How tag became a professional sport

How do you make a classic children’s game into a sport? The founders of World Chase Tag figured it out.
Check out their KZbin channel for more:
/ @worldchasetag
And check out JimmytheGiant’s channel (Kieren Owen) for expert parkour videos:
/ @jimmythegiant
Correction: At 2:13, we wrote Parkour DBX. It should read "Parkour DXB."
Christian Devaux and Damien Devaux founded World Chase Tag after being inspired by their own backyard games of tag. From there, it grew from a hobby into a sport with an athletic talent pool - parkour athletes - that had long been ignored. Now there are terms, strategies, and even a media infrastructure surrounding the classic playground game.
Strategies for World Chase Tag draw from the parkour tradition but also from influences as varied as ball sports and gymnastics. It’s a game that’s quickly developing a vocabulary, from “idling” to “herding,” as well as unique personalities. Recently, World Chase Tag made its American television debut on NBC SN.
But for the Devaux brothers, it all stems from that initial passion for a backyard game that was exciting enough to become a sport watched by millions.
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[@cianleonizoabad]

No, you tagged my shirt

[@WorldChaseTag]

DTR Mate - Disputed Tag Review!

[@vadimcheburik4676]

Lol

[@andrewchatterton8594]

Hello

[@d1rt408]

@@WorldChaseTag lol

[@user-ty2fm3ge9m]

Yeah, and your shirt tagged you.

[@aaronburratwood.6957]

This is just the natural progression of parkour, I’ve never heard of tag at this level but as soon as I watched the first minute it made perfect sense.

[@tristanmoller9498]

The concept seems more like a natural progression of tag. Natural progression of parkour would probably be more incredible stunts or things like flips from diving boards or off of cliffs, skydiving off of large buildings, that you climbed up to or bungee jumping off of them. Climbing up high buildings or bridges is something, that seems like someone, who did parkour would progress to. It needed tag players to come up with this as a professional sport. They invited parkour runners but they didn’t do parkour themselves. This is due to the reason that one guy, who did parkour, noted. In parkour, everything is kind of planned out before you do it. Two parkour guys deciding to play an intuitive game of tag; That decision would fundamentally change the activity, unlike two tag players deciding to run around obstacles, who still essentially play tag. Parkour runners just happen to be good at this.

[@kshatriya1414]

The natural progression of Parkour would be to Freerun.

[@AntonAdelson]

I was surprised to learn that the people who had thought of it were not actually traceurs themselves!

[@AntonAdelson]

Reach/escape were the basics of parkour from the first beginning!

[@TheAcdcninja]

@@tristanmoller9498 but towards the end one of the guys says “parkour people always said we were training, but what for? It seemed like this was for chasing or running away” This sport gave people with a “technically pointless” skill the perfect thing to apply their knowledge and ability to. It’s like humans probably kicked stones around for thousands of years before anyone ever thought, “you know... we could be kicking these into a net?”

[@Kickinit-7]

These are the kids in gym class when the teacher said “let’s jog”. They full out ran

[@lauren23160]

😂 so true

[@joshjones3733]

I take offense to that

[@vnpproduction2194]

Well, of course I know him. He's me.

[@flyrehash5124]

These are the kids on the street when the police said “hands up!” They full out ran

[@unakgopa5116]

The ACCURACY in this statement!!

[@gojiplusone]

This is the only sport that gives point for defending. That's why I love it.

[@shimnakt955]

KABADDI : am I a joke to you

[@gojiplusone]

Just watched a video explaining Kabaddi rules. Still don't really get it, but already loving its rumble and tumble nature. Thx for the suggestion.

[@priyanshudubey4371]

@@gojiplusoneIn KABADDI Your team will get one point if your team will caught player and don't let him go back till breath breaks (and two points if there are three or less people defending). You will also get point if raider (attacker) goes back without crossing a line which is about quarter( actually less than quarter) of whole court .

[@priyanshudubey4371]

@@galihindra5901 it like , they don't raid in one breath but they say kabaddi kabaddi continuously and the rhythm should not be broken.

[@Raky2427]

@@galihindra5901 the player has to say kabadi over and over again. If he stops saying kabadi, he has lost his breath

[@fqidz]

"So what's your job" I am a professional in tag

[@redxstudios2565]

so how fast do you run?

