Youth Group Game – Nuke’m

We are always looking for simple games that groups of any size can play which use minimal setup and materials. Nuke’m is a game that has been around for a long time, but it has recently found new life in our youth group. It is simple to learn, easy to play and can be played by groups of various sizes. All you need to play Nuke’m is a volleyball net and a ball.

How To Play Nuke’m

The set up is like this.

Divide into two teams of even amounts and get on opposite sides of the net

Team one starts off by throwing the ball over the net. Our court is marked for volleyball so we say you have to “serve” behind the middle line.

Once the ball crosses the net it should be caught by a member of the other team

Then that player can take up to 2 steps and throw the ball back over the net. Optional The player can also choose to pass it to another player who can throw it back over the net.

A player must throw the ball within 5 seconds

The round is finished when a player fails to catch the ball and the ball hits the ground or the ball goes out of bounds.

At that point the player who was closest to the ball when it hit the ground is out

If the ball is thrown out of bounds, the player who threw the ball is out

The team who’s player went out then starts again by tossing the ball over the net

If a player on a team catches the ball with one hand then one of their players (the first one to get out) can come back in.

Play until one team is eliminated.

That’s it. We have played with 10-15 on a team but we have found it is most fun when you start with 5 or 6 players per side. If we have a larger group we will split and do a tournament or rotate which team is playing.

Variations

You can make up any variation you like to fit your situation and needs. Here are a few to spark some ideas.

Points vs Elimination

If you do not want to have players eliminated you can play for a number of points. If the ball hits the ground our goes out of bounds a point is awarded instead of a player being eliminated. Play to 15 or 21 or any number you desire.

Last Man Standing

In this variation if the last person on a team happens to catch the ball with one hand, their entire team comes back in.

Never Ending Nuke’m

Watch closely the person who got you out. If they get put out then you are back in. Do not use the one hand catch rule in this variation.