Ro Sham Bo Cheer Train

Choose this exercise

Purpose: Raise group energy and refocus attention through a rapid, escalating elimination game.

Use it when: Use as an active warm-up or after a long sedentary presentation to get everyone standing and moving.

Skip it when: Skip if the group requires a quiet, low-stimulus environment, has space constraints that prevent free movement, or if members express discomfort with loud vocal chanting.

Group arrangement: Pairs merging into lines behind remaining leaders

Timing: UWT suggested duration to allow setup, two full rounds with line movement, and brief debrief.

Materials and tools

• Video conferencing platform with chat, spotlighting, and audio/video capabilities (for remote or hybrid settings)

Before participants arrive

1. Clear a central open space in the room so participants can move freely without tripping over chairs or bags.
2. For hybrid sessions, designate a co-facilitator to manage the virtual room and test screen projection and room audio.

Say this to open

We are going to play a rapid tournament of Rock-Paper-Scissors. When you win a matchup, you stay active and find another winner. If you lose, you become that player's personal cheer section, walking behind them and cheering their name as they face their next opponent.

How to run it

1. Explain rules and hand signals 2 minutes

   Demonstrate the standard hand signals: Rock beats Scissors, Scissors beats Paper, Paper beats Rock. Establish the count: pump fists on 'Rock, Paper, Scissors' and present the symbol on 'Shoot'. If there is an odd number of participants, appoint one person as the official roving referee. Remind everyone that touching shoulders is optional; participants may follow closely without physical contact.

2. Run first tournament 3 minutes

   Ask all participants to pair with someone nearby. On your signal, pairs play one sudden-death round. The runner-up immediately stands behind the winner and chants that winner's first name. Winners move around the room to find another winner to challenge, trailed by their cheering line. The tournament continues until two large lines face each other for a final showdown.

3. Run rematch tournament 3 minutes

   Call 'Rematch!' to disperse the lines. Participants find a completely new partner for a fresh start. Run the elimination again, ending in a final showdown with two new leaders.

4. Debrief and reset 2 minutes

   Bring the room together to stand calmly. Ask one or two reflection questions to transition focus back to the main agenda.

Debrief questions

• What shifted in the room's energy as the lines grew larger?
• How did it feel to cheer for someone who just knocked you out of the game?

Finished output: The entire room unified into two supporting teams concluding with a single tournament winner.

Remote

All participants keep cameras on in gallery view. The facilitator pairs players sequentially by calling names. Pairs play Rock-Paper-Scissors on camera on the count of three. When a player is eliminated, they rename themselves to add '[Cheering for PlayerName]' and cheer in the chat. As the field narrows, the facilitator spotlights remaining competitors until two finalists duel on camera while the rest of the group floods the chat with support.

Hybrid

Station a designated co-facilitator or remote host to manage the virtual participants. In-person participants run their train while remote participants run theirs via video. Remote participants who lose rename themselves to include their winner's name and post cheers in the chat. For the final showdown, spotlight the final remote champion on the room screen to face the final in-person champion via video, with in-person cheers in the room and remote cheers projected on screen.

Access and participation choices

• Physical contact is strictly optional; participants may walk behind the leader without placing hands on shoulders.
• Anyone may opt out of movement or vocal cheering by acting as an official referee, score checker, or neutral observer without giving a reason.

If the session gets stuck

Participants argue over late throws or simultaneous ties.

Enforce an immediate redo on the spot whenever timing is unclear.

An odd number of participants leaves one person without a partner at the start.

Assign the extra person as the roving referee to verify clean throws and call false starts.

Terms used here

• Ro Sham Bo: A traditional hand-game alternative name for Rock-Paper-Scissors.