[@radium7662]

or professional tag llaer

[@poltronafrau]

I tag team

[@mho...]

life goals!

[@eee8891]

name is n... pfp is m... *confusion noises*

[@Crimit]

If these athletes aren't officially called "Pro-Tag-onists" I'm losing all hope in humanity

[@heavenascended]

You win.

[@ANTSEMUT1]

Lol same.

[@PhoebeFayRuthLouise]

Best comment ever!

[@captivatingares7429]

*BANGER. COMMENT*

[@elius1548]

i NEED it

[@ruthbajela1246]

I could see myself smashing my teeth in playing this🙃

[@jamescharcoal3472]

Holy- I swear you comment had 195 likes, and it changed to 206! Cool! 2.2K now!

[@prestonmatthews725]

Teeth and shins. It’s a no for me. Lol. Unless I have shin guards and mouth guard

[@BryanLee]

All those metal bars, haha. This looks like so much fun but all I could think of is how quickly will I knock myself out playing this?

[@BryanLee]

But provided I'd be wearing full protective gear (at least a helmet, mouth guard, elbow pads, and shin guards), I would love to try this. Surprised it wasn't a pro sport sooner.

[@marsjoseph_7702]

699th like

[@qzeta7701]

Probably will be one of the most exciting sports to watch at the olympics

[@WorldChaseTag]

I agree!

[@randomgamer3964]

@@WorldChaseTag probably the only game I will watch in the olympics

[@ResourceDiary]

Yes, this and Breaking/Breakdancing will be interesting to watch next Olympics!

[@cameronbukoski7059]

@@WorldChaseTag Yeah I definitely think as time goes on this sport will get more and more respected and might actually be included in the Olympics one day.

[@realtalk6195]

@@ResourceDiary Breakdancing comes in at 2024 Summer Olympics, not the next one.

[@ashikrasool6609]

The World Chase Tag champion's child: ahaha, Dad, you're it! The champion: You picked the wrong house, fool

[@getmeto100ksoyoutubehastog5]

He probably won’t “get milk” while he’s it though

[@읏-s2w]

-oop

[@justanonymous3632]

🤣🤣🤣

[@KOKOBC]

If the child is able to get them in the first place, then the dad is probably going easy on them

[@qwertyTRiG]

@@KOKOBC Said child has now gone on to become a respected parkour traceur.

[@mikeyandoc8981]

These people are going to be terrifying if a zombie apocalypse occurs.

[@d1rt408]

Lol i get the joke, hahahahha its so funny

[@amankodimela8499]

@@d1rt408 thanks

[@d1rt408]

@@amankodimela8499 umm ok

[@d1rt408]

@@amankodimela8499 your welcome

[@KM41867]

@@d1rt408 Thanks

[@clairen2343]

i’m waiting for hide and seek to become a competitive sport

[@shimnakt955]

Lol

[@art_san_nav]

Watch Portlandia

[@hofniamwaalwa3724]

😂😂

[@xBx3xAxSxT]

my dad is world champion, not found him in 24 years

[@Elmo-nl3ef]

@@ichijofestival2576 i spit out my choccy milk 😅

[@TheCreativeNomad]

I had to do a double take when I saw this in my Vox feed. This sport is so underrated!! I’ve been going to the World Chase Tag Finals every year in London and the skill of these athletes is mind- boggling. These guys literally fly. Who knows, if breakdancing can be added to the Olympics then one day this may be added too.

[@WorldChaseTag]

Thanks for your support - sorry we couldn't do one in London 2020 due to the ban on international travel, but in 2021 we'll be back in London!

[@Vibrantly_Monochromatic]

Breakdancing was added recently

[@AntonAdelson]

How much is entry??

[@shauleen]

OMD!!! First I am hearing of this game! Where in London? Will add this to new experiences for 2021😊

[@GoofRebelMusic]

@@Vibrantly_Monochromatic Whoa! Are any other dance styles an Olympic sport?

[@imperialguardsman5929]

For all the people who thinks this is weird. Remember, people used to feel the same way about a bunch of boys kicking ball turning into a professional sport.

