--- title: "Salt and Pepper" description: "Participants stand along a central line dividing Salt and Pepper zones and rapidly jump or step to the called side. Players self-eliminate on errors until a final winner remains." last_updated: "2026-09-07" canonical: "https://unitedwetransform.com/exercises/exciting-warm-up-game-boosts-energy-laughter-salt-pepper/" --- # Salt and Pepper Participants stand along a central line dividing Salt and Pepper zones and rapidly jump or step to the called side. Players self-eliminate on errors until a final winner remains. **Time:** 10 minutes. UWT suggested allocation based on 5 to 15 minute energizer format. **People:** 4 to 12. Single line facing the facilitator ## Choose this exercise **Purpose:** Test auditory concentration and physical reaction speed through an active movement drill. **Use it when:** Use as a fast physical energizer between sedentary sessions to wake up attention and get people standing. **Skip it when:** Skip when participants need seated recovery, wear slick footwear unsuited to quick movement, or require quiet, focused discussion. ## Materials and tools - Floor tape, chalk, or rope to mark an 18 to 20 meter straight boundary line ## Before participants arrive 1. Lay down an 18 to 20 meter straight tape line on the floor. 2. Ensure at least 1.5 meters of unobstructed floor space on both sides of the line. ## Say this to open Line up along this tape line facing me with at least one meter of clearance on each side. The side to my left is Salt, and the side to my right is Pepper. When I call a side, jump or step to that side immediately. For example, if I call Pepper, land on the Pepper side. If you are already on that side and I call it again, stay completely still. If you step to the wrong side, cross when you should stay put, or hesitate, step back to help spot. ## How to run it ### 1. Position participants and run practice calls (2 minutes) Read the opening script. Have participants spread out along the line with arms extended to confirm at least one meter between neighbors. Confirm the directional cues: facilitator's left is Salt, facilitator's right is Pepper. Run two slow practice calls so everyone tests their footing. ### 2. Run round one with elimination (3 minutes) Call out 'Salt' and 'Pepper' in varied, unpredictable sequences. Participants jump or step to the called side immediately. Anyone who moves toward the wrong side, crosses the line incorrectly, or flinches when their side is repeated steps back off the line. Run until one participant remains or time expires. ### 3. Run round two with varied cadence (3 minutes) Reset all participants along the line for round two. Increase call speed and chain repeated prompts together (such as 'Salt, Salt, Pepper, Salt'). Conclude when one player remains standing or the round hits three minutes. ### 4. Regroup and debrief (2 minutes) Gather the group into a loose arc around the line. If remote players participate, prompt them to turn their cameras back on now. Invite two participants to share their answers to the debrief questions. ## Debrief questions - What made reacting harder: repeated identical calls or rapid alternating calls? - When your body anticipated the wrong side, what helped you catch yourself in time? **Finished output:** Completion of two rapid reaction rounds with self-officiated eliminations. ## Remote Participants stand in camera view with clear space to step one pace left or right. Standardize directional cues to match the facilitator: the facilitator's left (viewer's right) is Salt and the facilitator's right (viewer's left) is Pepper, or simply call out 'Left' and 'Right'. The facilitator calls commands aloud. Anyone who steps to the wrong side or moves when they should stay put turns off their camera until the round ends. All remote players turn their cameras back on for the debrief. ## Hybrid In-person players align along the room floor line while remote participants stand in webcam view. The facilitator aligns the room and screen by designating facilitator's left as Salt and right as Pepper. Eliminated players in the room step back, while remote players turn off cameras. In step 4, the facilitator calls all remote participants to turn cameras back on to join the debrief. ## Access and participation choices - Participants may step across the line rather than jump, or remain seated and point firmly to the designated side. - Anyone may opt out of active physical play without disclosure and act as a line caller or spotter. ## If the session gets stuck **Participants bump into each other when crossing the line.** Pause the game. Have everyone stretch their arms out to verify at least one meter of space between neighbors along the tape line before resuming. **Disputes occur about whether someone flinched or stepped late.** Remind players that this is a quick warm-up relying strictly on the honor system to step back when a fault occurs. ## Terms used here - Honor system: A rule where participants monitor and acknowledge their own reaction mistakes without an external referee calling them out. ## Sources and adaptation Observed in Playmeo activity library, attributed on site to Mark Collard. Retained the Playmeo line-jumping mechanic with verbal calls and elimination. Added stepping and seated access options, expanded the required line length to 18-20 meters to safely accommodate 12 people at 1-meter spacing, standardized Salt/Pepper directional orientations across in-person and remote modes, and added explicit instructions to re-enable webcams for debrief. [Playmeo](https://www.playmeo.com/activities/energizer-warm-up-games/salt-pepper/) [Playmeo](https://www.playmeo.com/activities/energizer-warm-up-games/salt-pepper) Current run sheet: https://unitedwetransform.com/exercises/exciting-warm-up-game-boosts-energy-laughter-salt-pepper/