# Porthole

A team plans and executes passing every participant safely through a suspended tire with active spotting. The group coordinates physical support and strategy while prioritizing bodily safety.

**Time:** 20 minutes. Based on the 15 to 20 minute range recorded by Playmeo.
**People:** 4 to 8. Single team of 4 to 8 participants working directly with the suspended element.

## Choose this exercise

**Purpose:** Demonstrate collective planning and physical spotting to move a group through a restricted opening safely.
**Use it when:** Use during challenge ropes course sequences or outdoor team initiatives when groups have learned basic spotting commands and agreed on safety norms.
**Skip it when:** Skip when participants do not want physical contact, when anyone lacks physical readiness for heavy lifting, or when a certified low-ropes installation with appropriate fall surfacing is unavailable.

## Materials and tools

- 1 suspended challenge-course tire (securely mounted vertically at waist-to-chest height with certified hardware)
- Fall attenuation surfacing (pea gravel, wood chips, or approved outdoor mats beneath the tire)
- 1 stopwatch or clock visible to the facilitator

## Before participants arrive

1. Inspect the suspended tire rigging, anchor cables, and hardware according to facility safety standards.
2. Check that the landing zone on both sides of the tire is clear of roots, loose obstacles, and hazards.
3. Confirm participants have removed jewelry, watches, loose items, and lanyards.

## Say this to open

Your goal is to move every member of your team from this side of the tire to the other side through the opening. Everyone may touch and steady the tire at any time. Spotters must be positioned on both sides whenever someone passes through. Take time to plan your sequence and spotting roles before anyone moves through.

## How to run it

### 1. Review safety and establish spotting (4 minutes)

Demonstrate the proper spotting stance: feet staggered, knees bent, arms up with spoons-not-forks hands, eyes on the climber. Establish that every person passing through requires spotters positioned on the receiving side as well as the launching side. Remind participants that anyone can opt out of being lifted and serve as lead spotter or safety director.

### 2. Plan the sequence (4 minutes)

The group gathers on the launch side of the tire to plan their order and techniques. They determine who goes through first to establish spotters on the far side, how intermediate members are supported, and how the final person will exit.

### 3. Execute the passage (8 minutes)

The team implements their plan. Spotters manage the tire's swing and cradle the passing participant's head, neck, and torso. Participants may pause, step down, or reset the attempt at any point. Stop the exercise immediately if spotting drops or if anyone requests a stop.

### 4. Debrief the coordination (4 minutes)

Gather the team on the ground. Ask 2 or 3 selected debrief questions to examine communication, safety management, and how the team adjusted its plan.


## Debrief questions

- What criteria did you use to decide the order in which team members passed through?
- How did your group maintain effective spotting as your numbers shifted from one side of the tire to the other?
- What adjustments did you make when an initial movement felt awkward or unbalanced?

**Finished output:** Every participating team member successfully transitions to the far side of the tire, or the group reaches the agreed time limit while maintaining safety protocols.

## Remote

This low-ropes challenge requires physical spotting and a certified suspended tire. It cannot run in a remote environment without becoming an entirely different exercise. For an online communication challenge that explores sequencing and role division, use a virtual consensus or spatial-puzzle initiative instead.

## Hybrid

Hybrid delivery is not supported for this activity due to the physical spotting and rigging requirements on site.

## Access and participation choices

- Participants may choose active ground roles including primary tire stabilizer, verbal guide, or lead safety spotter without lifting or being lifted.
- Any participant can choose not to be lifted or touched by stating 'I will support from the ground' without offering personal explanation.

## If the session gets stuck

**The team tries to launch someone before setting up spotters on the receiving side.**

Pause the action immediately. Ask the group how the receiving side will manage the head and shoulders of the climber before anyone enters the tire.

**The tire swings wildly and pulls spotters off balance.**

Remind the team that touching and holding the tire steady is explicitly permitted. Instruct two team members to act as dedicated tire anchors.


## Terms used here

- Spotting: A physical stance and focused attention used to protect a climber's head, neck, and upper body from injury.

## Sources and adaptation

Observed in Playmeo activity database, credited to Mark Collard. Porthole is a traditional low-ropes challenge course element.

Retained the core rules from Playmeo (pass all members through the tire, spotting on both sides, touching the tire allowed, 15 to 20 minute timeframe). UWT added explicit step breakdowns, spotting demonstrations, safety pause rules, and non-lifting role assignments for accessibility.

[Playmeo](https://www.playmeo.com/activities/challenge-ropes-course/porthole/)

[Playmeo](https://www.playmeo.com/activities/challenge-ropes-course/porthole)

Current run sheet: https://unitedwetransform.com/exercises/fun-team-building-challenge-for-trust-collaboration-porthole/