Slice and Dice

Choose this exercise

Purpose: Demonstrate mutual responsibility and coordination in a physical timing task without making physical contact.

Use it when: Use in energetic team offsites or adventure-based learning workshops where the group has established foundational rapport and wants a physical focus exercise.

Skip it when: Skip if participants have restricted mobility, sensory overload concerns, or when the group prefers low-energy or non-physical activities.

Group arrangement: Two parallel facing lines forming a central corridor, with one walker at a time.

Timing: UWT suggested timing based on source 5 to 15 minute band.

Materials and tools

• Clear open floor space at least 6 meters long and 3 meters wide
• Floor tape or two cones to mark starting and ending lines (optional)
• Video camera and monitor display (hybrid delivery only)

Before participants arrive

1. Clear all chairs, bags, and obstacles from a central walking corridor of at least 6 meters.
2. Ensure footwear is secure and the floor is dry and non-slip.

Say this to open

We are going to run a coordination and trust exercise called Slice and Dice. You will form two facing lines about two meters apart and swing your arms up and down. A volunteer will walk between the lines at an even pace while everyone maintains timing so no one touches. Participation is completely voluntary, and anyone who prefers not to walk or swing arms can serve as safety spotters at either end.

How to run it

1. Set corridor and practice timing 4 minutes

   Divide the group into two equal lines facing each other, spaced 1.5 to 2 meters apart. If there is an odd number of participants, designate one person as the end-of-corridor spotter. Have both lines practice swinging their arms full stretch in front of them in a smooth, continuous up-and-down chopping motion. Ensure everyone maintains their spacing and stays rooted in place without leaning into the center.

2. Establish safety protocol and call commands 3 minutes

   Explain the safety rules: the walker moves at a steady, normal walking pace with eyes open. The swingers must actively adjust their arm rhythm so they never touch the walker. Establish the check-in call before every run: Walker calls 'Ready?', group responds 'Ready!', walker calls 'Walking!', and enters the corridor. Anyone may call 'Stop!' instantly if spacing closes too narrow.

3. Conduct volunteer runs 5 minutes

   Invite a volunteer to start two meters back from the corridor entrance. Run the call-and-response protocol. The volunteer walks through while the lines swing their arms, clearing the corridor safely. Repeat for 3 to 4 volunteers who actively choose to try the walker role. Rotate previous walkers into the lines or spotter positions.

4. Debrief group coordination 3 minutes

   Gather the group into a circle. Ask two debrief questions about awareness, pacing, and collective responsibility. Take 3 to 4 brief reflections from volunteers to conclude the session.

Debrief questions

• For the walkers, what helped you keep a steady pace despite the movement around you?
• For the people in line, what adjustments did you make to protect the walker while maintaining the movement?
• How does this exercise reflect how we manage shared responsibility under pressure?

Finished output: Completion of timed volunteer runs through the corridor with zero physical contact, followed by group reflection.

Remote

This physical trust exercise cannot be run remotely. As a separate alternative for online teams exploring timing and collective coordination, run 'Count to Twenty': the team attempts to count collectively from 1 to 20 with cameras on, where anyone can speak the next number, but if two people speak at once, the count resets to 1.

Hybrid

In a hybrid setting, in-person participants form the corridor and walk while remote participants observe via the camera and screen setup, acting as timekeepers and safety auditors who give feedback on line alignment and rhythm.

Access and participation choices

• Participants may choose whether to be a walker, an arm swinger, a line-end spotter, or an outside safety observer.
• Participants can step out at any moment without explanation by stepping backward out of the line.

If the session gets stuck

Lines start creeping closer together during the swinging motion, narrowing the corridor.

Call a pause immediately. Reset the lines to a measured 2-meter gap using floor tape or floor markers before restarting.

A walker hesitates, ducks, or runs rapidly through the lines.

Remind the group that safety depends on predictable, steady walking. Ask the walker to pause, reset to the entry mark, and walk at a measured pace.

Terms used here

• Spotter: A participant stationed at the corridor entrance or exit to monitor space and call an immediate halt if boundaries shift.