Works with Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini, or your own local model: paste this prompt and your AI will co-facilitate this exercise with you.

Help me prepare and run the exercise below. First ask for my participant count, time, setting, access needs and intended result. Check these against the stated limits. Use the supplied rules and materials. Explain any proposed changes before using them, and label them as adaptations. Do not invent source claims or require personal disclosure. Give me one step at a time when I say start. I manage the people, physical activity and clock; do not claim to observe the room. Ask me what happened before choosing a next step.

Reference revision: 912ae8a21b49906cffba5ba0b5e2eeb9e0cf7ed729eed130f4210f764cf403fa

# Stop and Go

Participants walk through an open space and instantly respond to verbal commands to freeze or move. Control shifts from the facilitator to any group member calling the cues.

**Time:** 6 minutes. Playmeo suggests 1 to 2 minutes of active play; 6 minutes accommodates setup, practice, group-led movement, and a brief debrief.
**People:** 4 to 24. Whole group moving independently in a shared space

## Choose this exercise

**Purpose:** Coordinate group attention and quick physical response to shifting verbal cues.
**Use it when:** Use at the start of a session or after long periods of sitting when the group needs light physical movement and shared attention.
**Skip it when:** Skip if the room has trip hazards, very limited floor space, or when participants need quiet, low-stimulus work.

## Materials and tools

- None required

## Before participants arrive

1. Clear bags, chairs, and cables to create an unobstructed walking area in the center of the room.

## Say this to open

We will move around the open floor space. When I call 'GO', start walking at a steady pace. When I call 'STOP', freeze right where you are. Keep your eyes up to avoid collisions. Let us try it.

## How to run it

### 1. Introduce rules and walk boundaries (1 minutes)

Gather participants standing at the perimeter of the cleared area. Deliver the opening script. Direct everyone to pick an open path through the room without bumping into others.

### 2. Practice facilitator commands (1 minutes)

Call out 'GO' to start everyone walking. After five to ten seconds, call out 'STOP'. Confirm that everyone halts immediately. Repeat the alternating cues three to four times in varied intervals until the whole room responds together.

### 3. Transfer commands to participants (2 minutes)

Announce that anyone in the room may now call out 'STOP' or 'GO' at any time. When any person speaks a command, the entire room must obey it immediately. Maintain continuous movement and freezing for two minutes. If two contradictory calls overlap, 'STOP' takes priority.

### 4. Debrief and transition (2 minutes)

Call a final 'STOP' and invite participants to stay standing or take a seat. Ask one debrief question to the room. Take two or three brief volunteer responses, then move to the next agenda item.


## Debrief questions

- What helped you react without hesitation when the cue came?
- What changed in the room dynamic once anyone could call out a command?

**Finished output:** The group completes synchronized stops and starts led by facilitator and peer calls.

## Remote

Have everyone turn on cameras and stand so their upper bodies show on screen. Participants march in place on 'GO' and freeze on 'STOP'. To avoid audio echo, use the chat box for typed commands or designate callers sequentially using the participant list.

## Hybrid

In-person participants move around the physical room while remote participants march in place on camera. Use a room microphone and speaker so remote callers can issue commands into the room and hear in-person calls clearly.

## Access and participation choices

- Participants who prefer seated participation can raise both hands on 'GO' and rest them flat on their lap or desk on 'STOP'.
- Anyone may opt out of moving and serve as an outside observer or caller without having to disclose a reason.

## If the session gets stuck

**Participants bump into each other while walking quickly.**

Remind everyone to keep their gaze forward, maintain an arm's-length buffer, and walk at a moderate pace without running.

**Multiple participants call opposite commands at the exact same moment.**

Reiterate the rule: whenever two calls overlap, 'STOP' always wins over 'GO'.


## Sources and adaptation

Observed on Playmeo, where the activity is attributed to Mark Collard.

Retained the core Stop and Go mechanic from the Playmeo source text, including the progression from facilitator cues to open participant calls. Formatted the activity into four distinct procedural steps to meet UWT structure standards. Added seated participation options, remote and hybrid plans, safety checks, and debrief prompts.

[Playmeo](https://www.playmeo.com/activities/energizer-warm-up-games/stop-go/)

[Playmeo](https://www.playmeo.com/activities/energizer-warm-up-games/stop-go)

Current run sheet: https://unitedwetransform.com/exercises/fun-group-energiser-builds-quick-reactions-laughter-stop-go/