Team Building Activities Landscape
1. 2 Truths and a Lie (& stretching) a. Time: 5-‐15 minutes b. Purpose: Getting to know each other activity & stretching exercise c. Participants: All d. Materials Needed: None e. Instructions: Facilitator will lead group in stretches while participants introduce themselves by stating 2 truths and a lie about themselves (in no particular order). The rest of the group has to try to figure out which statement was a lie. f. Desired Outcome: Learn things about one another that you normally wouldn’t discover during typical water cooler conversation 2. 3D Dodgeball Games/Tournament a. Time: Any for free for all games. Tournament depends on # of participants. b. Purpose: Build teamwork and communication while striving to achieve one goal – winning c. Participants: All – split into equal teams. 4-‐10 players per team. d. Materials Needed: Whistle, Stopwatch, Dodgeballs e. Instructions: SZ Facilitator will divide group up into equal teams. Two teams compete against one another until all players on one team are eliminated. *If doing a tournament, teams can be selected beforehand and a bracket will be made. Costumes are encourage i. Rules: 1. Catch-‐ins allowed: thrower eliminated, catching team receives 1 player 2. No crossing orange line f. Desired Outcome: Develop leadership and communication while working as a team g. Debrief: i. Did you find yourself relying on others as the games went on? ii. *Tournament Debrief 1. Did your team have a strategy? 2. What was the biggest reason for your team’s success? The biggest reason for its shortcoming? 3. How would you go about it differently if you were to play again? 3. ABC Game (& stretching) a. Time: 5-‐10 minutes while stretching b. Purpose: To introduce group and stimulate conversation and creativity c. Participants: All d. Materials Needed: None e. Instructions: SZ Facilitator will lead the group in stretches. To start the game, choose a category. Then simply work from person to person having each person list an item that fits in the category. For example, if the category is fruit: a=apple, b=banana, c=cantaloupe, etc. You can decide what to do if someone misses (i.e. move to the next person, stop there, etc.) This game can be simply for fun or you can designate a winner. You can use whatever categories you would like. Here are a few suggestions: Bands or musicians, Movies, TV shows, Books, Songs, Names, Beverages, Cartoon Characters, Cities, Landmarks, Sports Figures or Teams, Celebrities, Candies, Cold/Hot Things, Hobbies f. Desired Outcome: Challenge memory and group/personal accountability g. Debrief: i. Physical exercise has been proven to stimulate the brain 4. All Together a. Time: 5-‐10 minutes b. Purpose: Build trust and show importance of relying on one another
c. Participants: All d. Materials Needed: e. Instructions: SZ Facilitator has the group split into partners. Partners must sit in a trampoline square with their backs together. The group must standup without talking and placing their hands on the trampoline surface. Run the activity 2-‐3 times. f. Desired Outcome: Partners learn to communicate non-‐verbally and improve upon each previous round g. Debrief: i. How important was the communication? ii. When did you feel that both of you understood and could complete the task at hand? 5. Alliteration Introductions a. Time: 10-‐15 minutes b. Purpose: Creative introductions c. Participants: All. Can split up into smaller groups d. Materials Needed: None e. Instructions: Group members to stand in a circle. A player starts the game by introducing him or herself by doing a trampoline skill, and alliterating his/her name, e.g. "I'm Wonderful Wendy" or "I'm Smart Steve". The next player points to the first player, repeats the previous player's name, attribute and trampoline skill, and does something similar about himself or herself. And so on however the entire group must restart from the beginning when a mistake is made. The game ends with the first player having to do every other player’s skill, repeat their names and attributes. f. Desired Outcome: Work on creativity and group/personal accountability g. Debrief: i. How often do you use analogies or metaphors to make meaning of new things? 