What you’re taking on
Straight answers on supervision, paperwork and what happens if something goes wrong. Less than you probably fear.
Who does what
One person handles the booking. After that, the day belongs to the teams.
The group coordinator
One to begin with. You can add more.
- Can add other coordinators to share the job or hand it on
- Registers the group and re-registers each year
- Chooses your Start Zone
- Adds every player, including all adults and leaders
- Sorts players into teams and pays for the lot
- Collects the group’s badges on the day, or nominates someone else to do it
The team, out on the day
With or without a leader, depending on age. A team with anyone under 14 always has a leader with it.
- Checks in together at the Start Zone at the allocated time
- Decides its own route, its own pace and when to stop
- Agrees between themselves which phone does the check-ins
- Contacts HQ if anything goes wrong
- Makes the meeting point the group agreed beforehand
Teams go out separately. That’s the whole idea.
This is not a group walk. Each team of up to seven plays its own game, against its own set of rivals, on its own route. Bring four teams and you will have four teams scattered across London doing four completely different things.
So work out your leader cover before you book. If three of your teams need an adult with them, that is three leaders, not one at the front of a crowd.
It matters at the start too. Only the team that’s about to go should be at the Start Zone, ten minutes before their slot. Everyone else holds back and walks up when their own turn comes.
Who needs an adult with them
This is the part we hold firm on. Work it out while you’re planning teams and the rest of the day takes care of itself.
Any team with an under-14
At least one leader goes out with that team. One is the minimum, not a cap.
Explorer and Ranger teams
They don’t need a leader in the team itself. They can’t be sent to London on their own though, so a leader has to be in London on the day and reachable if they’re needed.
Scout Network & Guiding Inspire
Scout Network and Guiding Inspire members are already adults, so the supervision rules don’t apply to them. They can come as a team on their own.
Bring as many leaders as you like
There’s no limit beyond the team’s own size. Every adult has to be added to the booking the same as any other player.
Leaders can have their own team
If your leaders would rather play than supervise, they can enter as a team of their own.
Nobody under 10
Ten is the youngest anyone can be to take part.
The practical bits
Staffed throughout the run. Put it in your phone before Saturday, not on the day.
Travel
Everyone needs a travelcard or ticket covering zones 1 and 2. Sort this before you arrive.
Running late?
Ring HQ. The game can’t be held for you and a late start puts your team at a slight disadvantage, but we’d rather know.
Lunch
There’s no set lunch break. Teams stop when it suits their route, and most grab something on the move.
The end of the day
There’s no return to the Start Zone. Agree your own meeting point with your group before you set off.