Dodge Ball Introduction

Choose this exercise

Purpose: Share names and low-stakes personal facts in an active group warm-up.

Use it when: Use in an open indoor space or outdoors when a new group needs an active, informal name game.

Skip it when: Skip when the room is cramped, when participants wear formal business attire, or when people prefer seated or non-physical icebreakers.

Group arrangement: Whole group divided across a floor line; one thrower on one side, remaining group on the other.

Timing: UWT planned duration based on source 5-15 minute icebreaker guidance.

Materials and tools

• 1 soft cushioned foam ball
• 1 roll of painter tape to mark the dividing boundary line

Before participants arrive

1. Clear a wide open area free of tables, chairs, and tripping hazards.
2. Tape a clear center boundary line across the floor.
3. Place the soft cushioned foam ball near the thrower's side.

Say this to open

We are going to play a lighthearted introduction game. One person starts on this side of the line, shares their name and a quick fact, and gently tosses the foam ball below the waist. If the ball touches you or you catch it, say your name and a fact, then trade places to become the new thrower. Throws must be gentle, and only touches below the waist count.

How to run it

1. Establish safety rules and first thrower 2 minutes

   Explain the boundary line and safety rules: aim below the waist, no hard throws, and no pushing. Ask for one initial volunteer to cross the line as the first thrower. Have everyone else spread out on the opposite side.

2. Start the introductory rounds 4 minutes

   The initial thrower states their name and one brief fact (for example, favorite weekend hobby), then gently throws or rolls the foam ball toward the group. If the ball touches someone below the waist, including while blocking or trying to catch it, that player is tagged. Touches at or above the waist do not count.

3. Rotate throwers and continue 3 minutes

   The tagged player pauses the play, states their name and a brief personal fact aloud to the group, and steps across the boundary line. The previous thrower returns to the group. Continue turns so multiple people rotate into the thrower position.

4. Reflect and wrap up 1 minutes

   Stop the action, gather the ball, and ask one or two brief reflection questions before moving into the core agenda.

Debrief questions

• What was one memorable fact you heard from someone today?
• How did moving around change your energy compared to a seated circle?

Finished output: Every participant hears peer names and personal facts while rotating through an active warm-up game.

Remote

This active physical ball game cannot run online without fundamentally altering the mechanic. As a separate remote alternative, run a Virtual Spotlight Toss: one participant states their name and a fact, then names another participant to catch the virtual ball; that person answers next.

Hybrid

In a hybrid meeting, run the Virtual Spotlight Toss for both in-person and remote participants simultaneously via webcam, rather than throwing a physical ball in the room.

Access and participation choices

• Participants may roll the ball along the floor instead of throwing.
• Anyone who prefers not to dodge may serve as a boundary judge or call out the tagged participant names.
• Participants may share just their name or say 'pass' on the personal fact.

If the session gets stuck

Someone throws the ball too aggressively or aims high.

Remind the room immediately that throws must be gentle and aimed below waist level; void any tag that lands above the waist.

The same two or three agile players avoid getting tagged while others get hit repeatedly.

Ask the current thrower to roll or toss toward participants who have not yet had a turn on the thrower side.

Terms used here

• Tag: When the soft foam ball makes direct contact with a participant or their clothing below the waist.