Section 7: Violations & Penalties
Leaving the Boundaries
- Any player who steps outside the agreed boundaries is automatically IT (in classic tag) or is considered tagged/frozen (in elimination variants)
- If IT steps outside the boundaries while chasing, the tag does not count and IT must re-enter the play area before resuming
- Repeated boundary violations may result in the player sitting out for one round
Physical Contact Violations
- Pushing: Shoving, pushing, or body-checking another player is prohibited. A player who pushes another player becomes IT as a penalty (or if already IT, the push victim is declared safe).
- Tripping: Deliberately tripping another player results in the offender sitting out for one round and the tripped player being declared safe
- Grabbing: Holding onto another player's clothing, limbs, or body to prevent them from running is prohibited. Tags must be a tap, not a grab.
- Excessive force: Tags should be a light touch, not a hit, slap, or shove. A forceful tag is treated as a push violation.
- Tackling: Tackling is never permitted in any form of tag. A player who tackles is immediately removed from the game for that round.
Hiding and Stalling
- Excessive hiding: In tag variants that do not involve hiding (all except Flashlight Tag), a player who hides and refuses to participate in active play may be called out by the group and given a 10-second warning to rejoin
- Base camping: A player who stays on or near a safe zone for excessive time is given a countdown. After 10 seconds, they must leave the base.
- IT camping a base: IT may not stand directly adjacent to a base and wait for a player to leave. IT must actively chase. If IT is perceived as camping, the group may require IT to move at least 10 feet from the base before a player is required to leave it.
- Refusing to be IT: A player who is clearly tagged but denies it is given one warning. On the second occurrence, they become IT regardless of the dispute.
Cheating and Dishonesty
- Denying a valid tag: Since tag is self-governed, honesty is paramount. A player who consistently denies legitimate tags may be excluded from the game by group vote.
- Pretending to be frozen: In Freeze Tag, a player who pretends to be frozen to avoid being chased, then runs when IT approaches, is tagged and frozen for real.
- False freezing/unfreezing: In Freeze Tag, an unfrozen player who claims to have been frozen (to avoid being chased) is penalized by being frozen for real.
Unsportsmanlike Conduct
- Taunting, name-calling, or deliberately humiliating slower or less skilled players is not tolerated
- Targeting a single player repeatedly when other runners are available ("bullying tag") is discouraged. IT should chase whichever player is nearest or most accessible.
- Deliberately colliding with other players is treated as a physical contact violation
- Persistent unsportsmanlike behavior results in exclusion from the current game