The Covelico Blog

By Debbie, Covelico founder · degree-qualified in human movement and nutrition, with 15+ years supporting active, healthy habits in families · 6 min read

The easiest way to plan a school field day is to choose your equipment first, then build the games around it — not the other way round. Gear-first planning means every station you design is one you can actually run, and multi-use gear means fewer boxes to buy, carry, and count back in at the end.

This guide lists the core field day equipment — cones, rings, and bean bags, plus a few extras — with game ideas for each piece and a simple setup checklist for teachers. Most stations here run on basic, low-cost active-play equipment such as the Covelico Ring Toss Game 3-in-1 set (6 cones, 12 rings, and 12 bean bags).

Field day equipment checklist

• Cones — markers, targets, and course-builders
• Rings — for tossing, relays, and stacking
• Bean bags — for target games and balance races
• A storage bag — to move and reset stations fast
• Optional extras: chalk, a whistle, and a stopwatch

Cones — games and setup

1. Cone weave relay — teams slalom through a line of cones and back.
2. Obstacle course markers — use cones to mark turns, jumps, and crawl zones.
3. Knock the cone — toss a bean bag to tip a lightweight cone.
4. Zone markers — set boundaries and safe zones for tag-style games.

Rings — games and setup

1. Ring toss over cones — the classic station; score by rings landed.
2. Ring relay run — carry a ring, drop it over a cone, run back, and tag.
3. Quoits stacking race — stack the most rings on a cone before time runs out.
4. Color-match sort — younger classes sort and toss rings by color.

Bean bags — games and setup

1. Target toss — land bean bags in or near cone targets for points.
2. Balance race — walk a course with a bean bag on your head.
3. Toss-in-the-zone — teams alternate throws at a target zone for points.
4. Hot potato — pass fast until the whistle, for a quick movement break.

Setup checklist for teachers

• Plan one station for every 4 to 6 students, then rotate.
• Allow 5 to 8 minutes per station before rotating groups.
• Rule of thumb: one 3-in-1 set covers 3 stations (ring toss, bean bag toss, cone course).
• Pack each station into its own bag for a fast reset next year — future you will be grateful.

Budget note

You do not need a big equipment order to run a full field day. One Covelico Ring Toss Game set — 6 cones, 12 rings, 12 bean bags — covers three of the stations above and packs into a single storage bag. Use code 20COVELICOCG for 20% off.

FAQ

What equipment do you need for a field day? At a minimum: cones, rings, and bean bags. Those three cover ring toss, target games, relays, and obstacle courses — most of a field day rotation.

How many cones and bean bags do you need per class? A rough guide is one station per 4 to 6 students. One 3-in-1 set (6 cones, 12 rings, 12 bean bags) runs about three stations.

What are some cheap field day equipment ideas? Buy multi-use gear. Cones, rings, and bean bags each run several different games, so one set replaces a cupboard of single-purpose props.

Can you run a field day indoors? Yes. Soft rings and bean bags with shorter distances turn a gym or hall into an indoor field day for wet-weather days.

Cover three field day stations with one box — the Covelico Ring Toss Game (3-in-1 set), 20% off on Amazon US with code 20COVELICOCG.

About Covelico: Covelico makes screen-free, active-play toys and PE equipment for kids aged 3 to 12 — ring toss and bean bag sets, hopscotch rings, exercise and yoga dice, movement cards, juggling and footbag sets, and play scarves. Covelico is made for families, teachers, PE specialists, occupational therapists, and homeschoolers who want kids moving instead of on screens.

Keep reading: 12 Games to Play With Cones and Rings · How to Set Up a Ring Toss Game for a Kids' Party