6. Cartoon Character (& stretching) a. Time: 5 minutes b. Purpose: Creative introductions c. Participants: All d. Materials Needed: None e. Instructions: SZ Facilitator has the group form a circle and leads group through stretching. Everyone introduces themselves to the group as the cartoon character they would be if they were not who they are. f. Desired Outcome: Creates a relaxed atmosphere 7. Counting Trampolines a. Time: 15 minutes b. Purpose: Develop a collaborative strategy to solve a problem c. Participants: All d. Materials Needed: Clipboard, Whiteboard, Stopwatch, Dry erase markers, Calculator e. Instructions: SZ Facilitator splits the group into equal teams. The objective is to accurately count and report the total number of trampolines (145) in an efficient manner. Groups are timed and awarded points for their speed (depending on the number of teams, award +5, +10, +15 for the slowest teams or -‐5, -‐10, -‐15 to the fastest teams). The reported number is subtracted from the correct number of trampolines and then divided by the correct number to come up with a variance. After applying the speed numbers, the group with the most negative or closest number to 0 wins. i. i.e. – Say there are 6 teams competing. Team 1 takes 54 seconds and reports 120 squares. Team 2 -‐ 61 seconds and reports 150. Team 3 takes 40 seconds and reports 168 squares. Team 4 – 52 seconds and 190 squares. Team 5 – 78 seconds and 141 squares. Team 6 – 60 seconds and 145 squares. 1. Fastest to slowest is then:
a. Team 3= -‐15 b. Team 4= -‐10 c. Team 1= -‐5 d. Team 6= +5 e. Team 2= +10 f. Team 5= +15 2. Accurate numbers/Variance: a. Team 1: 120-‐145/145 = 17.24% b. Team 2: 150-‐145/145 = 3.44% c. Team 3: 168-‐145/145 = 15.86% d. Team 4: 190-‐145/145 = 31.03% e. Team 5: 141-‐145/145 = 2.76% f. Team 6: 145-‐145/145 = 0% 3. Outcomes: a. Team 1: 17.24% + -‐5 = 12.74 à 3rd place b. Team 2: 3.44% + 10 = 13.44 à 4th place c. Team 3: 15.86% + -‐15 = 0.86 à 1st place d. Team 4: 31.03% + -‐10 = 21.03 à 6th place e. Team 5: 2.76% + 15 = 17.26 à 5th place f. Team 6: 0% + 5 = 5 à 2nd place f. Desired Outcome: Small groups use teamwork while being held responsible as individuals and a group g. Debrief: i. Did you trust your teammates to get the right number? ii. Was one teammate responsible for computing and another for running? 8. Create Your Own Group Activity a. Time: 15-‐30 minutes b. Purpose: Work in small groups to solve a problem through creativity and leadership c. Participants: All d. Materials Needed: Clipboard, Dry erase markers, Props e. Instruction: SZ Facilitator divides the group into small teams. The teams have 10 minutes to work together to come up with another team building activity that they see appropriate. Can pull on present examples or past experiences. Each team then spends 3-‐4 minutes demonstrating and explaining what they have come up with. f. Desired Outcome: Teams collaborate to solve a problem by coming up with a new activity and then must demonstrate their findings g. Debrief: i. Why was that challenging? ii. Was there a clear leader in your group? iii. Could you identify some of your team members’ strengths? 9. Foam Zone Relay Race a. Time: 10-‐20 minutes b. Purpose: Use teamwork, communication and leadership to complete relay in fastest time c. Participants: All d. Material Needed: Stopwatch, Whistle, Clipboard, Foam noodle (baton) e. Instructions: Groups are divided up into equal teams (4 max). Participants will race 1 v 1 into the foam pit, touch the back net, return, and pass off the baton to their teammate who will then do the same. First team to have all team members finish the relay race and sit down wins. i. Play 3 times and incorporate the following rules per round: 1. Free for all
