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6 OUTDOOR TEAM GAMES:
Teambuilding, Trust and Communication
1. Blind Leader:
In pairs the blindfolded partner must lead the way, being directed by the
sighted but passive partner, round obstacles and in search of rewards.
There is a winner. This tests leadership and partnering, another great
indication of how our motivational state impacts our ability to lead
effectively.
2. Slice ‘n Dice
Participants form two equal lines facing each other (creating a tunnel) and
put their arms straight out in front of them. Their arms intersect,
overlapping by about a hand with the arms of the people opposite of them.
The person at the end of the corridor walks down the tunnel of arms. In
order to let the person pass, the other participants have to raise and lower
their arms. That person will then join the corridor again and then the next
person in line walks through. This process continues until everyone has
had a turn. For the last turn, the participants making the tunnel are asked
to chop their arms up and down as people run through. This exercise
allows participants to build trust in their teammates while also having fun.
3. Mine Field (NB we have a number of blindfold/ obstacle games we can
use – this is one example)
We distribute “mines,” placed haphazardly around the area.. This exercise
gives team members a chance to work on their relationships and mutual
trust. In pairs, one team member is blindfolded and cannot talk and the
other can see and talk, but cannot enter the field or touch their blindfolded
teammate. The challenge requires each blind-folded person to walk from
one side of the field to the other, avoiding the mines by listening to the
verbal instructions of their partner. Penalties can be put in place for each
time a blindfolded person hits a mine, but the real idea behind the game is
to get the team members to trust their partner’s directions and to teach
them to communicate in a more effective way.
4. Water balloon game (NB we have a number of fun, teambuilding water
games we can use – this is one example)
Separate everyone into teams of approx. 5. Line each team in parallel
lines, with approximately 10 feet between each teammate. Give an empty
water bottle to the person at the end of each line. At the front of each line
at an even distance, place the baskets down on the field. Each person at
the front of the line grabs one water balloon from the basket. They need to
toss the water balloon to the second person. The second person tosses
the balloon to the third person, and so forth. The first person can only grab
a water balloon after the previous one is popped. The last person in line
needs to pop the balloons and try to get as much water in the water
bottles as possible. *Note: The person cannot put the water balloons in the
bottles and pop it inside. At the end of the game, all of the water balloons
will have been popped. The team with the most water in their bottles wins
the game.
5. All tied up
In this game – which is all about communication, thinking out of the box
and close teamwork, participants are blindfolded and then a rope loop is
passed amongst them and around them in a continuous but tangled way.
Participants hold the rope with both hands. The brief is to make a perfect
square by the end of the agreed time. Communication is really tested
when you can’t see each other – and it’s easy to leave members of the
team out of the discussion. But there are some simple solutions that get
the result in a very short time.
Easy when you know how!
6. Red Black Game – a game of strategy and true teamwork (static)
Each group will participate in different areas and will have no contact until
the end of the game. The game consists of five rounds – there are fifteen
minutes to prepare the group’s strategy and cast the first vote in Round 1.
Thereafter, there are ten minutes to discuss further strategy and vote.
In each round the teams will vote for ‘red’ or ‘black’. First votes cast will
count; the majority wins; one leader must count the votes; each person
must state their vote out loud.
When you are ready with your vote share it with the ‘runner’ who will move
between both rooms. When we have both votes you will be told how the
other team voted before starting the next round.
Points are allocated as follows:
• Black + Black = 2 points per team.
• Red + Red = 1 point per team.
• Red + Black = 2 points for team voting Red, 1 point for team voting Black.
• No vote or failed vote = 0 points.
The purpose of the game is to win.
The way to win is by accumulating the maximum number of points.