One player hides a belt somewhere in the backyard while the other players wait on the front porch. Once the belt is hidden, the hider announces for everyone to come start looking for it. As they do, the hider tells them if they are "hot or cold". Once a player finds the belt, he can whip anyone with it until they reach the front porch. Thus the name of the game - Hot Tail. Whoever finds the belt of course gets to hide it next.