Head Shoulders Knees Cup for youth groups

Head Shoulders Knees Cup suits youth groups, clubs, camps and after-school programmes. You can explain it in half a minute, nobody needs to pick teams, and a round lasts about a minute. The caller runs in the browser, so you do not need a video, a slide pack or any sign-up.

Why it suits a group

• It starts fast. Say “touch what you see, grab a cup when it says CUP!” and press Start game.
• Players who are out can cheer, count rounds or run the screen.
• One screen leads the whole table, so the leader can watch the players.
• It works for mixed ages. Use Classic mode and Easy speed for the younger ones.

Setup for 10 to 60 kids

The game handles up to 14 players per table. Use tables of 6 to 10 and play a final between the table winners. You need one cup fewer than the number of players at each table, plus cups for the final.

• 40 kids: five tables of 8 with 7 cups each (35 cups), then a final with 5 players and 4 cups.
• 60 kids: six tables of 10 with 9 cups each (54 cups), then a final with 6 players and 5 cups.

Give each table leader a phone or tablet with cupgrab.com open. The leader adds the names, starts the game and picks who is out. Install the game on each device beforehand so it keeps working if the Wi-Fi drops.

Themed rounds

• Colour tables: give each table a different colour of cup and let the winners keep the colour as their team name.
• Seasonal rounds: match the cups to the season or event, and let the winner pick the next game.
• Weaker hand round: everyone grabs with the hand they do not normally use.

If you give out food as a prize, check for allergies first.

Noise and space

Put the device on a speaker so the whole room hears the buzzer. Leave a gap between tables, and ask watching kids to stay behind a line. Turn the volume up before you start, because cheering is loud.

Making it fair for everyone

• Pick a simple rule against pushing before the first round.
• Place cups within easy reach for anyone who cannot grab fast, or give them the helper role.
• Use Easy speed and Classic mode for younger or newer players.

A 15-minute session plan

1. Gather (2 minutes). Split into tables. Say: “Touch the body part on the screen. When it says CUP!, grab a cup. No cup, you’re out and you cheer. The last one standing wins.”
2. Practice (1 minute). Play one round so everyone sees how CUP! arrives.
3. Table games (6 minutes). Table leaders start the game. Players who are out count the rounds or shout the words along with the screen.
4. Final (4 minutes). The table winners play in the middle. Everyone else counts down 3, 2, 1 and cheers.
5. Wrap up (2 minutes). Announce the winner, then move on to the next activity.

Timings depend on table size and round length. Use Quick rounds and tables of 6 to 8 to stay close to this plan.

Print the bracket sheet

More ideas for events are on the party ideas page. The rules cover disputes such as two hands on one cup. Teaching a class instead? See the classroom page.