Bull Ring: Hole in the Wall (Video)

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I do like the Bull Ring activity, popularized by my friend Dr. Jim Cain. There are lots of fun adaptations of the Bull Ring contraption (including the 3-D version SHOWN HERE). And, there are lots of challenges that can be presented with any of the Bull Rings. One of my favorites is, "Hole in the Wall". 

Here are my rules and the three-part progression to this challenge. (The participants in the video below are college students in a management-related masters degree program.):

RULES

• Each Part starts with the strings on the ground, the ring touching the base of the pedestal, and the ball on top of the pedestal - this is called the Home Position (left picture below). 
• When the ball is moving, each participant must be holding the end of at least one string (holding the small knot tied at the end of each string), and all strings must be tight. 
• For safety reasons, strings may not be wrapped around any part of the body (any body).
• The ball may not be tied to or held down onto the ring.
• If the ball falls off of the ring the attempt must begin again from the Home Position of the Part (1, 2 or 3) being attempted. 

NOTE: The picture below, on the right, is a typical set up. The Bull Ring contraption is set up in Home Position (near the bottom of the picture). The second pedestal is about 30 to 40 feet from the first. (I put a ball on the second pedestal so you can see it - the ball comes off before the activity begins.) After Part 1 the hula-hoop is placed between the two pedestals  FYI: The pedestals are large thread spools. 

PART 1: The group is challenged to move the Ball, using the Bull Ring contraption, from one pedestal to the other. 

PART 2: The group is challenged to move the Ball, using the Bull Ring contraption, from one pedestal to the other. Before placing the Ball on the second pedestal, all the participants and the Bull Ring contraption must pass through a hula-hoop being held up vertically by the facilitator. 

PART 3: The group is challenged to move the Ball, using the Bull Ring contraption, from one pedestal to the other. Before placing the Ball on the second pedestal, all the participants and the Bull Ring contraption must pass through a hula-hoop. This time the group must figure out how to manage the hula-hoop without the facilitators help. (This Part is shown in the video below.) 

I describe the hula-hoop to the group as a hole in a wall. A hole in a wall is in a vertical orientation and our hole in the wall has special powers - it can move around within the imaginary wall but it must stay in the vertical position.

When I am holding the hoop for the group (in Part 2), each participant can tell me how high they would like me to hold it and if they want it moved at any point during their passage through it. The hoop works the same way  in Part 3, but the group members have to figure out how to manipulate the hoop following the Rules of play. 

In the video below the group is (obviously) attempting Part 3. Noticed they have figured out a way, following the rules, to get through the hoop together after loosening the strings - remember, when the Ball is in motion the strings must be tight. (Now, does the Ball "move" during the loosening of the strings? We did talk about this during the processing session.)  

NOTE: I've titled the "Part 3" video below, Bull Ring Hooped since it's also on my YouTube channel by itself without a description. I didn't add any music to this video so you could listen to the participants work their plan. 

What's your favorite Bull Ring challenge? Leave us a Comment below. 

Have FUN out there!

Chris Cavert, Ed.D.