Wheelbarrow Race Rules: Fair Partners, Roles and Safety
In a wheelbarrow race, players race in pairs: one partner walks on their hands while the other holds their legs up, like the handles of a wheelbarrow. It is hard work for the arms, very funny to watch, and a favourite on school sports days and at parties. Here are the rules, a fair way to choose partners and who goes first, and the safety points that keep it fun.
What you need
- A flat, soft grass track. Keep it short: about 5 to 10 metres for younger children, up to 15 metres for older ones.
- A start line, a finish line, and lanes about two metres wide.
- An even number of players, in pairs of similar size.
- A starter and a judge at the finish line.
Rules
- Partners decide who is the wheelbarrow and who is the driver.
- The wheelbarrow lies face down behind the start line, with hands flat on the ground under the shoulders.
- The driver stands behind and holds the wheelbarrow’s legs at the knees, or just above the ankles for older children.
- On “Go!”, the wheelbarrow walks forward on their hands while the driver walks behind, holding the legs up.
- If the wheelbarrow collapses, the pair stops, gets back into position and carries on from that spot.
- The first pair to cross the finish line with the wheelbarrow’s hands wins.
The driver must not push. The wheelbarrow sets the pace, and the driver follows. A driver who runs ahead will make the wheelbarrow fall on their face, which is an easy way to get hurt.
Fair partners
Partners should be about the same size, so the driver can hold the wheelbarrow’s legs without strain. A simple fair method is to line the children up by height, split the line into small groups, and then draw pairs at random within each group with the Random Name Picker. Nobody chooses, and nobody is left without a partner.
Who is the wheelbarrow first?
Being the wheelbarrow is the hard part, so both partners usually want to be the driver, or both want the glory of being the wheelbarrow. A flip of the Coin Flip settles it for the first race. But if you flip again before every race, luck can make one child do the hard part every time. The table shows how likely that is for one pair:
| Races | Same child each time |
|---|---|
| 2 | 50% |
| 3 | 25% |
| 4 | 13% |
| 5 | 6% |
So over three races, there is a one in four chance that the same child is the wheelbarrow in all of them. The fair rule is to flip once, then swap roles every race. In a relay, the pair can also swap roles halfway, at a cone, so both partners do the hard part.
Safety
- Race only on soft grass, never on concrete or a hard floor.
- The driver holds the legs at the knees for younger children, as this puts less weight on their arms.
- The driver walks, never runs, and lets the wheelbarrow set the pace.
- Keep the distance short, as tired arms give way suddenly.
- Children with wrist, arm or shoulder injuries should be drivers only, or sit this one out.
Variations
- Swap relay: pairs race to a cone, swap roles, and race back.
- Team relay: teams of three or four pairs; each pair races one length.
- Slalom: the wheelbarrow must steer round cones, with the driver giving directions.
- Crab race: for a gentler option, players walk on hands and feet with their tummies facing up, no partner needed.
The wheelbarrow race goes well with the sack race, the three-legged race and a final round of tug of war.
To turn it into a team event, see our relay race ideas, with a fair way to make the teams.
FAQ
How do you do a wheelbarrow race?
One partner walks on their hands while the other holds their legs up, like the handles of a wheelbarrow. The pairs race to a finish line, and the first pair across wins.
Where should you hold the legs in a wheelbarrow race?
Hold the legs at the knees for younger children, as it puts less strain on their arms. Older children can be held closer to the ankles.
How long should a wheelbarrow race be?
Short: about 5 to 10 metres for younger children and up to 15 metres for older ones. Arms tire quickly.
How do you decide who is the wheelbarrow?
Flip a coin for the first race, then swap roles for every race after that, so both partners do the hard part equally.