2. One jumper per team must flip into foam pit 3. ^One jumper flips + one jumper must lower self into foam pit f. Desired Outcome: Participants bond together as a group while stepping outside of their comfort zones and recognizing each other’s strengths and weaknesses g. Debrief: i. Did you have any strategy for the initial round? ii. How did your strategy change after each rule was introduced? iii. Did a leader emerge? 10. Game of Possibilities a. Time: 5–6 minutes b. Purpose: To stimulate conversation, ideas, and laughter c. Participants: Small groups. This can be done with one group or multiple groups at the same time. d. Materials Needed: Cloth napkins e. Instructions: Give a napkin to each group of five to ten participants. One person at a time stands and demonstrates a use of that napkin. a. Rules: i. Person demonstrating cannot speak ii. Must stand while demonstrating iii. Demonstration must be original f. Desired Outcome: Participants experience the infinite ways to use a napkin and translate this to the infinite ways to solve problems, use resources, motivate a team, etc 11. Guess Who? a. Time: 12 minutes b. Purpose: Build innovative questioning skills c. Participants: All d. Materials Needed: Sticky notes, marker e. Instructions: Choose a category of characters (i.e. Disney, type of animal). Put characters names on sticky notes and put one on each participant’s back. They should then jump around and ask each other yes and no questions to determine who they are (i.e. “Am I a princess?” “Do I live in a jungle?” “Am I bigger than a shoe?”). Ask a question, return the question. Timed event. Sit down in a trampoline square once you figure out who you are. f. Desired Outcome: Participants use cues and answers from team members to personally solve a problem g. Debriefing: i. Was that hard or easy? 1. If you said hard, did you alter your questioning approach? 12. Jumping Squares a. Time: 10-‐25 minutes, depending on the number of jumpers b. Purpose: Individual competition c. Participants: All d. Materials Needed: Stopwatch, Clipboard e. Instructions: Participants will individually compete for 30 seconds trying to jump on as many squares as possible. Jumpers cannot repeat the previous 2 squares that they just left before bouncing in a different 3rd square. If time allows, allow the group to repeat their turn. f. Desired Outcome: Individuals come up with their own game plan and strategy g. Debrief: i. After watching others, did you change your original strategy? ii. Do you believe disadvantages exist from being the first to do something? What are the advantages?
13. Last Man Standing Dodgeball Tournament a. Time: 10-‐30 minutes, depending on group size b. Purpose: Manage both personal and group accountability simultaneously c. Participants: All d. Materials Needed: Whistle, Dodgeballs e. Instructions: Teams will compete in a normal game, however the remaining players on the winning team will be set aside and then paired up with the remaining players from other games until there is only 1 player left i. Rules: 1. No catch-‐ins 2. No crossing orange line f. Desired Outcome: Expressing competitiveness and desire for individual success while still working within a team setting g. Debrief: i. Was it possible to rely on one another? ii. How did you balance your desire to be the last man standing while still in a team setting? iii. How do you set aside your own personal objectives for the greater good of the team? 14. Scavenger Hunt -‐ TBD 15. Simon Says a. Time: 10-‐15 minutes b. Purpose: Build on creativity and memory while allowing others to lead c. Participants: All d. Materials Needed: None e. Instructions: SZ Facilitator has the group form a circle (can break off into smaller groups depending on the size). One individual “Simon” starts the activity by performing a trampoline move. The group must replicate the move accurately – if it is wrong, they leave the circle. “Simon” then repeats their first move and adds another move. Everyone in the group must replicate the sequence of moves until no one is left. The people that make the first mistakes will lead the group next. f. Desired Outcome: Those who make the initial mistakes are given another opportunity to lead and perform well g. Debrief: i. Failure in one activity allows for the opportunity to excel in another 16. Sky Zone Relay a. Time: 20-‐30 minutes b. Purpose: Use teamwork and communication to complete relay in the fastest time c. Participants: All. If group needs to be divided up into smaller teams of 6 they can compete against one another simultaneously or go 1 at a time. d. Materials Needed: Stopwatch, Duct tape, Clipboard, Dodgeballs, Trashcan e. Instruction: SZ Facilitator to divide group into teams. Each group then choses a leader. The leader assigns each member their position in the relay. i. Basketball Shot: Starts on Dodgeball 2 with a trashcan on the orange line. Player must make 3 shots from at least 1 square away before handing a dodgeball to the runner. ii. Main Court Jump: Runner hand players lined up at end of Main Court the dodgeball who then have to race to the other side following the rules of Red Light, Green Light. Facilitator uses a stopwatch to call out Green Light for 3 seconds, Red Light for 1 second in order to keep it regulated amongst the different groups. Runner moves to
