Spiders Web – Free Team Building Game

Participants – 6 to 15

Materials – 1 large ball of string, Strong Tape (Duct) and 1 pair of scissors.

Purpose – problem solving activity for teams, which requires the entire team to manage their differences (size, disposition, strength, intelligence, etc.), it requires commitment, it’s very physical without being strenuous, and it’s fun.

The object of the game is to score points by passing everyone through holes in a spider web without touching the web. (Remember this when building the web. Make openings different sizes. Make sure there is a hole large enough for everyone to go through.)

The problem brings up all the standard group/team problem solving issues, quality issues, (what is a web touch?), ethical issues (calling a touch when you see one), and strategic issues (when do we cut our losses).

Safety – do not allow any one to dive though the web. NO HEADFIRST!

Stop the action if this is about to happen.

When they are lifting someone, remind them to protect the participant’s neck and shoulders.

Stop action if they are doing anything that you deem dangerous.

If the web breaks you may stop the activity and make repairs or start the review.

Building the Web – choose a location with two fixed objects (such as two trees, walls, a hallway, a stake and a tree) 8 – 14 feet apart. If outside, make sure there are not a lot of branches hanging over the site and that the ground is free of hazards.

Sometimes you need to use a metal pole and a tree. If you are building a web in-doors, use duct tape on the walls and floors. Watch that it is not pulled loose during the activity.

Tie and weave the string/yarn between the items you have chosen in a web like fashion.

Make at least two more holes than you have participants in the group. You should make some easier holes (like underneath the web) and some more difficult holes (smaller or higher). It’s also good to have two or three extra holes so that the participants have some decisions to make. Add a few extra easy holes. If the web is too easy, you can tell them that some holes are off limits.

Make the general structure of the web with one piece of string instead of many pieces tied off. String the web from one object to another, back and forth until you have a structure.

When stringing the web, you do not need to tie a knot at each cross of the yarn. You do need to wrap the active string around each stationary string it crosses. Each time you take a turn around the object or stationary string, pull it tight. There should be no slack in the web. Use shorter pieces of the string to divide the large holes into smaller ones.

Team Instructions: (we advise you to download these for free from the link at the bottom of this page)

GOAL – to get the highest final score you can.

The specifications – a point is scored each time a person passes entirely through an opening in the web without touching it.

Once a person goes through an opening, the hole is closed. No one else can go through that hole.

If each person in the group scores, all the holes reopen and can be used again to score additional points, if time permits.

You may use the openings between the ground and the string, and between the wall and the string.

If any person touches a string at any time, all must return to the starting side of the web, the score returns to zero, and all holes are open for scoring.

All members of your group must start from the original side of the web.

No one may go over or around the web, except when returning to start over.

You may not alter the web in any way.

Both the coach and the team members are responsible for monitoring touches of the web.

Each member of the team is responsible for the safety of all others members of the team.

Be sure that the head and shoulders of any person being lifted and/or passed are well supported.

Your team’s final score is the number of points it has at the end of 25 minutes.