Group Juggle

Set up & instructions for 1st round of group juggling

• Arrange participants in a circle, not too close, not too far from one another

• Include yourself in the circle

• Explain that you are going to throw a ball to someone - pick someone out & ask their

name, then say

• "Hi Freddy, my name is James...here you go!"

[underarm throw a ball to Freddy]

• Freddy then says "Thank you James", picks someone and says

"Hi X, my name is Freddy...here you go!" [throw]....they say

"Thank you, Freddy] and on we go.

• If you're not trying to learn names, skip the naming part & just throw!

• The challenge from here is simply to get the ball thrown around to everyone in the

circle, and finally back to the trainer.

Note: The pattern you are establishing works better if the participants throw

underhanded and across the room as compared to next to each other.

2nd round of group juggling

• I then say, "Right, well done, now let's see if we can that again - making sure we use

the same order, and using each other's names. Remember to say the name of the

person you are throwing to, and thank the person, by name, for throwing it to you,

OK?"

• On the second round, most people will be challenged to remember who to throw it to,

and the two names! Take it slow, help the group out, so that each person has a

successful second round.

3rd round of group juggling - introducing more balls

• I then say, "That's great, but I think you can do faster than that. Come on, let's see

how we can really go..." [I then throw and say the name with superfast enthusiasm

to set the tone!

• After the first ball has passed through a few hands, I take a 2nd ball out of my

pocket (surprise!), and casually, but earnestly say "Hi Freddy...." [throw].

• By now everyone is so well trained, the 2nd ball will automatically keep going, and

there will be a detectable sense of challenge/excitement.

• After a bit, I introduce a 3rd and 4th ball, up to about 6 balls.

• Usually I let 4 to 6 balls be juggled for a while (note when the balls come back to the

teacher just sit them down.

DEBRIEF: Very important in the process.

• What were the keys to being successful in this activity?

• What did you need to focus on to be effective?

• What messages about trust did this activity demonstrate?

• How did you respond if there were any mistakes? How did

this affect your success?

• Did you become more effective over time? If so, why or why

not?

• How did this activity relate to responsibility and

accountability?

• How can this activity help us in class?