the other end of the court and the Main Court Jumper hands off the dodgeball to the Runner. iii. Foam Zone Obstacle: Runner hands Jumper at Foam Zone the dodgeball. Foam Zone players must jump down the trampoline, touch the back netting, and then return to pass of the dodgeball to the Runner who must be touching the platform wall. iv. Dodgeball Accuracy: Runner runs down stairs near lockers, hands dodgeball to Dodgeball Accuracy thrower. Thrower must stand behind designated line and connect a pass with their teammate lined up opposite of them near SkySlam. If the ball is not caught in air, the ball must go back to the thrower. v. SkySlam: Once the SkySlam player has the ball, they must dunk on the big hoop (if competing one at a time) or the hoop of their choice (if competing simultaneously). As soon as the ball is dunked, the time stops. vi. Runner: Is the connection between each station. f. Desired Outcome: Group bonding by recognizing each other’s strengths and working together for a common goal. g. Debrief: i. What was most challenging part of that exercise? ii. Where did you feel you relied on each other the most? 17. SkyHigh Ball a. Time: 10-‐15 minutes b. Purpose: To achieve a goal while developing a game plan amongst team members c. Participants: All d. Materials Needed: Large beach ball, Stop watch, Clipboard e. Instruction: Group stands on Dodgeball or Main Court (depending on size). SZ Facilitator throws ball out to center of court. Group goal is to keep ball in the air as long as possible. i. Round 1: Free for all ii. Round 2: Right hand only iii. Round 3: Left hand only f. Desired Outcome: Communicating with each other and to develop a plan g. Debrief: i. What did you find made the task easier? ii. Did someone develop as a leader? 1. If not successful, had you stopped and laid out a game plan would it be more successful? iii. “A goal without a plan is a wish” – Herm Edwards 18. SkyRobics Classes & Relays a. Time: 15-‐25 minutes b. Purpose: Physical activity in a team environment c. Participants: All d. Materials Needed: Whistle, Whiteboard, Stopwatch e. Instruction: The facilitator can lead the entire group at once or divide the group up into teams to compete in SkyRobics relays. Stations can be set along the court (either main or dodgeball). Facilitator leads the group through various exercises related to SkyRobics. f. Desired Outcome: Group enjoys competing against one another in a team setting g. Debrief: i. What do you feel was the hardest exercise? 1. SkyRobics Class pitch – let the group know that we offer these classes 3 times a week at a very affordable price. 19. SkyShot a. Time: 10-‐20 minutes b. Purpose: Individual competition
c. Participants: 1 shooter, 2-‐3 feeders d. Materials Needed: Dodgeballs, Trashcan, Stopwatch, Clipboard, Whistle e. Instructions: Works like the 3-‐Point contest. Trashcan is placed on court and jumper works around 3 shooting spots in 30 seconds or less. 4 shots are taken at each post unless time runs out before he/she finishes. The 4th ball at each station is the moneyball (worth 2 points). Score is kept and the highest score wins. f. Desired Outcome: Quick competitive event 20. SkySlam Dunk Contests a. Time: 10-‐25 minutes, depending on group size b. Purpose: Promoting creativity and stepping outside of comfort zones c. Participants: 10-‐35 participants max. Those not wanting to participate can assist in judging. d. Materials Needed: 4-‐6 Balls, Stopwatch, Clipboard, SkySlam grading sheets, Table, Dunk Crown e. Instructions: Dunkers compete to be crowned the “Dunk King of the Night”. Judges will score dunkers after each turn. There should be 3 judges (can be 3 teams of judges). Rounds go as follows: i. Round 1: Each dunker has 10 seconds to be judged (top scoring 40% move on) ii. Round 2: Each