It’s a Knockout games are high-energy team challenges built around inflatables, relay races, foam, water, costumes and friendly competition. For corporate groups, the appeal is simple: teams get a shared task, a clear score, plenty to laugh about and very little time to stand awkwardly on the sidelines.
The classic line-up usually mixes physical games with daft, accessible formats, so the day feels competitive without becoming too serious. This guide explains what those games tend to include, how the event is run, and what HR teams, office managers and team leaders should check before booking.
What It's a Knockout games usually include
A corporate It’s a Knockout event is normally built as a rotating tournament. Teams move between different games, collect points and finish with a winner at the end. The exact line-up can be shaped around the venue, group size, time available and the level of physical activity your team is comfortable with.
The classic mix usually includes:
- Inflatable obstacle courses, where teams climb, crawl, slide and race through large inflatable sections.
- Relay games, where the result depends on passing, collecting, carrying or completing short tasks under time pressure.
- Costume challenges, using oversized suits or novelty props that make movement deliberately awkward.
- Foam and water games, often used in summer events where the brief is relaxed, messy and memorable.
- Head-to-head team rounds, where two or more teams compete at the same time and the spectators become part of the atmosphere.
- A points finale, where the scoreboard, medals or prizes give the day a proper finish.
The best versions do not rely on one big inflatable and a long queue. They use several games, clear rotations and a host who keeps the pace moving.
Need the right game mix for your group?
After you have shortlisted the classic It's a Knockout games, NewWave can help choose a balanced line-up so confident competitors, quieter guests and mixed ability teams all have a way to join in.
The classic inflatable obstacle course
The inflatable obstacle course is often the game people picture first. It gives the event scale, colour and a clear focal point for photos, but it also does useful work for the format. It creates quick team bonding because people cheer, advise and laugh their way through the course together.
For work groups, obstacle rounds should be short enough to keep queues down and simple enough to understand in seconds. Nobody wants a long safety explanation for every turn. Good event teams brief the group, demonstrate the route and then keep the flow tight.
This type of game suits large teams particularly well because it can run in heats. Departments, project teams or mixed groups can compete against the clock, then compare scores on the board. If you are planning a bigger away day, it is worth reading NewWave’s guide to team building for large groups before choosing the final format.
Foam, water and relay rounds
Foam and water rounds are where It’s a Knockout games become properly silly. These might involve slippery surfaces, sponge-style challenges, water transfers, bucket relays or short races where staying neat is not really an option.
They work best when the organiser has been honest with guests in advance. People need to know whether they may get wet, what footwear to wear and whether changing space is available. For a summer fun day, that detail makes the difference between people joining in and people hovering at the edge with concerns about the journey home.
Relay rounds are useful because they spread the effort across the team. A confident runner might complete one section, while someone else handles a balancing task, a collecting challenge or a scoring role. That makes the activity feel more inclusive than a pure race.
Planning a wet or foam-based round?
NewWave can talk through footwear, changing space, guest communications and venue practicalities before you commit to a messy summer format.
Costume games and novelty challenges
Costume games are less about athletic ability and more about shared embarrassment in the safest possible sense. Oversized suits, padded outfits and awkward props change the dynamic quickly because seniority matters less when everyone is waddling, bouncing or trying not to fall over.
For corporate teams, this is often where the social value sits. New starters see managers being human. Departments that rarely mix have an easy reason to talk. People who would not usually volunteer for a sports day may join in because the point is not to look polished.
The organiser should still think about comfort levels. Some people enjoy being the centre of attention, while others prefer supporting from the side, keeping score or cheering the team on. A well-run event gives people a way to contribute without pushing them into a role they will hate.
Scoring, hosting and team rotations
The scoreboard matters because it gives the activity structure. Without scoring, It’s a Knockout can become a collection of inflatables. With scoring, it becomes a tournament that teams can follow, discuss and get invested in.
A typical format starts with a welcome, safety briefing and warm-up. Teams are then sent to their first activity and rotate through the games. Hosts explain each round, keep time, award points and move people on before the energy drops.
Commentary and music can help, but they should support the event rather than drown out instructions. For workplace groups, clear communication is more useful than constant noise. The host needs to be lively enough to create atmosphere and organised enough to keep the timetable on track.
Venue, safety and weather planning
It’s a Knockout games need the right space. Most corporate versions work best outdoors on a suitable grass area, with enough room for inflatables, team movement, spectator space, access for event vehicles and a sensible wet-weather plan. If you are still choosing the location, NewWave’s guide to choosing a team building venue is a useful place to start.
Safety planning should be part of the first conversation, not an afterthought. For inflatable play equipment, the Health and Safety Executive advises checking suitable inspection evidence, operating instructions, anchoring, wind measurement and trained supervision. Its inflatable safety guidance is worth reading if you are responsible for the event internally.
For HR teams and organisers, the practical questions are straightforward: who provides the risk assessment, how many staff will supervise the games, what happens in high winds, what footwear is required, and how will mixed ability groups be handled? A good supplier will answer those questions clearly before you confirm the booking.
How a corporate It's a Knockout day usually runs
The exact schedule depends on your group, venue and timings, but most events follow a clear hosted structure so teams know where to go and what counts.
Brief the group
The Event Manager welcomes guests, explains the format, covers safety points and sets the tone before anyone starts competing.
Split into teams
Teams can be arranged in advance by department, mixed on the day or built around your event goals, such as helping new colleagues meet more people.
Rotate through games
Each team moves between inflatable, relay, costume and head-to-head challenges, with staff positioned on each game to explain the rules.
Track the scores
Points are recorded throughout the event so the competition stays visible and teams have a reason to keep pushing through the later rounds.
Finish with winners
The host brings everyone back together, announces the final scores and awards medals or prizes so the day ends cleanly rather than drifting away.
Plan an It's a Knockout event that fits your team
If you want a lively outdoor team building day with inflatables, relays, costumes and proper event management, NewWave Events can shape the format around your group size, venue and timings. Tell us what you are planning and we will explain what will work, what needs checking and how the day could run.