[@Nugcon]

true

[@Egilhelmson]

False, as that goes back to at least the Middle Ages. Using an inflated ball as opposed to a severed head, now THAT was weird.

[@JarLoz]

The incredible thing about competitive tag, is that even though at first you might think it sounds silly, the moment you see it in action you understand it. The athleticism, the drama, the speed, it's all so very clear and approachable from a spectator's viewpoint. I think competitive tag might become a pretty big thing in the future.

[@harshits6960]

The person on left of the interview looks like an older Tom Scott!

[@fruitygarlic3601]

It's him from the future: this is where his career will inevitably lead.

[@jonathanb.7481]

just what i thought!

[@pisanvs]

I WAS GONNA COMMENT THIS OMG

[@jaret703]

r/rareinsults

[@MedlifeCrisis]

Kabaddi + World Chase Tag court = now you're talking

[@kevinxu3892]

Extreme kabaddi? The MMA of Kabaddi?

[@technodestination4763]

Kabbadi league with obstacles

[@anandaditya479]

That's interesting!!! Multiple evaders with a bigger obstacle court would be fun to watch. Size of two teams would reduce as the evaders are caught. Just wondering if the evaders would tackle the chaser after the tag and he needs to return to his side...

[@joshuadxlee]

eye, nice seeing you here medlife

[@mildsoup8978]

Omg yes!

[@mdu__Africa]

I've been waiting for this all my life. Finally a sport I'm actually good at.

[@mrappu2884]

I used to play but had stopped for quite a while..all the best man...

[@abby-a]

🤣🤣🤣

[@WorldChaseTag]

Let's go Mr. Gumbo!

[@millionsofmarks]

I foresee this to become an olympic event in the near future. Bring back childhood memories

[@signature_1172]

Anyone remember playing tag in school and always one annoying kid saying no tagbacks even when you tagged him like 30 seconds after

[@FyerBear]

Every person that disputes a tag is this guy

[@germ-x6855]

Tagbacks are the only way to play imo

[@galaleo1531]

We played team tag (You catch someone and you stay tagged)

[@galaleo1531]

But there was that guy that says no 2 on 1

[@pasta1998]

@@galaleo1531 i remember so many different way we use to play it was so fun like bridge tag frozen tag team as u say

[@MMPK]

As someone who's been working with World Chase Tag from the start and is a massive fan of Vox this video means a lot! Cheers Vox 🙌🔥

[@mo_guled]

This looks kinda fun imagine making a living from this

[@maga6403]

Mvxmdvmsvclsycslhcskgxaitxksvak Svjshavj hchclshcfk

[@transparentsunflower8295]

I imagine I would be exhausted lol

[@galaleo1531]

That would be so fun

[@maga6403]

Mgxlgxlgdltdñtdltzltdlhxlhfñqhxñhxqlyfwñyfñwywfwñywhxjwmbmbwnwvhwxlhwxñwhwxñhxwlhxwlyfwñyfpwydwlyxwycuwgio

[@sonofapollo6814]

You should work chase tage Europe.. you definitely would love it

[@HIHIHJIHIHIH]

Looks like I won't get bored watching this kind of sport.

[@pokemasterx4244]

You definitely don't get bored

[@MedlifeCrisis]

Jimmy the Giant!!

[@queeng508]

crisis! you're here! just like a normal person! (ps. hope you're safe and love your contents mate)

[@googaa4751]

amazing content btw

[@Vox]

Link: kzbin.info/door/WYRT-NhEqkZ_afrqEgxYOQ

[@B75-u7c]

@@Vox Tf?

[@johnsmithington3167]

@@B75-u7c right?

[@spinakker14]

We all used to come up with games as children. These guys brought this to a professional and genuinely fun sport

[@behindyou702]

The founders of chase tag are entrepreneurial geniuses! They took a niche market that had no outlet or goal and gave it meaning. I applaud them and wish them luck

[@justinhsu3253]

Ah, the sport I watch at 2 a.m. suggested by KZbin algorithm.

[@WorldChaseTag]

Always at 2:00am.

[@dojusticelovemercy1]

"PARKOUR!" -Michael Scott

[@EddyOToole]

This will be an Olympic Sport. That compelling line at the end about how this is something that /ALL/ humans do, oof.

