Three-Legged Race Rules: Fair Partners, Lanes and Safety
The three-legged race is a classic of school sports days and summer parties. Players run in pairs, side by side, with the inside leg of one tied to the inside leg of the other, so the two of them have three legs between them. The pair that works together best, not the fastest runner, usually wins. Here are the rules, a fair way to choose partners and lanes, and how to keep the race safe.
What you need
- A soft scarf, a fabric strip, a stretchy loop or a special race band for each pair. Avoid rope or string, which can cut into the skin.
- A flat, grassy track, about 15 to 30 metres long for children.
- A start line, a finish line and lanes about two metres wide, one for each pair.
- A starter and, if possible, a judge at the finish line.
Rules
- Players form pairs and stand side by side behind the start line.
- Each pair ties the left leg of the player on the right to the right leg of the player on the left, at the ankle or just below the knee.
- On “Ready, steady, go!”, the pairs run, walk or hop to the finish line.
- If the tie comes loose, the pair stops, ties it again, and carries on from that spot.
- The first pair to cross the finish line with both players, still tied together, wins.
- Pairs stay in their own lane and must not push or block other pairs.
A tip worth sharing: pairs go faster if they agree a rhythm before the start, such as calling “in, out, in, out”, where “in” means the tied legs step together.
Fair partners
A three-legged race goes best when partners are about the same height, because their steps match. But letting children choose their own partners leaves someone standing alone, and friends always pair up. A fair middle way is to line the children up by height, split the line into small groups of four to six, and then pick pairs at random inside each group with the Random Name Picker. Partners still have a similar height, but nobody chooses.
Even in a small group, a random draw gives plenty of variety. The table shows how many different ways a group can be split into pairs, and the chance that two particular children end up together:
| Children | Ways to pair | Set pair |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | 3 | 33% |
| 6 | 15 | 20% |
| 8 | 105 | 14% |
| 10 | 945 | 11% |
| 20 | 654,729,075 | 5% |
So in a group of six, there are 15 possible sets of pairs, and any two children have a one in five chance of being partners. With a class of 20 drawn all together, the number of possible pairings runs into the hundreds of millions. Grouping by height first keeps partners well matched, while the draw inside each group stays random.
Fair lanes and heats
Outside lanes are often bumpier, or closer to the crowd. To share them out fairly, number the lanes and let each pair draw a lane with the Random Number Generator. If there are more pairs than lanes, run heats: deal the pairs into heats at random, and send the winners of each heat to a final, as in our egg and spoon race.
Safety
- Tie the legs firmly but not tightly, so you can fit two fingers under the tie.
- Use a soft, wide fabric, never thin string or rope.
- Race on grass, not on concrete, as pairs often fall over.
- Teach pairs to fall forward together, on their hands, and to get up slowly.
- Keep the race short for younger children, and have an adult ready to untie a fallen pair.
Variations
- Four-legged race: three players tied together, which is even harder and even funnier.
- Parent and child race: a favourite at the end of a sports day.
- Relay: pairs run to a cone and back, then tag the next pair in their team.
- Obstacle three-legged race: pairs must step over low hurdles or go round cones on the way.
- Blindfold steering: for older players only, one partner wears a blindfold and the other gives directions, on a short, soft course.
The three-legged race fits well into a day of kids party games, followed by a round of tug of war.
For another sports day classic, see our sack race rules, including how to run fair heats.
FAQ
How do you tie legs for a three-legged race?
Tie the inside leg of each partner together at the ankle, or just below the knee, with a soft scarf or race band. It should be firm, but you should still fit two fingers under it.
What is the trick to winning a three-legged race?
Partners of similar height who agree a rhythm before the start, such as stepping with the tied legs first on each count, usually beat faster runners who are out of step.
How long should a three-legged race be?
About 15 to 30 metres is enough for children. Longer races lead to more falls and tired players.
How do you pick fair partners for a three-legged race?
Group the children by height, then pick pairs at random within each group. Partners still match in height, but nobody chooses their partner or is left out.