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Staying Active on Game Day: Quick Tips and Fun Activities

A man smiling while throwing a football to a friend during a game of catch outdoors, framed by trees. The football is mid-air, adding energy to the scene.

Stay active during game day by playing a quick game of catch with friends, a fun way to get moving in between watching the action.

Game day is all about enjoying football, food, and fun with friends and family, but that doesn’t mean you have to stay sedentary. By incorporating a few simple tips and activities, you can stay active and healthy while still soaking in all the excitement. Whether you're tailgating or watching from home, it’s easy to balance game day enjoyment with fitness by finding creative ways to move throughout the day.

Quick Tips for Getting Extra Steps In

Staying active on game day can be as simple as finding opportunities to move during the natural breaks in the game. These quick tips will help you rack up extra steps while still enjoying all the football action.

Commercial Breaks

Use commercial breaks as a reminder to stand up, stretch, and walk around the room or house. These short bursts of movement add up over the course of the game, helping you stay active without missing any of the excitement.

Halftime Walk

Take advantage of halftime by going for a quick walk around the block. Not only will you get some fresh air and clear your head, but you’ll also log extra steps and feel energized for the second half of the game.

Standing and Pacing

During intense moments, like when your team is about to score, try standing or pacing around the room instead of staying seated. This simple habit can keep your body moving and boost your step count, all while staying fully engaged in the game.

A man laughing and playing a game of cornhole outdoors, throwing a bean bag while his companion smiles in the background. The scene is set at a casual tailgate gathering.

Add fun and movement to your tailgate with active games like cornhole, perfect for keeping everyone engaged and moving while enjoying game day.

Fun Games and Activities for Game Day

Game day doesn’t just have to be about watching football—it’s also a great time to get active with some fun games and activities. These options will keep you moving while adding to the excitement of the day.

Football Toss

Set up a small football toss game in the backyard or even the living room if space allows. You can play during commercial breaks or before the game starts, making it a fun way to stay active and practice your throws. It’s a simple, engaging activity that adds a bit of friendly competition to the day.

Cornhole

Cornhole is a classic tailgating game that’s perfect for keeping people engaged and moving. Set up a cornhole board in your backyard or at your tailgate gathering, and challenge friends and family to a game. It’s a low-impact, active way to enjoy the day while socializing.

Tag or Capture the Flag

For families with kids, organizing a quick game of tag or capture the flag is a great way to burn off energy and keep everyone active. These games are fun, interactive, and get the whole family moving while taking a break from watching the game.

Active Watching Challenges

Watching football doesn’t mean you have to sit still the entire time. Turn the game into an opportunity to get moving with these fun, active watching challenges that will keep you engaged and active during the game.

Exercise During Key Plays

Create a game day challenge by assigning specific exercises to key football events. For example, every time there’s a touchdown, do 10 push-ups; for interceptions, do 20 jumping jacks; and for field goals, perform 15 squats. This simple challenge adds an element of fitness to the game and keeps everyone on their feet during exciting moments.

Fitness Bingo

Add a twist to traditional bingo by creating a fitness bingo game. Each square on the bingo card corresponds to a football event (like a sack, turnover, or penalty), and every time that event happens, participants complete the assigned exercise linked to that square. The first person to complete a row wins! This is a fun way to stay active and keep everyone engaged throughout the game.

A group of excited fans dressed in team colors, walking together with flags and drums, ready to cheer on their team. They are filled with energy and enthusiasm as they make their way to the game.

Make game day even more fun by walking with friends to the stadium or your watch party, getting in some steps while building excitement for the big event.

Staying Active While Tailgating

Tailgating is a big part of the game day experience, and it’s also a great opportunity to stay active. Incorporating fun, interactive games and movement into your tailgate can keep you energized and on the move while enjoying the festivities.

Interactive Tailgate Games

Bring active games like frisbee, ladder toss, or a small soccer ball to your tailgate to keep everyone moving and having fun. These easy-to-set-up games offer a great way to get in some physical activity while enjoying time with friends and family before the game begins. They also add an extra layer of excitement to your tailgate party.

Walking Social Hour

Use the tailgate as a chance to walk around and socialize with different groups. Instead of sitting in one spot, make it a point to circulate and chat with others while getting your steps in. It’s an easy way to increase movement without even realizing it, and it keeps the energy levels high throughout the tailgating experience.

Make Game Day Active and Fun

Staying active on game day doesn’t mean sacrificing the fun—it’s all about finding simple ways to incorporate movement into the excitement of football. From quick tips to get extra steps in, to fun tailgating games and active watching challenges, there are plenty of ways to stay fit while enjoying the game. These small bursts of activity can keep your energy up and make game day even more engaging.

Give these tips and activities a try during your next game day, and share how you stayed active with the BioSource Nutra community. Let’s keep the excitement of football season going strong while staying healthy and fit!

For more tips and tricks for staying healthy, check out these articles:

Football-Inspired Workouts: Get Fit with Football Drills and Exercises

Healthy Tailgating: Snacks and Tips for Football Season

Summer Sips: Healthy Mocktails and Cocktails for Every Gathering