On my list of top-ten interesting things I've experienced as an adventure education teacher/trainer have been the complexities groups get themselves into while creating the initial "pattern" for the activity Group Juggle (Rohnke). (HERES a detailed video of the basics.) When using this activity, I consider this initial pattern set up as an activity in and of itself, so I tend to include the set up creation process in the reflection of the experience.
However, there are times when I choose to cut to the case (or juggle) and get the pattern figured out right away. I discovered a fast and efficient way to set up a group juggle pattern from a fellow team builder.
Circle up your group. Count off in sequence from "1" all the way around the circle. (If you want, or if needed, hand off a tossable from #1, one player at a time, all the way around in numerical order to learn names.) When everyone has a (different) number, ask all the players in the circle to form a new circle without standing next to anyone within numerical sequence of their own number (in other words, make a new circle but inform everyone to remember their number).
Within this new circle, have player #1 start the juggle tossing to player #2, then #2 to #3 and so on - the highest numbered player tosses back to player #1. NOTE: If you notice a player tossing to someone next to them, stop the action, reshuffle the circle and try again. In the best Juggle, players do not toss to someone next to them.
Hope this is a revelation to some of you - it sure was for me! ("WOW, how easy was that?!")
Do you know any other ways to set up the juggle? Leave us a Comment below.
Chris Cavert, Ed.D.
(Updated 5/20/23)
However, there are times when I choose to cut to the case (or juggle) and get the pattern figured out right away. I discovered a fast and efficient way to set up a group juggle pattern from a fellow team builder.
Circle up your group. Count off in sequence from "1" all the way around the circle. (If you want, or if needed, hand off a tossable from #1, one player at a time, all the way around in numerical order to learn names.) When everyone has a (different) number, ask all the players in the circle to form a new circle without standing next to anyone within numerical sequence of their own number (in other words, make a new circle but inform everyone to remember their number).
Within this new circle, have player #1 start the juggle tossing to player #2, then #2 to #3 and so on - the highest numbered player tosses back to player #1. NOTE: If you notice a player tossing to someone next to them, stop the action, reshuffle the circle and try again. In the best Juggle, players do not toss to someone next to them.
Hope this is a revelation to some of you - it sure was for me! ("WOW, how easy was that?!")
Do you know any other ways to set up the juggle? Leave us a Comment below.
Chris Cavert, Ed.D.
(Updated 5/20/23)
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