with hats, capes, or silly socks
• Obstacle Round – Place obstacles or cones between the lines and the bacon

Award the MVP with a gold-painted “bacon” trophy or medal.

Common Problems and Solutions

Even disorder must be organized. These are the most usual problems:

Fighting Over Tags

Solution: Use a referee or use video replay (smartphone video is good enough).

Premature Starts

Solution: Call pretend numbers to test listening. Add a penalty for starting too early.

Players Not Listening

Solution: Have players do a silly dance or jump up and down until their number is reached.

“Camping” the Bacon

Solution: Draw a no-go circle around the bacon until numbers are called.

Rough Play

Solution: Emphasize tagging only. Add instant penalties for pushing or shoving.

Real Stories: Steal the Bacon Memories

Ask anyone who’s played, and you’ll hear a story.

Like the kid who dove for a sneaker and slid 10 feet in mud.

Or the team that lured the opposing team into five straight fake starts.

Or the school that used bacon-shaped plush animals and declared “national bacon week.”

It’s a legendary game.

Each game is epic.

Each memory is a micro-war story.

Life Lessons from a Ball-less Game

Believe it or not, Steal the Bacon teaches life lessons:

• Timing is everything—In life and in bacon, you’ve gotta seize the moment.
• Listening is worth it—Listen up, and it’s your superpower.
• Be unpredictable—Bluffing is an art.
• Work as a team—Even when you’re playing by yourself, your team is counting on you.
• Laugh in the face of confusion—Sometimes it’s not winning. It’s trying.

And above all:

You miss 100% of the bacon you don’t try to swipe.

In a world of screens, DLCs, and esports championships, it is proof you don’t need anything fancy. If you want to create memories that last a lifetime.

A field.

A sock.

A number.

And a will to steal.

It’s fast.

It’s easy.

It’s up-your-nose.

And once you play it just right, you never lose the touch. So next time you’re stuck in boredom, holed up inside, or planning the next rager, ask yourself: Who’s ready to steal the bacon?

Because when that number is called and your feet hit the ground? You’re not just running.

You’re chasing glory.