| Game |  Opener |
 Team-building |
| Categories: | Energizer |
Review |
| Communication |
Topical |
Purpose: To teach participants the importance of clear communication and the dangers of relying on preconceptions.
Time Required: 10 to 15 minutes.
Size of Group: Best in a group of 20, with participants working in four teams of five.
Materials Required: Masking tape; four long pieces of light, sturdy rope or clothesline (at least 10 feet in length); a sturdy metal ring; a red scarf or other bright marker.
The Exercise in Action: May Akamine, director of outpatient services and chief nursing officer at Castle Medical Center in Kailua, HI, uses a “tug-of-war” activity to build teamwork and improve communication skills:
In the middle of the space for the activity, use tape to mark a 1-foot square. Tie the scarf and one end of each rope to the ring. Place the ring in the middle of the taped-off square with the ropes extended out in four directions (see diagram).
Divide the class into four teams and have each team hold onto a rope. Give the teams these guidelines: “The purpose of this activity is to get as many points as possible in 30 seconds. A point is scored each time the marker crosses a line. You have 30 seconds to talk about it.”
When the “competition” begins, Akamine says the teams usually start tugging at the rope to get points for their own teams. After 30 seconds, she asks them how many points they have. The teams usually have few or no points. Akamine repeats the activity, giving the guidelines again, explicitly. Usually, she says, the teams start to ask questions about the guidelines and the purpose of the activity. The teams eventually realize the activity is a cooperative effort, not a competition, and that they must work together to pile up points by moving the scarf rapidly in a circle over the taped box.