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: 86c386849adcea99bcaa7a714d25daa7465536388fd0214c7bc00d0f3f673767

# Trust Line

Participants form two facing lines while a central volunteer leans between two active spotters who cushion and return them upright. Each spotter who catches and resets the volunteer rotates to the end of the line so fresh spotters continually step up.

**Time:** 15 minutes. UWT suggested duration to allow demonstration, verbal protocol setup, several volunteer rounds, and debrief.
**People:** 7 to 17. One central volunteer between two facing lines of 3 to 8 spotters each; an extra participant can serve as safety observer.

## Choose this exercise

**Purpose:** Demonstrate rotating physical support and structured verbal readiness calls in an in-person line formation.
**Use it when:** Use during in-person workshops when groups have established basic physical safety norms and members consent to physical spotting.
**Skip it when:** Skip when participants avoid physical contact, have balance or spine constraints, or lack open floor space.

## Materials and tools

- No special materials.

## Before participants arrive

1. Clear a flat, unobstructed floor area of at least 4 by 4 meters with level, non-slip footing.

## Say this to open

Today we will run Trust Line. One person volunteers to stand in the center and lean forward or backward with a firm posture. Two facing spotters catch and return the volunteer to center. Each spotter steps out after a catch so the line continually advances. Participation is fully voluntary. You may spot, serve as visual safety observer, or sit out entirely.

## How to run it

### 1. Set safety stances and verbal protocol (3 minutes)

Demonstrate the faller stance: feet together, arms crossed over the chest, body firm. Demonstrate the spotter stance: one foot back in an athletic lunge, hands up at chest level, eyes forward. Teach the call sequence. The faller asks, 'Spotters ready?' Both active spotters answer, 'Ready.' The faller calls, 'Falling,' and spotters answer, 'Fall on.' Only then does the faller lean.

### 2. Form lines and position first volunteer (2 minutes)

Arrange the group into two facing lines about one meter apart. If numbers are uneven, place the extra person as an outside safety observer. Invite one volunteer into the center space between the head spotters. Confirm the first pair of spotters is in athletic stance.

### 3. Execute rotating catches (7 minutes)

The faller speaks the readiness calls and leans toward one spotter. That spotter cushions the upper back or shoulders and guides the faller back to center toward the opposite partner. Once that spotter completes the return, they step out to their left and join the back of the facing line. The next person in line steps into the spotter stance. The opposite spotter then catches, returns, and rotates out in the same manner. Rotate the central volunteer every 30 seconds for 3 to 5 rounds.

### 4. Debrief spotting dynamics (3 minutes)

Gather in a circle. Invite two or three participants to share how the verbal checks and spotter changes affected their sense of stability.


## Debrief questions

- What difference did the verbal readiness calls make before each lean?
- How did the continuous rotation of spotters affect your focus as a spotter or faller?

**Finished output:** Completion of structured spotting rotations with confirmed readiness calls across participating volunteers.

## Remote

This physical spotting exercise cannot be run online. As a separate non-physical communication alternative, run a sequential verbal countdown where participants count from 1 to 20 without speaking simultaneously.

## Hybrid

This exercise is in-person only due to physical spotting requirements. Remote attendees cannot share the physical mechanic; offer them the separate non-physical countdown alternative in a dedicated video breakout.

## Access and participation choices

- Participants may choose to serve only as a spotter, act as a visual safety observer, or pass entirely without explanation.
- Any participant can stop the rotation instantly by stepping back to center or saying 'stop'.

## If the session gets stuck

**A spotter pushes the faller too hard instead of easing them upright.**

Pause the round. Remind spotters to absorb the person's weight and guide them gently back to vertical rather than thrusting them across.

**The faller bends at the hips rather than maintaining a straight posture.**

Ask the faller to reset, lock their core, keep their arms tucked close, and take a much shallower lean.


## Terms used here

- Spotter stance: An athletic stance with one foot behind the other, knees flexed, and hands raised forward to cushion weight safely.
- Readiness calls: A standard call-and-response phrase sequence used to confirm both spotters are ready before any lean begins.

## Sources and adaptation

Observed on Playmeo, where it is listed as an activity by Mark Collard.

Retained the two-line rotation mechanic and spotter-stepping pattern from Playmeo. UWT expanded explicit verbal safety protocols, defined precise step timings, clarified consent boundaries, introduced non-physical roles, and structured debrief questions.

[Playmeo](https://www.playmeo.com/activities/trust-building-games/trust-line)

[Playmeo](https://www.playmeo.com/activities/trust-building-games/trust-line/)

Current run sheet: https://unitedwetransform.com/exercises/powerful-trust-building-activity-with-flowing-support-trust-line/