Senior Tag, the long-running water-gun "senior assassin" game that sends teams of high school seniors hunting targets around town, is back across Central Ohio this spring and stirring up fresh concern. The weeks-long tradition routinely spills into driveways, parking lots and late-night streets, and some versions lean on dares like stripping to underwear or swimsuits for a laugh. Neighbors, businesses and school officials say they are bracing for the usual mix of spectacle and trouble.
Storefronts and small businesses have started posting "No Senior Tag" signs, and one Gahanna bakery is publicly trying to keep players away. As reported by Axios Columbus, seniors in the region are creating social media pages for brackets, and some groups put up entry fees with cash prizes for winners. The visibility, including a widely shared photo of Resch's Bakery's sign in the Axios piece, shows just how public the game has become.
What the game looks like
Senior Tag is a local spin on the live-action "Assassin" game. Players are assigned targets and eliminate them using water guns, Nerf weapons or other harmless items until one player or team remains. Rules vary, and most versions forbid tagging on school property and some designate safeties or out-of-bounds zones. Winners often take home pooled cash or prizes, per Wikipedia.
Why officials are worried
Police and school leaders say the frantic, late-night nature of play can alarm residents, put students on private property and push the game onto roadways. Blendon Township police chief John Belford warned that "armed citizens may react to a strange situation not in the way they intend," as reported by Axios Columbus. In parts of Ohio, departments have adopted zero-tolerance policies that could include criminal charges when play prompts 911 calls, according to 13ABC/WTVG.
Schools step in
Because Senior Tag is organized off campus, many administrators say they have limited options for shutting it down outright, so athletic codes and discipline policies are being used to discourage participation. Worthington Christian's athletic handbook explicitly bars spring-sport athletes from participating in Senior Tag, as outlined in the school's published athletic handbook.
Past incidents show the risk
The danger is not theoretical. In April 2024 an Avon High School senior died after falling from a moving vehicle while playing a squirt-gun version of the game, according to People. A similar crash in Arlington, Texas was reported by WFAA last year, underscoring the hazards when cars and new drivers are part of the chase.
For now, communities are relying on signs, social media reminders and police outreach to keep play off private property and out of roadways. Resch's Bakery has tried to discourage players and lists its hours and contact information online (Resch's Bakery), and parents and school leaders say conversations about safety remain the best immediate defense.