[@matthiasschaus5112]

Woah this looks fun. I hope their league can make it financially through the pandemic.

[@JackobJackob32]

15 years ago, we were playing TAG regularily in the classroom, the obsacles were: chairs, tables, random moving people. The rules were just like this. If you want to evolve the sport I reccomend adding: -soft movable objects -ropes from the ceiling -trampolines - walls so that evader can bounc of the wall

[@FyerBear]

Sounds exactly like a game show that already exists, this is a sport

[@SmileyDude909]

That does feel like it’s overcomplicating it, but nice ideas!

[@safutora7778]

Hmmm moveable objects is kinda overcomplicating.. but the ropes is prolly will be a good obstacle if they decided to bigger the arena

[@LINKedup101]

No walls, because if you go out you lose the match. Ropes would slow things down and make injuries more likely I think. Trampolines would do the same, and movable objects makes it too gamey vs a sport

[@alishernarykov]

Now I’m watching World Tag Championship. Thank you! That seems like THE MOST Entertaining Sports I’ve ever seen in my life

[@LashanR]

I used to do parkour and this is awesome, it's literally a sportified version of what parkour trains you for - getting away from someone/thing.

[@marcelbruinsma]

The thing I liked the most during gym at school. Ofcourse the whole class was chased by one chaser.

[@totallynotjeff7748]

That's usually how it works, but rules have to be altered I guess.

[@irrelevance3859]

Tig family? That’s how my friends liked to play it. We played normal tig but tig family is where once one person is tagged they become the chaser too and chase the remaining until one person remains who is the winner. It got pretty intense.

[@marcelbruinsma]

@@irrelevance3859 T.b.h. I can't remember.

[@I-OMusic]

Those 3d graphics were a really good call, way to explain something that looks complicated simply and easily

[@Alessandro-rk2ms]

Kindergarten has prepared me for this. Where do I sign up?

[@aaaa4092]

Me: I want my personal time Every college roommate:

[@zachdelcarmen3514]

Im glad world chase tag is getting more attention! Its very entertaining to watch🔥🔥🔥

[@WorldChaseTag]

Cheers Zach.

[@bluetoes591]

Wow. That is the purest sport. Nothing else compares. I hope this gets big, I'd watch this.

They turned something children do into something interesting for adults.

[@birdsamora9925]

Adults stop playing

[@j.d.leston4666]

This have some serious ESPN “The Ocho” vibes

[@qwertyTRiG]

It's been there since! They did a live broadcast from WCT USA 2021, presented by an American football player.

[@MoBahar687]

Just checked out some matches and I’m already hooked!

[@WorldChaseTag]

Cheers Mo. We'll start releasing the the matches from WCT USA at the end of this month.

[@sky3_ow]

@@WorldChaseTag where do you livestream the matches? ( If you livestream at all)

[@Amanda-zn7ox]

And I just watched the anime "The Promised Neverland" yesterday. They took tag to a whole new level in that. The evolution makes sense.

[@ahikie]

Im watching videos on how to strategize and how to play tag because of TPN lol

[@akashdeb5201]

*I actually watched this sport on You Tube .....it really was Entertaining. Now, all depends on Organising Committee to make this popular....*

[@zil1832]

Should happen in India.

[@ArturNagy]

I'm rooting for Damien and Christian and the whole World Chase Tag, it's such an exciting sport and it's just amazing that they managed to grow it this big starting from their backyard.

[@aarontelander]

I want to “Moneyball” this sport so badly. Any other statheads wanna tackle analysis of WCT?

[@ratedpending]

yes.

[@KTC88]

I’m so down for that!!

[@Vernardo]

Well, it seems I might planned to promoted it!

[@qwertyTRiG]

They've actually produced trading cards for some of the American players, showing chase and evasion stats.

[@niannFools]

One of the most amazing sport that completed my quarantine. Watched many of this

[@QQ-rx9xp]

This really reminds me of how we used to play tag at my schoolyard as kids. We had a HUGE yard with a big forest connected to it, so we used to play tag over this huge area, like 15 kids running around until we got bloodtaste in our mouth. Every lunch break. Day after day. Good times. (But sometimes quite toxic. ) Thank you all for reading my nostalgic rant.

