How to Play BoardGains - Group Fitness & Physical Education & More!

How to Play BoardGains

Set up BoardGains, choose your Gains Goal, and get everyone moving. Learn the basic rules, then use this guide to run your first match, class, or team workout.

Watch How It Works

HOW BOARDGAINS WORKS

THE GAME IN THREE SIMPLE STEPS

Set Up in Minutes. Play With Almost Any Group. No Complicated Rules.

A fitness goal-setting graphic with a black background, green and white text, and a central grid showing exercise targets: 3 gains for planks, 5 gains for push-ups, and 7 gains for jumping Jacks, with additional exercise callouts around the border.

Choose 3, 5, or 7 Gains based on your workout time. Each time your game piece completes a lap and passes GAINS START HERE, you earn one Gain.

An instructional graphic on a black background with the text 'ROLL. MOVE. Sweat. Repeat.

Roll the dice, move your game piece clockwise, and complete the exercise you land on. Return to the board and repeat until someone reaches the goal.

Promotional graphic on a black background with the text 'REACH YOUR GOAL & WIN!' in white and green. A small illustrated game board and table explain goal gains, with a circular badge reading 'GAINS START HERE'.

Each time your game piece passes GAINS START HERE, mark one Gain on the board. The first player or team to reach the chosen Gains Goal wins.

Teachers & Instructors

WATCH HOW TO SET UP A GAME

Learn how to organize teams, workout spaces, starting positions, and the Gains Goal before class begins.

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO PLAY

A white rectangular panel or mat with a subtle grid pattern, shown against a solid white background.

BOARD

The board guides the workout and tracks each lap.

A minimalist white line-art icon depicting a hexagonal box with rounded corners, representing packaging or a product box, on a solid white background.

DICE

Roll to find out how many spaces to move.

A minimalist white line art illustration of three crowns, likely representing a product like a keycap set, sticker, or graphic print design.

GAME PIECES

Give one piece to each player or team.

A minimalist white icon depicting a star inside a rounded square, outlined in a light gray border, on a solid white background.

LUCKY? CARDS

Draw one whenever you land on a Lucky? space. Can be good or bad.

A minimalist white line-art icon of an hourglass on a solid black background.

SAND TIMER

Use it for the 1 Minute Plank and other timed challenges.

CHOOSE THE GOAL THAT FITS YOUR TIME

HOW LONG DO YOU WANT TO PLAY?

Match times are estimates. Your group size, exercise options, and pace can change the playing time.

A green number 3 above the word GAINS in black bold text on a solid black background.

10–15 MINUTES

A quick game, warm-up, or class finisher.

A bright green number 5 above the word 'GAINS' in bold black capital letters on a solid black background.

15–25 MINUTES

A complete group workout with plenty of movement and competition.

A bright green number 7 above the word 'GAINS' in bold black uppercase letters on a plain white background.

25–35 MINUTES

A longer session for groups ready for a bigger challenge.

START TO FINISH

YOUR BOARDGAINS SESSION: START TO FINISH

The board provides the exercise sequence. Follow these nine steps to prepare your group and run the session.

A black minimalist stick figure performing a stretching pose on a white background, with a bright green number 1 in the top left corner.

STEP 1: WARM UP

Start with a quick warm-up to get everyone ready to move.

A green number 2 icon positioned in the upper left corner above a black icon representing a group of three people, set against a solid white background.

STEP 2: CHOOSE HOW YOU’RE PLAYING

Choose individual play or team play. Smaller groups can give every player a game piece, while larger groups can divide into teams and share one piece per team.

A black-and-white fitness icon showing a standing figure pointing toward a person in a plank position, with a green number 3 in the upper left on a white background.

STEP 3: REVIEW THE EXERCISES

Demonstrate any exercises that are new to your group. Practice a few reps together, review proper form, and show easier or lower-impact options when needed.

STEP 4: REVIEW THE BOARD

Explain that completing a lap and passing GAINS START HERE earns one Gain, which is marked on the Gains Tracker.

Review the special spaces. Land on Lucky? to draw a card and follow its instructions—it may be good or bad. Use the sand timer for 1 MINUTE PLANK. GO TO PLANK sends the piece backward to the 1 MINUTE PLANK space. CIRCUIT CHALLENGE means completing all three exercises before rolling again.

A green number 5 and a black target icon with an arrow in the center, shown on a plain white background.

STEP 5: CHOOSE YOUR GAINS GOAL

Choose a goal that fits your available gameplay time:

3 Gains: About 10–15 minutes
5 Gains: About 15–25 minutes
7 Gains: About 25–35 minutes

Each completed lap past GAINS START HERE earns one Gain. Times are estimates and vary with group size, pace, and exercise choices.

A digital icon featuring a green number six above a black silhouette graphic of a group of five people and two chess pawns, set against a solid white background.

STEP 6: SET UP PLAYERS OR TEAMS

Give each player or team one game piece and a clear workout area. Write each player or team name on the board’s Gains Tracker using the dry-erase marker. For team play, choose a Captain and Co-Captain.

A black die icon showing a 7, with a green number 7 in the upper left on a white background.

STEP 7: SET STARTING POSITIONS

Place every game piece on GAINS START HERE. Each player or team rolls once and moves clockwise to its starting exercise. Everyone then moves to their workout area and waits for the countdown.

STEP 8: START THE GAME

Once everyone is in position, count down: 3… 2… 1… GAINS! Everyone starts together.

