I’ve been playing the traditional Quick Line Up for a long time. The earliest publication I found this one in is Karl Rohnke’s Bottomless Baggie (1991). As he says, it breaks some ice and provides “a low-risk, low-skill sense of team affiliation.”
Here are the basics. (Refer to the diagram.) There are 24 participants in the example group above. I don’t plan this one for less than 16 people (four per team), no more than 32 (eight per team). The group is creatively divided into four smaller teams. The facilitator, the purple figure in the center of the square, is facing the ‘North’ team after setting the four teams into a square formation. (If the group is not divisible by four, some teams may have one more person than other teams – this is okay for the way I play this cooperative interaction.)
The position of each team in the square is an important part of the activity. The facilitator explains that during play each team will orientate themselves to the facilitator in the same way after the facilitator moves. The group standing in front of the facilitator is the North Team. The group standing behind the facilitator is the South Team. To the left of the facilitator is the West Team, and to the right of the facilitator is the East Team.
The fun begins when the facilitator changes their orientation. Let’s say the facilitator, while standing in the center of the square, simply turns around 180 degrees. The four teams will wait until the facilitator shouts, “Line Up!” After this que, all teams move (safely) to their designated position in relation to the facilitator’s orientation. The North Team moves their line to the front of the facilitator and the South Team moves around behind. The West and East move to the left and right of the facilitator respectively. When the teams reform their lines in the new location team members must line up in the same order as the last line they were in.
Here are the basics. (Refer to the diagram.) There are 24 participants in the example group above. I don’t plan this one for less than 16 people (four per team), no more than 32 (eight per team). The group is creatively divided into four smaller teams. The facilitator, the purple figure in the center of the square, is facing the ‘North’ team after setting the four teams into a square formation. (If the group is not divisible by four, some teams may have one more person than other teams – this is okay for the way I play this cooperative interaction.)
The position of each team in the square is an important part of the activity. The facilitator explains that during play each team will orientate themselves to the facilitator in the same way after the facilitator moves. The group standing in front of the facilitator is the North Team. The group standing behind the facilitator is the South Team. To the left of the facilitator is the West Team, and to the right of the facilitator is the East Team.
The fun begins when the facilitator changes their orientation. Let’s say the facilitator, while standing in the center of the square, simply turns around 180 degrees. The four teams will wait until the facilitator shouts, “Line Up!” After this que, all teams move (safely) to their designated position in relation to the facilitator’s orientation. The North Team moves their line to the front of the facilitator and the South Team moves around behind. The West and East move to the left and right of the facilitator respectively. When the teams reform their lines in the new location team members must line up in the same order as the last line they were in.
After this initial practice run the facilitator checks in to see if everyone understands the process, then moves again. The facilitator does a little jump-spin of 135 degrees and says, “Line Up!” Then, waits for the results. Once everyone is set, the facilitator does another 180 spin and calls, “Line Up!” After the three test runs, the group is ready for the Name Game part of the adventure.
[NOTE: Traditionally, Quick Line Up continues with the facilitator moving outside the square to different places in the activity area to get the teams running around and sorting themselves out. Again, as Karl said, this one’s a nice “low-risk, low-skill sense of team affiliation.” As a name game, we’re going to add a bit more challenge and connection.]
Quick Line Up Name Game Version
For the Name Game (I’m experimenting with), the facilitator explains, there are some roles to fill. (Notice in the graphic above.) Each team has a ‘Lead’ and a “Sweep.” The lead is standing at the right end of their team’s line, the sweep is at the left end – this is in relation to every team facing the facilitator inside of the square.
The facilitator, reorienting inside the square, will practice the ‘name-frenzy’ with the teams a couple times. The facilitator moves, calls “Line Up” and then the teams move. After each team relocates and line up, the Sweeps will move down their lines performing a name-frenzy, moving from person to person, saying each person’s name as they go.
[NOTE: Traditionally, Quick Line Up continues with the facilitator moving outside the square to different places in the activity area to get the teams running around and sorting themselves out. Again, as Karl said, this one’s a nice “low-risk, low-skill sense of team affiliation.” As a name game, we’re going to add a bit more challenge and connection.]
Quick Line Up Name Game Version
For the Name Game (I’m experimenting with), the facilitator explains, there are some roles to fill. (Notice in the graphic above.) Each team has a ‘Lead’ and a “Sweep.” The lead is standing at the right end of their team’s line, the sweep is at the left end – this is in relation to every team facing the facilitator inside of the square.
The facilitator, reorienting inside the square, will practice the ‘name-frenzy’ with the teams a couple times. The facilitator moves, calls “Line Up” and then the teams move. After each team relocates and line up, the Sweeps will move down their lines performing a name-frenzy, moving from person to person, saying each person’s name as they go.
Eventually, the Sweep steps into their line just past the Lead and the Sweep says their own name.
Now, the old Sweep has just positioned themselves as the new Lead and the person at the left end of the line is now the new Sweep (who will do the name-frenzy after the next “Line Up!”) After a couple of reorientations with the facilitator inside the circle, the facilitator ventures outside the circle to other locations in the area.
I’ll play enough rounds so everyone on each team has a turn to do the name-frenzy. The spirit of the game is to move around, help each other get to where they belong, practice names, and have some fun! My body and energy during play is upbeat, encouraging, and constantly in motion. We don’t have to process this one (of course, you can), just enjoy the chaos and interaction.
Let us know how this one works for you! Leave a Comment below.
All the best,
Chris Cavert, Ed.D.
I’ll play enough rounds so everyone on each team has a turn to do the name-frenzy. The spirit of the game is to move around, help each other get to where they belong, practice names, and have some fun! My body and energy during play is upbeat, encouraging, and constantly in motion. We don’t have to process this one (of course, you can), just enjoy the chaos and interaction.
Let us know how this one works for you! Leave a Comment below.
All the best,
Chris Cavert, Ed.D.
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