[@jasonsender6568]

More importantly, I’ve never seen a UK house with an outdoor pool before.

[@WorldChaseTag]

Doesn't get much use!

[@snowballicious1161]

Quarantine: 6 feet apart taken to the extreme

[@kaydenanthony7342]

As a parkour coach and someone who has actually participated in chase tag it is amazing to see one of my favourite channels dedicating an 18 minute video to this topic

[@sonaffe2248]

Imagine how good Kids could be, if they are fast and they can get through the obstacles so much quicker since they are so tiny

[@bestgun9994]

No they wouldn't. Their bodies haven't grown up yet so they would be very weak and slow. There could be a separate thing for kids where the field is smaller and the obstacles are smaller.

[@sonaffe2248]

@@bestgun9994 Probably yeah, but there would still be some prodigys just like in breakdancing, skateboarding or even parkour. If genetics and work ethic would be right there could be athletes with a prime lasting from middle school to their late 20's haha

[@jacobarcher1097]

@@sonaffe2248 it possibly has a similar range of ages that would be good at is as climbing comps have as you see some 16 year olds absolutely crushing it in them sometimes

[@qwertyTRiG]

@@bestgun9994 You'd probably want smaller obstacles, too. The Mountain and the Ridge are both tall enough that I wouldn't be happy seeing a small child running over them.

[@sleepdeprivation1016]

Finally this thing got attention because for some reason I've been watching this. A lot last year idk why but it got in my recommendation got curious and watched it and got hooked for some freaking reason. Its sick and fun

[@jaxteller4978]

Lets be honest, we're all gonna watch a "Best of World Chase Tag" after this video 😉

[@WorldChaseTag]

TBH, I'm not even sure the 'Best Of' videos are the best. We do make a 'Best Chase Compilation' at the end of each event but my favourite videos are high scoring close matches. Happy watching.

[@ZFanz]

@@WorldChaseTag bruh

[@Egilhelmson]

No, but Jeremy Renner (Avengers Hawkeye) was in a 2018 film (“Tag”, unoriginally) about an older group of friends who had been playing yearly for decades. I might rewatch that.

[@dariuspk2850]

Pls do more of this Vox, WCT is a huge part of the parkour world and our world needs more recognition. 🙏🙏

[@Juuk-D]

Imagine a kid asking what your job is and you say "play tag" and his face just lights up like "wow can I do that too?"

[@I-OMusic]

The absolute quality of this journalism, I'm so impressed

[@tchaffman]

The Olympics just added breakdancing to the 2024 Olympics to appeal to the youths... But honestly I'd much rather see something like this in the Olympics 😅

[@jameson1239]

I’d love to see this as an Olympic event

[@adityajadhav1808]

I'm so happy this is a big thing now, I remember accidentally coming across their channel when they had something like 10k subscribers. Way go WCT!

[@leottori692]

the sound team in this video deserves a praise. Good job, I love it!

[@ellioteriksson7696]

Do you know the song name, of the music that starts when they,re explaning the sport. That music had me vibin on new level

[@canonogic]

The passion just oozes out the 2 of these. Wish them nothing but the best with WCT

[@JAmes-BoNDOO7]

These brought back memories of getting lectured by my mom for coming with torn clothes after playing tag.

[@narukoazuma7596]

Was it really that intense? 😳

[@I-OMusic]

Been following WTC for years now, so good to see Vox covering it

[@terrainvictus1210]

Ah I remember that time when we play tag as kids. Fun times indeed.

[@elizabethtumifabiyi4628]

Imagine how awesome it would be to flip around on that obstacle course playing tag with your friends. I really hope more recreational chase tag gyms open up in the rest of the world, this could be so much fun.

[@juan8593]

POV: You woke up for class checked your phone 📲 watching this now

[@tsaraura9549]

You mastermind

[@alexx34th]

Online class?

[@raahullsngh3631]

Nope its late evening here

[@BigBang28A]

where i'm living, its night, and even if it was day, we already have holidays

[@Bledderswempie]

nah

[@ulisesorizaga]

I’ve never, ever in my life interested in a sport but this. This is so pure so fun so intuitive and something so nostalgic! I love this! I can finally say I’m into a sport!

[@qwertyTRiG]

It seems to have that effect on a lot of people. It certainly did on me.

