Because it takes only two to Sumo, occasionally we are booked for events where there are too many combatants and too long a wait. Some customers have run another event in parallel but this obviously gets expensive. If you do want to accomodate more guests and there is enough space in your venue (preferably a separate room or area), you could split the party in half and run games in parallel with Sumo. You will need to do this yourself as your Gyoji will be engrossed in the Basho next door.

Here are some ideas for games you may not have heard of that Martin Day has accumulated from his years of children's work at Brookwood Community Church.

GAMES

1. PS2 'Eyetoy play'
2. Underwater Arctic Attack
3. Go-tag
4. Wink Murder
5. Pull the bacon

PS2 'Eyetoy Play'

This works surprisingly well for groups of 4 or 5 kids working as a team. You will need a PS2 with 'Eyetoy' disc and webcam, and either a big TV or (preferably) a projector. Speakers are not strictly necessary for this but add to the fun.

The webcam is mounted high on top of (say) a microphone stand so that a large area of floor is on camera. Teams play the standard eyetoy games against each other ('Wishy-Washy' and 'Kung Fu' are good for this).

This again requires some spe ctating whilst waiting and kids would need to be prevented from straying into or behind the playing area

NB This is high effort to source and set up but makes for a really impressive game - All of the above will only make sense if you are familiar with the concept of 'eyetoy'.

Underwater Arctic Attack

One child is chosen as a 'destroyer' and sits blindfolded on a chair at the head of the hall. The other children are 'submarines' and have to crawl on their bellies (under the level of the ice cap!) until one touches the top wall. The submarines move when the destroyer says "go" and stop when he points and says "stop". The destroyer also has a depth charge (a soft ball) that he can throw only 3 times.

A submarines has to return to the start if he is pointed at, breaches the ice cap, moves after the stop command or is touched by the depth charge.

The winner becomes the new 'destroyer'.

Someone needs to stand by the destroyer to judge his pointing, to spot late movers, ice cap breaches and to pass him back his depth charge.

NB This sounds complicated but I have found it to be very popular with my children's group.

Go-Tag

Everyone sits in a column facing out from the column but alternately facing opposite directions. The person at the top of the column is the first runner and may run in either direction. The person from other end is first chaser and can run either way but must then not change direction.

The chaser can tag anyone sitting in the column on the back and shout “go”. This person then becomes the chaser, and the pervious chaser takes their place in the column.

When the runner is tagged, they sit down at one end of the column, the person at the other end becomes the new chaser, and the old chaser becomes the new runner.

NB A high energy game that but go on for ages.

Wink Murder

The detective is sent out of the room whilst a murderer is chosen.

The detective stands in the centre of the circle whilst the murderer tries to wink at other people in the circle causing them to 'die' in a spectacular manner.

The detective has 3 tries at guessing the identity of the murderer.

NB Simple but popular.

Pull The Bacon

Two teams line up facing each other behind a line (e.g. masking tape). The “bacon” (a sheet) is placed an equal distance from each team.

Each team member is given a number (for the game to work best opposing team members with the same number should be of equal size).

When the caller shouts out a number, the two people need to rush into the centre of the room and pull the bacon back behind their line.

Multiple numbers can be called, which adds to the fun!

NB violence should be discouraged as there is potential for tears with this one!.