Salt and Pepper

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.

Group arrangement: Single line facing the facilitator

Timing: UWT suggested allocation based on 5 to 15 minute energizer format.

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.