SSB Snake Race — Group Obstacle Race with the Rolled Tent
What is the Snake Race?
Snake Race — officially the Group Obstacle Race (GOR) — is the most physically punishing and morale-testing GTO task. Your group is split into two teams, each given a "snake" (a tightly rolled canvas tent). The two teams race across a series of low-height obstacles, carrying the snake without letting it touch the ground, chanting a war-cry the group has invented the previous evening.
The rules
Simple rules, high consequences:
- The snake must not touch the ground at any obstacle — dropping it costs the team a restart of that obstacle.
- Every team member must cross every obstacle. Leaving a candidate behind means starting over.
- The team chants its war-cry loudly and continuously — silence is scored down for Liveliness.
- The first team to reach the finish line with the snake and every member wins the race.
- Losing does not automatically mean poor scores — how you carried the snake and cooperated matters more than winning.
The formation that works
Almost every team wastes time trying to figure out formation on the fly. Decide these in the pre-race huddle:
- 3 candidates in front lifting the snake's head.
- 3 candidates on the sides balancing the middle.
- 2 candidates behind supporting the tail.
- 2 candidates as "scouts" who go ahead to plan each obstacle 5 seconds before the snake arrives.
The war-cry — do not skip this
Every team invents a chant the previous night — usually a short call-and-response like "Bharat Mata! Ki Jai!" or "Team A! Team A! Team A!". Assessors specifically listen for the chant. Two failure modes: (a) silence during obstacles because everyone is tired, and (b) shouting the chant out of sync. Practise the chant twice as a group before starting.
Pacing — the trap of an early lead
The team that sprints first usually gasses out by the third obstacle. A better pace is: 70% speed at obstacle 1, 90% speed at obstacles 2–3, then all-out at 4–5. Snake Race is 4–6 minutes long; you cannot sprint the entire way.
What the GTO is scoring — beyond winning
The GTO cares about winning less than about *how you played*. A losing team that kept the snake off the ground, chanted throughout and did not leave anyone behind can score higher than a winning team that dropped the snake three times. Never sacrifice teamwork for a burst of pace.
Do & Don't — Quick Reference
Step-by-step: how to attempt Snake Race / GOR
Pre-race huddle
Assign fixed positions on the snake (head, sides, tail, scouts). Confirm the war-cry twice.
Start at 70% pace
The team that sprints at obstacle 1 gasses out at obstacle 3. Build pace over the course.
Keep the snake off the ground
One dropped snake = one full obstacle restart. Nothing costs more time.
Chant through every obstacle
Assessors specifically listen for continuous chanting. Silence when tired loses Liveliness marks.
Cross the line with everyone
Nobody left behind, snake intact, chant going. Win or lose is secondary — how you played is scored higher.
Frequently asked questions
Does the winning team of the SSB Snake Race score higher?
Not automatically. The GTO scores how you played — whether the snake stayed off the ground, whether the chant was continuous, whether every teammate crossed every obstacle. A losing team that kept these three intact regularly outscores a winning team that dropped the snake or left a candidate behind.
Is the SSB Snake Race compulsory?
Yes — every candidate participates. Sitting out due to a minor sprain or fatigue is a red flag for Determination and Stamina. Only a documented medical constraint (a fracture, a fresh stitch) is treated as a legitimate reason to sit out, and the GTO will still note the absence.
What happens if my team drops the snake during the race?
The team must return to the beginning of that obstacle and re-attempt it with the snake off the ground. One drop typically costs the team the race, but the GTO scores how you recovered — panic and blame lose more marks than the drop itself.
How is the SSB Snake Race scored — team or individual?
Individual — the GTO tracks each candidate's contribution, position on the snake, chanting, pacing and support for slower teammates. Team result matters, but individual behaviour under fatigue is where the OLQs are actually decided.
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