Cooperative Games, Trust Games, Initiative Activities

DON'T TOUCH ME
Equipment: Eight inch spot for 5-16 people, or a cone for 18-26 people, or a hula hoop for larger groups, stopwatch
Concept: Cooperation and communication
Objective: For everyone to touch the object in the middle and switch places with his partner as fast as possible without touching anyone.
Task: Place the spot, cone, or hoop on the ground in the center of the circle of people. Pick a partner from across the circle. Each person should have his/her own partner. The object of this game is for everyone to touch the spot and switch places with their partner as quickly as possible without touching anyone in the process. While you are in motion, say Don’t touch me! like you mean it until you have reached your partner’s position. Time the overall time it takes the group to accomplish the task. Each time someone touches someone else, one second is added to the group’s overall time.
Variation: round one as in above,.
Round two: each person finds another spot across the circle, once found look down at the floor, repeat the crossing without a touch and without looking up.
Round three: each person finds another spot, they also pick someone standing across from them, this time when they cross they need to walk up to their selected person and greet them, don’t touch anyone else.
Round four: place a hula hoop or small circle on the ground in the center of the circled group. Round four is timed. Each person finds a spot across the circle.
This time on the signal the group must switch sides without touching and each person must step in the hula hoop as they cross. There is a five second penalty for each touch. After the group has tried once, determine their first try time. Allow the group time to problem solve and come up with their plan to better their time.
ANOTHER SUGGESTED ROUND: have the participants pick a spot, put their hands up in front of them for bumpers and then close their eyes. Try to cross without any touches. Allow the group to problem solve and come up with a plan.