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.
Part 1: Circle up your group. Count off in sequence starting from "1" all the way around the circle. (It might be helpful to hand off a tossable starting with #1, one player at a time, all the way around in numerical order.) Tell everyone to, "remember your number!" (I like to go around one or two more times, calling numbers, so there is less chance of forgetting!
Part 2: When everyone has a (different) number, ask all the players to form a new circle without standing next to anyone within numerical sequence of their own number. So, #2 should not be next to #1 or #3. Number 6 should not stand next to #5 or #7. Number 1 should not stand next to #2 or the highest number in the group. Before any tossing occurs, have participants count off around the circle, starting with #1 then going to the right. If anyone is in numerical sequence of one another, change up the circle.
Within this new circle (unsequential number order), 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.
This might be 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 9/20/25)
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.
Part 1: Circle up your group. Count off in sequence starting from "1" all the way around the circle. (It might be helpful to hand off a tossable starting with #1, one player at a time, all the way around in numerical order.) Tell everyone to, "remember your number!" (I like to go around one or two more times, calling numbers, so there is less chance of forgetting!
Part 2: When everyone has a (different) number, ask all the players to form a new circle without standing next to anyone within numerical sequence of their own number. So, #2 should not be next to #1 or #3. Number 6 should not stand next to #5 or #7. Number 1 should not stand next to #2 or the highest number in the group. Before any tossing occurs, have participants count off around the circle, starting with #1 then going to the right. If anyone is in numerical sequence of one another, change up the circle.
Within this new circle (unsequential number order), 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.
This might be 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 9/20/25)
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