[@toussc]

Tag in my head, when I was 10

[@WorldChaseTag]

HaHa. Me too!

[@nishkp99]

THANK YOU FOR MAKING A VIDEO ON WORLD CHASE TAG

[@biasalt5209]

alternative tite: "How to be the best getaway criminal"

[@karlamay_]

Why do I feel like bumping my head and tripping already just by watching?

[@prestorock23]

I love how simple, yet elegant this sport is.

[@michelofelia7735]

Wow this is underatted yet very remarkable

[@trumpetperson11]

That looks like so much fun.

[@0xF00F00]

As intense as boxing, but not as unhealty -- love it

[@Nindota]

13:50 someone needs to animate that

[@WorldChaseTag]

true

[@SamMartinPeakPerformance]

baha - be the best animation ever

[@arjl880]

Love that this is finally getting some attention....it's quite entertaining to watch

[@kennethiofi3839]

Now they need a parkour race as a sport

[@hectorvega621]

True, I wonder how that wasn't the first thing, but tag is decent.

[@FyerBear]

Check out Sport Parkour League!

[@Jonago.]

Yay for World Chase Tag recognition!

[@skrtskrt9513]

To be honest this looks fun.

[@confuciuslola]

I didn't expect it to be this engaging and action packed!

[@flyingcatpack]

I love this, it's so pure

[@WorldChaseTag]

1 Chaser - 1 Evader - 20 Seconds - Don't Get Caught!

[@just_barry]

thank you vox for helping the parkour community grow bigger

[@Madrex13]

Finally my KZbin recommendations are being explained

[@DanteYewToob]

All it takes to invent a new sport is creativity, and willpower. People invent new games, turn old games into sports, or adapt fictional games into real life all the time! It’s always interesting to see how back yard fun becomes a whole industrialized sport through sheer will and love of the game!

[@johnnyfavorite1194]

Do the standard rules apply of triple stamps, no erasies, touch blue make it true, or can you not triple stamp a double stamp?

[@felixkjornsberg]

Me watching this as a swede with one rule being don't get tagged: _yes_

[@jean-luceyesofyoureyes5502]

Huh???

[@dr.howiefeltersnatch9914]

Johnny, aren't you confusing "Tag" with "Sticks & Melons"?

[@bantoniow]

Hey, finally a sport where your parkour skills might be useful!

[@krisppynugget]

I only knew about this sport before this vid because I was in that weird part of KZbin again lol

[@WorldChaseTag]

That's the best part!

[@blakegranquist481]

At first I thought it was just really cold outside 🤣 But my mans is vaping during an interview 15:23

[@ThisIsNotAhnJieRen]

I watch WCT here on KZbin. It's glorious!

[@WorldChaseTag]

Cheers to you Jayron!

[@darkhoodchief]

We used to play this in elementary, now it's a competitive sport. Amazing. I also like how we also used different features of the surrounding to avoid being tagged.

[@clayel1]

So fricking wholesome man

[@Mc4King]

This is gonna be huge! Its basically the coolnes of parkour with thrill and competitiveness

[@loveyourself.8870]

This is how it felt when everyone else is tagged out in the playground and you are the only one left

[@rykerlee3026]

I truly hope this continues to evolve for the parkour community and that shotty knockoff show explodes or something

[@qwertyTRiG]

Looks like you got your wish. The Fox show seems to be dead.

[@aaronjulien7331]

Saying I cant do what these athletes do while chuffing a vape is hilarious to me

[@WorldChaseTag]

😂😂😂

[@Quasarii]

@@WorldChaseTag bruh reading comments

[@Samtember]

I'm obsessed with this now. Also this video is so well edited! Like that part where the tool sounds were syncing with the music was *mwah*

[@MoFiTheMagnificent]

For anyone who doesn't know, this is where ultimate tag got their idea from

[@livelikelavinia]

Yes! Thank you for featuring the original creates who virilized Chase Tag. ❤❤❤❤❤

[@quixotika3232]

I would prefer a subcategory of tag where there are no obstacles in the field. That's how I used to play, we basically just had to rely on our jukes. I think it would change the game completely.

[@bentn13]

Thank you so much for this video, been following the sport a lot since watching this