TEAM BUILDING GAMES

A UNITED TEAM is a STRONG TEAM.  

Use these games during lunch/dinner breaks, before roll call cheer, at the hotel at night and while waiting for busses.  Try to see how many you can get through before camp is over.  

1.  MAKE UP YOUR OWN TEAM SONG OR CHEER

Select a movie theme, TV show, or commercial.  You can have all dancers write ideas on a paper and draw them out of a hat. You could do this several ways. If you have a large team you could count off and divide into teams.  (Break up clicks.)  Give them 15-20 minutes to come up with their SONG and have them perform it later that night. Encourage choreography as well. You could end up using it for your roll call cheer.

2. LOOK WHAT I DID BEHIND YOUR BACK 

Each athlete writes their name on the top of a piece of paper and then tapes it to her back.  Every athlete has a marker.  They go around and write kind and thoughtful things on the person’s back.  It can range from, you have nice hair, to you have made me feel accepted here, you're a good friend, you're a quick learner, etc.  They walk from dancer to dancer and write on each other’s back.  When finished, they take them off and keep them as a nice keepsake. Coaches need to stay on task so it doesn't become too time consuming.

3. THE NAME GAME

Good for larger teams where everyone doesn't know each other.  Sit in a circle.  The sophomores start and are followed up by juniors and lastly seniors. Our dance team is going on a picnic.  My name is Suzie and I'm bringing, S'mores.  Second person repeats Suzie is bringing S'Mores, my name is Katie I'm bringing Ketchup. By the end there is a GREAT DEAL to remember.  It's a great FIRST GAME TO DO!  It will help YOU to know the names too!  You can do it with first names only or both first and last. 

4. HUMAN KNOT

Every dancer must connect hands with two other people.  The goal is to unwind into a circle without losing the connection.  The purpose is to initiate teamwork and show how cooperation makes the team.  

5.  TOILET PAPER 

Pass around a roll of toilet paper.  Casually say, just tear off what you will need.  For every square they tear off they have to tell something about themselves.  

6. FREEZE 

Two people start out by acting out an impromptu scene of their choice.  They are making it up as they go.  Example:  Fishing.  "Boy I've got a big one on my line."  "Look out, you’re tipping the boat."  It goes on for a while longer.  (In addition to the verbals above they are acting this out.)  Someone from the audience yells FREEZE!  

The person who yells freeze, replaces the person in the scene.  They must resume the exact 'position the person who they "froze".  For example:  If the person was holding a fishing rod with a big fish on the line, they could start their new scene as if they are holding a bat.  "Pitch me a ball, I'm ready."  The abrupt transitions become very funny if the dancers are in to it and get really animated.  If the kids get stuck, you can yell freeze.

7. M & M’s COLORFUL EXPRESSIONS

Pass around a bag of M and M’s.  (Large teams will need several bags.) Each dancer takes a handful. 

For every:

These are great ways for ice breakers between teammates, or just team bonding in general! Every activity has any fun elements to it and can be played endlessly throughout the season!