Outdoor Games
How to play Kick the Can
Hide from one guard and free captured players by reaching and kicking the can.
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How do you play Kick the Can?
Players hide while the guard counts; the guard searches and calls captures while protecting the can. Resolve the full result of that action before the next player begins. Continue in order while keeping pieces, scores, resources, or progress visible. The guard wins by capturing everyone, while hiders try to kick the can and release the jailed players.
Jump to the step-by-step rules ↓EDITOR'S TABLE NOTES
Is Kick the Can a good fit for your group?
This game works especially well for active groups with a safe play area and players comfortable with movement; the listed 4+-player range and 20–45 min playing time should also fit the group. Before setting up, decide whether that matches the experience your group wants today.
Rules version covered here
This guide uses a casual recreation version. Adjust boundaries, speed, and contact rules for the space, weather, ages, and abilities of the players. For Kick the Can, pay particular attention to the stated setup and ending condition below.
QUICK VIDEO GUIDE
Learn Kick the Can in under a minute
About this video
This original mini lesson covers what you need, setup, normal play, the winning condition, and one beginner tip. Continue below for the complete written guide.
INTERACTIVE LEARN-TO-PLAY
Practice Kick the Can before the first round
Walk through the setup, try a sample turn, and get a quick answer when play stalls.
Choose boundaries, jail, can location, and one guard, then verify that running routes are hazard-free.
Confirm the starting player, turn direction, and the exact ending condition for Kick the Can.
Playable example turn
Step 1 of 4
Players hide while the guard counts; the guard searches and calls captures while protecting the can.
What should we do now?
Start with this action: Players hide while the guard counts; the guard searches and calls captures while protecting the can.
Scoring and winning
The guard wins by capturing everyone, while hiders try to kick the can and release the jailed players.
Common dispute to prevent
Using a hard or sharp can, playing near traffic, or arguing over whether a name was called before the kick. Agree on any edition-specific variation before the first turn.
The objective
Your goal is to hide from one guard and free captured players by reaching and kicking the can. Before play begins, make sure every player can explain how the game ends and what determines the winner. That one check prevents many mid-game disagreements.
What you need
A safe open area and a lightweight can or marker. Lay out every required item before teaching the rules. If pieces, cards, controllers, or play space are missing, resolve that before the practice turn.
How to set up
- Choose boundaries, jail, can location, and one guard, then verify that running routes are hazard-free.
- Confirm the starting player, turn direction, and the exact ending condition for Kick the Can.
Setup check: Ask one player who did not arrange the game to compare the table, field, or screen with these steps. A fresh look often catches an incorrect starting position.
How to play: step by step
- Players hide while the guard counts; the guard searches and calls captures while protecting the can.
- Resolve the full result of that action before the next player begins.
- Continue in order while keeping pieces, scores, resources, or progress visible.
- The guard wins by capturing everyone, while hiders try to kick the can and release the jailed players.
Example first round
A useful first-round walkthrough for Kick the Can begins this way: Players hide while the guard counts; the guard searches and calls captures while protecting the can. Next, resolve the full result of that action before the next player begins. Continue in normal turn order until the ending condition applies: the guard wins by capturing everyone, while hiders try to kick the can and release the jailed players.
How scoring and winning work
- The result is determined by the guide's stated objective: Hide from one guard and free captured players by reaching and kicking the can.
- The final step explains when play stops: The guard wins by capturing everyone, while hiders try to kick the can and release the jailed players.
- For the most common rules question, use this clarification consistently: Commonly the first captured player, but the group should agree before starting.
Useful variations
- Shorten the field and use walking-only play when space, age, weather, or mobility makes full-speed play unsuitable.
- For a shorter session, announce a stopping time before starting; 20–45 min is the normal planning range for Kick the Can.
- When playing with beginners, demonstrate this strategy before scoring begins: Approach from different directions so the guard cannot watch the can and pursue every hider at once.
Beginner strategies
- Approach from different directions so the guard cannot watch the can and pursue every hider at once.
- After each round, identify which decision created the strongest position and test that lesson in the next game.
Choose one of these ideas for the first game instead of trying to remember every strategy at once. Afterward, identify one decision that changed the result and one move you would test next time.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Using a hard or sharp can, playing near traffic, or arguing over whether a name was called before the kick.
- Mixing rules from another edition or a familiar house version without telling the other players.
If an illegal move is discovered, pause and agree on the least disruptive correction. For casual play, consistency and a shared understanding matter more than reconstructing many turns.
Frequently asked questions
Who becomes the next guard?
Commonly the first captured player, but the group should agree before starting.
What is the best way to teach Kick the Can?
Explain the objective, demonstrate one normal turn, and let everyone try a no-pressure practice turn before scoring.
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