Group Juggle
Group facilitation methods: Ice Breakers and Energizers, Openings
Keywords: beginning, ice-breaker, interconnectedness, introduction, learn names, opening
Identification
This process can be used so as to learn each others' names and develop some sense of interconnectedness or to release stress.
This process is used as an opening for meetings, or other get-togethers where participants are not familiar with each other and the facilitator. Another option is to use this game in a break in order to release stress.
Howto
1. The facilitator instructs the participants to stand in a circle, not too close, and not too far from each other, and then includes him-/herself in the round.
2. What should follow is an explanation of the game: Someone will be asked for his/her name. Then, the first person says: "Hi Freddy, my name is James...here you go!" and throws the ball to him/her. Freddy then says "Thank you James", picks someone and the dialogue starts over again.
( If this process is used to reduce stress only, the name-part can be simply skipped, and the ball can just be thrown to each other.)
3. Everyone should have the ball once, and then it should be thrown back to the facilitator.
4. In the same manner the process can be started all over again, so as to give people the oportunity to remember each others' names.
5. In later rounds the facilitator can ask the participants to throw the ball faster, and then introduce multiple balls. A group of 12 to 15 people can handle between 4 and 6 balls.
6. The game can be ended when the facilitator gets the impression that people are comfortable with each other and know more and more names. Another fun way to end this activity to throw in more balls, so as they become unmanageable, in order to end in a hilarious shamble.