Complete the exercise shown on your space, then return to the board, roll, move clockwise, and repeat. Teams complete their full exercise total before the Captain and Co-Captain return for the next roll.

A black trophy icon with a white star in the center, a green number 9 in the upper left, and black radiating lines around the base, shown on a light gray background.

STEP 9: EARN GAINS & CROWN THE WINNER

Each time a piece completes a lap and passes GAINS START HERE, mark one Gain beside that player or team’s name. The first player or team to reach the chosen Gains Goal wins.

A digital graphic showing a central electronic board labeled 'BOARDGANS' surrounded by four colored team icons (green, blue, orange, purple) representing Team 1 through Team 4, with dashed lines and '7-10 FT' labels on a dark basketball court background.

SET UP YOUR PLAY AREA

Give Every Team a Piece and a Place to Move

For 20 players, create four teams of five. Place the board in the centre and create a workout zone about 7–10 feet away for each team. Cones or floor markers are optional and can help make each workout zone clear.

Every team shares one game piece and completes its exercises inside its designated workout zone.

TEAM PLAY FOR LARGER GROUPS

After a team completes its exercise total, the Captain and Co-Captain return to the board:

Captain: Rolls the dice and moves the team’s game piece.
Co-Captain: Checks the move and helps announce the next exercise.
Team Members: Stay in the workout zone and share the exercise total.

Only the two team leaders approach the board. Both return to their workout zone after the next exercise is announced.

View the Full Team Setup

SET UP A LARGE GROUP IN FOUR STEPS

This setup reduces traffic around the board while keeping every player involved.

A digital icon depicting three dark gray silhouettes of people, with a bright green number '1' in the top-left corner, set against a solid white background.

1. FORM YOUR TEAMS

Use 2–4 teams per board. For 20 players, four teams of five keeps everyone involved.

A green number 2 icon next to a black dashed square outline with a green chess pawn centered at the bottom, on a white background.

2. CREATE TEAM ZONES

Place each team about 7–10 feet from the board, adjusting the distance to suit your space. If helpful, use cones or floor markers to identify each workout zone.

A digital icon featuring a black silhouette of a person with a white star inside a black circle on the lower right, alongside a bright green number '3' on the upper left, set against a solid white background.

3. ASSIGN TEAM ROLES

Choose a Captain and Co-Captain so the full team does not crowd the board.

4. ROTATE THE ROLES

Switch leaders after each Gain so everyone gets an opportunity to lead.

A black graphic with green and white text explaining a 100-square total for 5 players, using white stick-figure icons labeled with different square counts (25, 25, 20, 15, 15).

EVERYONE CONTRIBUTES

HOW TEAM REPS WORK

Multiply the listed reps by the number of players on the team. That becomes the team’s total.

Example: Your team lands on 20 squats.

5 players × 20 squats = 100 total squats.

Divide the total among the team in a way that suits your group. When all reps are complete, both leaders return to the board for the next move.

BEFORE YOU PLAY

SHOW IT. PRACTICE IT. MODIFY IT.

A quick exercise review builds confidence, improves form, and keeps the game moving.

A group of young athletes in a gymnasium setting, with one person crouching in the foreground and others standing behind a table displaying a 'Boardgains' board game. The gym features wooden floors, blue walls, and athletic banners.

1. SHOW IT

Demonstrate the movement and proper form.

A group of people participating in a fitness or yoga class inside a gymnasium, with a coach standing and demonstrating exercises. A folding table in the foreground displays a 'Boardgains' Fitness game.

2. PRACTICE IT

Have everyone practice a few reps together.

A group of young athletes stands on a school gymnasium floor watching a coach demonstrate a fitness or training exercise on a bench. In the foreground, a folding table displays a 'Boardgains' Fitness Game.

3. MODIFY IT

Give an easier or lower-impact option.

NEED MORE HELP?

WE’LL HELP YOU RUN THE GAME

A spiral-bound exercise guide book titled 'BOARDGAINS EXERCISE GUIDE' on a clean white background. The cover is predominantly black with bold green and white text, and includes small exercise demonstration photos in a grid near the bottom.

COMPLETE EXERCISE GUIDE

Movement demonstrations, coaching tips, modifications, and form reminders.

DOWNLOAD THE EXERCISE GUIDE

A spiral-bound booklet titled 'BOARDGAVNS PE QUICK START' shown on a plain white background. The cover is predominantly black with green accents, a central photo of a basketball court, and a green cartoon mascot.

PE Quick Start Guide

A simple plan for introducing BoardGains to your class.

DOWNLOAD THE PE GUIDE

KNOW THE BOARD

WHAT HAPPENS ON SPECIAL SPACES?

GAINS START HERE

Collect one Gain every time you complete a lap and pass this space.

A circular graphic with a black center, a large white question mark, the word 'LUCKY' in white at the bottom, and a bright teal ring around the circle on a white background.

LUCKY? SPACE

Draw a Lucky? card and follow its instructions it can be good or bad. Cards marked PLAY THIS CARD may be saved for later.

A circular graphic with a black center, a bright teal ring, and white text reading “100 HIGH KNEES,” plus a large white exclamation mark on a black background.

CIRCUIT CHALLENGE OR 100 HIGH KNEES

For circuit challenge complete all three exercises shown in the circuit before rolling again. For high knees complete 100 high knees before rolling again.