Intended for:
This free icebreaker is good for a group of 12 and up to 30 people where some people know each other, but others are still trying to get acquainted.
Training course contents:
You can download the instructions for this icebreaker from the link at the bottom of this page, which will provide you with a one sheet icebreaker where participants pass round several balls in order to help get to know each other better. Alternatively, you can follow the instructions below.
Materials Needed – 3 Soft Balls
Instructions – get the group in a circle
Round 1 – the facilitator tosses 1 ball to someone in the group whose name they know, saying their name and then the other person’s name (e.g. Nancy to Tom). Tom (person who receives the ball) tosses ball to someone whose name he knows (e.g. Tom to Mark). Mark tosses to someone whose name he knows and so on, saying both names all the way around the circle. The ball is tossed to each person one time only until everyone in the circle gets it and all names have been said.
Round 2 – the facilitator tosses the balls to the same person (Nancy to Tom to Mark, etc.) only this time with 2 balls in succession (not at the same time) saying both names, both times. Balls get tossed to the same people they were originally tossed to, first one ball, and then the next, all the way around the circle stopping when they get back to the facilitator.
Round 3 – the facilitator starts again only with all three balls this time. Saying names each time, all three balls get tossed, in succession, in the same order until they get back to the facilitator. By the time there are three balls going, it gets pretty chaotic and fun. By now all names have been said so many times everyone should have a pretty good idea of who’s who and they are pretty warmed up and ready to go. When someone drops a ball, simply give them a chance to just pick up where you left off–no need to start again.
Objectives:
This icebreaker is useful for warming up a group and helping them to get to know each other better.
