# The Ladder

A group stabilizes a free-standing A-frame step ladder while individual volunteers climb up one side, step over the apex, and descend the other side. The team coordinates physical spotting, base footing, and verbal calls to keep each climber safe.

**Time:** 20 minutes. Playmeo lists 15 to 20 minutes; 20 minutes provides time for setup checks, one or two voluntary climbs, and a structured debrief.
**People:** 8 to 15. Whole group working around a single apparatus with dedicated roles (climber, two footers, two side stabilizers, spotters, and a safety observer).

## Choose this exercise

**Purpose:** Practice collaborative risk assessment, active physical spotting, and clear verbal coordination during a physical team challenge.
**Use it when:** Use during in-person team development when a group has established rapport and wants to practice shared physical accountability and clear safety communication.
**Skip it when:** Skip if participants prefer not to do physical spotting, if participants have mobility limitations, or if the venue lacks level flooring and adequate ceiling height.

## Materials and tools

- One commercial-grade 8-foot to 10-foot (approximately 2.5 to 3 meter) A-frame stepladder with locking spreader bars in sound working condition
- Level indoor or outdoor surface free of overhead obstructions (minimum 14-foot ceiling clearance)

## Before participants arrive

1. Inspect the ladder thoroughly for cracked rungs, loose rivets, or bent spreader bars.
2. Check vertical clearance to ensure climbers cannot touch overhead lights, fixtures, or beams.
3. Lay the folded ladder flat on the floor in the center of the activity space.

## Say this to open

Our task is to safely erect this ladder, hold it completely stable using our bodies, and support volunteers who choose to climb up one side, step over the top, and climb down the other. Climbing is strictly voluntary. Spotting, anchoring, and safety observation are equally vital. Before anyone steps on a rung, we will establish our stations and safety protocol.

## How to run it

### 1. Establish safety protocol and roles (4 minutes)

Explain mandatory physical positions. The ladder must be locked open. Exactly two people serve as footers, placing their own feet firmly against the ladder feet (four feet total contact) to block horizontal slippage. Exactly two people firmly hold the side rails at shoulder height. One person serves as safety observer with authority to call 'Freeze' at any second. All remaining participants (at least 2 in an 8-person group, up to 9 in a 15-person group) act as spotters, standing with hands up and chests facing the climber. Climbing is voluntary.

### 2. Team planning and dry run (3 minutes)

The group erects the ladder, locks the spreader bars, and assumes their physical stations. Without a climber, the stabilizers and footers test their grip and base resistance by gently checking ground purchase. The team rehearses the call-and-response protocol: the climber asks 'Spotters ready?', the group answers 'Ready', the climber states 'Climbing', and the group answers 'Climb on.'

### 3. Execute voluntary climbs (7 minutes)

Invite a volunteer climber to step forward. The climber and team execute the call-and-response protocol. The climber ascends rung by rung, pauses at the top, carefully swings legs over the summit, and descends backward. If time permits, run a second climb with a new volunteer and rotated ground roles. Any team member or the safety observer can call 'Freeze' to halt movement immediately if balance or focus slips.

### 4. Debrief and pack down (6 minutes)

Lower the ladder safely back to the floor. Gather the group in a circle. Facilitate a focused debrief using one or two questions from the debrief section, taking three or four responses from the room.


## Debrief questions

- Choose one or two questions for whole-group reflection, inviting 3 to 4 responses each:
- What specific verbal or nonverbal cues helped the climber feel secure during the transition over the top?
- How did the team ensure that the base holders and spotters stayed fully attentive throughout each second of the climb?
- Where did communication feel uncertain, and how did the group adjust?

**Finished output:** Safe completion of one or two voluntary ladder ascents and descents with unanimous team spotting and protocol compliance.

## Remote

This activity requires physical stabilization of a physical ladder and cannot be conducted remotely. For a remote problem-solving alternative focusing on collective risk management, run a consensus-ranking scenario using digital breakout rooms and a shared spreadsheet.

## Hybrid

This physical activity cannot be executed equitably in a hybrid format. Remote participants cannot spot or hold the ladder safely.

## Access and participation choices

- Climbing is entirely voluntary; participants may choose ground-based roles including foot bracing, side holding, spotting, or safety observer.
- Participants may step away from the perimeter at any time without explanation by signaling the safety observer to pause the group.

## If the session gets stuck

**A climber freezes near the top rung or feels anxious stepping over.**

Remind the climber that they can stop or descend immediately on the same side without stepping over. Instruct spotters and stabilizers to stay completely quiet so only the lead communicator speaks.

**Spotters look away or chat while holding or spotting.**

Call 'Freeze' immediately. Remind the room that spotting requires unbroken visual focus on the climber's hips and torso, then resume once silence and focus are restored.


## Terms used here

- Footing: Bracing one's own feet firmly against the bottom feet of the ladder to prevent sliding.
- Spotting: Standing alert with hands raised near the climber's torso and hips to cushion or stabilize them if balance slips.

## Sources and adaptation

Observed in Playmeo activity database, credited to Mark Collard.

Retained the source mechanic from Playmeo: stabilizing a 3-meter A-frame ladder with four feet braced against the ladder base and all other members spotting the climber. UWT added explicit call-and-response commands, structured role allocations for minimum group sizes, a dedicated safety observer, and removed unnecessary tape props.

[Playmeo](https://www.playmeo.com/activities/team-building-problem-solving-activities/the-ladder)

[Playmeo](https://www.playmeo.com/activities/team-building-problem-solving-activities/the-ladder/)

Current run sheet: https://unitedwetransform.com/exercises/exciting-challenging-team-event-for-trust-safety-the-ladder/