Morning Recreation

DISCUS THROW

Teams spread out over the court. Teams must advance the discus down the court and throw it through their goal. Players may not run while holding the discus. They must stop running when the discus is passed to them. They must either pass to a teammate or throw their discus through their square. Opposing teams may try to intercept the discus and advance the discus to their goal to score. The team with the most points at the end of the game is the winner.

SHOTPUT SHOOT OUT

Standard dodge ball rules apply. Each team must have an equal number of players. If a player is hit with the ball before a bounce - the player is out. If a player catches the ball before a bounce - the thrower is out. NO HEADSHOTS! Players who intentionally aim for and hit another player in the head will be ejected from the game. Players may deflect a thrown ball by using a ball in their possession. The team with the most victories at the end of the allotted time is the winner.

STEAL THE TORCH

Each team will go to the opposite ends of the playing field and face the center of the playing field. Players will be given a number. When the referee calls out the number of a player, that player must run to the center of the playing field and grab the Torch. After grabbing the Torch, the player must make it back to their side of the field without being tagged. If he is tagged out, the other team gets the point.

MAKE IT TO THE GAMES

Object of the game is to get your entire team from your home country and make it to the Olympic Games. Each team is allowed one boat (floor scooter) and one rope. Players are not allowed to touch the “water”, or they must return to their home country. It is up to each team to figure out a way to get their team across the ocean – without touching the water. Students are allowed to stop at the Island (mat) but can’t stay there too long. The winner is the team who makes it to the Olympics first.

BIBLE OLYMPICS/BIBLE OLYMPICS 2.0

Each coach and camper will receive the Bible questions on the first day of camp. The Bible questions can be studied during free time to prepare for each match. Each room will play Day One & Day Two of Bible Olympics. The rules of the game will be explained on the day that your team meets for each match.

LET THE GAMES BEGIN

RUNNING TO WIN

Day One

Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it for a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 1 Corinthians 9:25

Read About It: 1 Corinthians 9:25

Talk About It: Athletes from all over the world are gathering to compete in every kind of sport you can imagine - soccer, swimming, diving, gymnastics, track, tennis, bicycling, and many more. These men and women in the Olympics train very hard in the hopes that they will win a medal. In each event, only one team or one person can win the top prize. All of the athletes worked very hard, but there can only be one winner.

Discuss It: The Bible says that life is similar to games such as the Olympics. The Bible says that everyone who competes in the games goes into very strict training and works very hard to win a prize. Some people compete in the game of life for personal gain. Perhaps they do it so that they can become famous, or be very popular, or to make a lot of money. The Bible says that their prize will not last. Some people compete in the game of life and work very hard because they love Jesus and want to bring honor to Him. The Bible tells us that they win a prize that lasts forever. In the Olympic games, there can only be one winner, but in the game of life, we can all be winners if we live for Jesus.

Pray About It: Lord, help us to play the game of life in such a way that we will bring honor to you. Help us to remember that the victory comes from you -- not from ourselves. Amen.

WHICH COUNTRY IS BEST?

Day Two

Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right. Acts 10:34-35

Read About It: Acts 10:34-35

Talk About It: In the opening ceremonies, each country gets to parade into the stadium. Do you know how many countries are participating in the Olympics this year? 204! That is a lot of countries. There are countries from all over the world.

Which country is the best? Do we determine the best country by who wins the most gold medals? By how big the country is? By how much money it has? Do you think God has a favorite country?

Discuss It: There was a guy in the bible named Peter, who thought that the Jewish people were the best. He thought they were better than anyone else in the whole world. Do you know what God showed him? He showed Peter that he was wrong and Peter said ‘I see very clearly that God shows no favoritism. In every nation he accepts those who fear him and do what is right.’

God does not show favorites. He doesn’t care how big or how small, how much money, or how many gold medals a country has. He loves every person in every country in this whole world. So, if God loves every person in every country in this whole world, should we? We can show God’s love to people across the world, by praying for them, by helping those in need, and even by going and visiting other parts of the world, if that’s what God wants. God does not show favorites, and we should make sure that we don’t either.

Pray About It: Dear God, we thank you for the perfect way that you love us, and we ask that you would help us to love all of your people around the world in the same way. In Jesus’ name we pray - Amen.

RUNNING WITH ENDURANCE

Day Three

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Hebrews 12:1-2

Read About It: Hebrews 12:1-2

Talk About It: Just how big are the Olympics? Here are a few facts that will give you an idea of just how big the Olympics are:

• There will be more than 10,500 athletes competing for medals in the Olympics. • There will be 206 countries represented. • There will be more than 6 million tickets sold. • There will be a record 6,500 hours of television coverage. • It is estimated that about 4 billion people will watch at least part of the Olympics on television.

Now, that’s big! The athletes have worked long and hard for the opportunity to represent their country and to try to win a medal. They are going to keep their eye on the prize and will not let anything stand in the way of doing their very best.

Discuss It: The Bible describes a race that you and I are running that is even bigger and more important than the Olympics. The Bible says, “Since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses, let us run the race that God has set before us. Throw aside anything that will slow you down. Keep your eyes on Jesus.” What is this race that we have before us? It is the race of following the example that Jesus set for us and expects us to follow as one of his disciples. It is a race of obedience to God’s Word and faithfulness to Jesus’ call to “Follow me.”

Can you imagine an Olympic athlete starting the race and giving up when the medal was within his reach? The race may not be easy, but the prize will be worth giving our all. Never give up! Keep your eyes on Jesus and, like the apostle Paul said, “Press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

Pray About It: Father, help us to be faithful in running the race which you have set before us. We pray that we will keep our eyes on Jesus and follow the example he set for us. Keep us from the sin that will keep us from faithfully running our race. In Jesus’ name we pray - Amen.