dunker is given 2 attempts or 15 seconds (top 2-‐6 scores move on) iii. Final Round: Each dunker is given 3 attempts or 30 seconds. Loudest applause wins f. Desired Outcome: To be engaged in an encouraging and competitive atmosphere g. Debrief: i. Did the winner have the best overall dunk or did another dunker? ii. What allowed the winner to win? 1. Background (preparation), Luck, Opportunity, Skill 21. SkyToss a. Time: 10-‐25 minutes b. Purpose: Using communication to improve as a team and work towards a common goal c. Participants: All d. Materials Needed: Dodgeballs, Tennis balls, Stopwatch, Clipboard e. Instructions: Group is divided into equal teams. Teams line up horizontally, 1 team per row, across main court and players are spaced at least 1 square apart. Teams race to toss the ball from one player to the next and back down the court but must throw and catch the ball while bouncing in midair. If throwing or catching on trampoline surface occurs, that team must restart from the beginning. If the ball drops, that team must restart from the beginning. Time each team and see if they improve throughout the rounds. i. Introduce the following rules: 1. 2-‐3 rounds with dodgeball 2. 1-‐2 rounds with tennis ball 3. 1-‐2 rounds of everyone switching positions f. Desired Outcome: Individuals learning to work together when presented with new challenges g. Debrief: i. How long did it take to get accustomed to throwing/catching while bouncing? ii. How did you and your team overcome the evolving rules? 22. Spelling with Cubes a. Time: 10-‐20 minutes b. Purpose: Using teamwork when presented with adversity c. Participants: All d. Materials Needed: Foam cubes, Stopwatch
e. Instructions: Teams of 4-‐6 compete against one another to spell out either their organization’s abbreviations or write “SZ” (19 blocks). The teams must use at least the minimum number of cubes required. The first team to finish and use the appropriate number of cubes wins. Abbreviations are to be written out on the platform. i. Round 1: No color limit ii. Round 2: One team Orange, One team Blue iii. Round 3: Cannot throw the cubes f. Desired Outcome: Individuals quickly become team players and develop strategies to solve problems together g. Debrief: i. Did you have an initial strategy when the game first started? ii. What changes did you make as new rules were introduced? iii. Would you be able to coach a team new to this activity? 23. Stacking Pyramids a. Time: 10-‐20 minutes b. Purpose: To deal with new challenges in different manners c. Participants: All d. Materials Needed: Foam cubes, Stopwatch, Clipboard e. Instructions: SZ Facilitator divides group into teams. Teams must collect foam cubes from the foam pit and have the highest pyramid (yes pyramid) standing after 2 minutes. i. Round 1: Stack on the trampoline ii. Round 2: Stack on the platform iii. Round 3: Only 1 block in motion at a time f. Desired Outcome: Teams work together to solve new problems and achieve a goal g. Debrief: i. What was required in order to work together? 24. Tug of War a. Time: 10-‐15 minutes b. Purpose: Work as a team to achieve a goal while overcoming variations the classic game c. Participants: All d. Materials Needed: Rope with flags e. Instructions: SZ Facilitator divides the group up into two teams. The facilitator leads the group through 3 variations of the game. i. Round 1: Classic tug of war ii. Round 2: Switch up positions iii. Round 3: Only a select few can have their eyes open on each team f. Desired Outcome: Teammates rely on one another in new situations g. Debrief: i. What strategy was involved in each variation of the game? ii. How important did communication become once teammates were required to close their eyes? 25. Trust Fall a. Time: 10-‐15 minutes b. Purpose: To rely on the strengths of your teammates next to you c. Participants: All d. Materials Needed: Rope, Clipboard e. Instruction: Group forms circle on platform with rope in hand. SZ Facilitator gives directions. i. All sit at once ii. All stand at once iii. Sit / Stand alternately
f. Desired Outcome: Using trust to help each other complete task g. Debrief: i. Was it easy to depend on each other? ii. Once realized that you needed the help of your teammate to complete the task, did you feel relief?
