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Tarp Tossing (3 Challenges)

7/7/2023

7 Comments

 

Tossing stuff with tarps, sheets and towels has been a fun team building activity for a long time. (My favorite memory: Karl Rohnke getting a group to tarp toss over 100 corks in the air - check out Raining Corks.)

I finally got some video of my go-to Tarp Tossing sequence. It's part of a 2-hour curriculum I wrote focusing on cooperation. (Cooperation processing ideas below.) 

Needs & Numbers: I use 6 by 8-foot medium duty plastic tarps - a good price range and they hold up well. If you can afford it, get the heavy duty plastic tarps or canvas drop cloths. (SAFETY WARNING: Be careful around the metal grommets found on most plastic tarps - don't let fingers get into the holes. I like to roll/fold up the edges a couple times [2 rolls only] to cover the grommets - this also provides for a better grip on the tarp.) 

You'll also need a safe tossable object. I use a slightly deflated playground-type ball (those dollar store inflatable ones work well). I deflate them enough so if the catch is missed the ball does not go (roll or bounce) very far from the group.

Tossing works well with 4 to 8 players per tarp, middle school ages and older. (NOTE: When I worked with elementary ages the parachute was my go-to prop for tossing stuff together.) 

Challenges
Here are the three Phases/Challenges I like to present (and if you are near basketball hoops, there is another challenge):  

Phase 1: Toss Up - Each group/tarp in play is challenged to toss up their object approximately ten feet into the air and then catch it in their tarp. You (the facilitator) can be the judge of height or hold each group accountable for 'height validation' - was it high enough or not? After some practice, try the 2-minute challenge: How many catches can each group get in the two minutes? (Maybe, each group sets a goal prior to the attempt. How about a second attempt to improve on the score?) BONUS Challenge: If you have a basketball court at your disposal, try to 'Toss Up' into the basket. 

Phase 2: This challenge needs at least two tarp groups. Start out with one tossable for every two groups. After getting practice with 'Toss Up' (above), the two groups will toss back-and-forth to each other. The tossable must go at least 10-feet high, ultimately being caught by the tarp group that did not toss the tossable. After some problem solving and practice, try the 2-minute challenge: How many catches in two minutes? (Maybe a second round after some first-round problem solving to improve the score.) NOTE: If you need to form a group of three, position the tarp groups in a triangle formation. BONUS Challenge: Give each tarp group a tossable and challenge pairs (or a group of three) to toss and catch simultaneously. 

Phase 3: When there is time (and still some Tarp Tossing energy), present this single group challenge. Tarp groups are tasked to 1) toss up their object, 2) turn their tarp over 180 degrees, and 3) catch their object in their tarp. This challenge takes a bit more time to work out the 'problems' that arise and get "on the same page." The 2-minute challenge for this one: How many catches 'in a row' can be made? That's, toss-turn-catch. 

During this third Phase, I have the groups discuss, plan and practice for a while in order to build competencies. Then, we take some time for each group to share how they are approaching the challenge - one tarp group at a time shows everyone else. Then, groups get back to practicing. This part is brought up later in the processing session to see if groups had any influence on another group's process. What is the 'best' way? Is there a best way? What factors influence the best way? Who won?

After a bit more practice we move into the 2-minute challenge - catches in a row. Again, I always like to provide a process improvement opportunity after the first attempt.  
Processing Tarp Tossing focusing on Cooperation

This is the first question I like to ask: 
  • How do you all define cooperation? 

We put everyone's ideas together to form the group's understanding of cooperation. (Basically, cooperating to define cooperation.) 

As an example, I asked ChatGPT (AI) to provide "a short definition of cooperation." 

Response: 


Cooperation refers to the act of individuals, groups, or entities working together towards a common goal or objective. It involves collaboration, mutual assistance, and joint efforts to achieve outcomes that benefit all participants involved. Cooperation often entails sharing resources, information, skills, or responsibilities to maximize efficiency and effectiveness. It is characterized by the willingness to compromise, communicate, and coordinate actions for the greater good, fostering harmony and positive interdependence among participants.

Many of the concepts I've bolded above are brought up by group members forming their definition. I then pick a few of the concepts to explore depending on the overall outcomes the group is working towards: 
  • What did "working together" look and sound like for you in your group? What did you enjoy about working together with your group? How could you be better at working together? 
  • What 'common goals' did you work on together during the challenges? What goals were imposted by someone else and which ones were generated by you? Which goals did you reach or exceed? How do you feel about your successes and your failures to achieve the goals? What is difficult about setting goals? How do goals help us? 
  • Think back on how you 'communicated' with each other - what are your thoughts about the way your group communicated? What went well? What could be better? Share examples of the ways you would like others to communicate with you. What barriers prevent good communication? How can we eliminate these barriers? 
  • What is the 'greater good' for you all right now? What does this mean to you? Why is it important to you? 
  • What does 'positive interdependence' look like to you right now? What is important about this concept? 
Tarp Tossing is easy to set up, fun to experience and rich with take-aways. The cooperation focus is simply one direction you can take the discussion. 

Let us know where it takes you! 

All the best, 

Chris Cavert, Ed.D. 

7 Comments
Jennifer Steinmetz
7/27/2023 05:35:20 pm

Used this recently... rainy day activity at camp. Worked so well with all the ages with slight tweeks. What is not fun about tossing a rubber fish with a tarp?

Reply
Chris
8/28/2023 06:33:08 pm

Hi Jennifer! I like the reminder about using this one indoors - definitely a good one for rainy days and being mindful of surroundings (mind the ceiling).

Reply
Neil Mercer link
11/20/2024 07:13:49 am

Hi Chris,
I inadvertantly deleted this. I'm reposting it because I think it might be useful for your other subscribers.
Thanks for your response!

Hey there Chris!
Hope you are well.
I finally used the tarps that I bought after seeing your Tarp Tossing exercise online.
I used it working with young people – groups aged 10-11 and also 15-16.
The groups received the following instructions for the first stage:
“Your objective is to bounce the ball at least 2 meters into the air from the height of the tarp when it is held in your hands. You’ve got to bounce the ball 6 times.
There are two main rules:
1. You may not hold the ball in your hands.
2. The ball may not touch the ground.
If either of these happen, you must reset and start again.”

A few useful insights came out from this.
 The stuff that we are not told. At some point one of the participants ‘headed’ the ball back onto the tarp without realising it. Then another batted the ball back with their hand before it hit the ground. At first, they thought that this was not allowed and tried to hide it from me. When they realised it was OK, they used this mechanism to keep the ball going if it shot off to the side.
There are often instructions or rules with subtexts or other issues that are not mentioned. What do we do with these? Do we ignore them or experiment with them? How do we recognise that they are even there? In a group environment, do we share this knowledge or keep it to ourselves?
 This “Volleyball” option introduced another level of planning and also provoked the need to allocate different roles in the team, positioning some of the group members around the sides of the action – A revelation: Not everyone needs to hold the tarp!
Some options are so obvious that we ignore or are blinded by them, thus missing other, possibly preferable opportunities.
 The Volleyball option is also not simple. It, too, needs to be planned and practiced.
 One other observation is that at first, almost every team felt the need to perform this task quickly – like volleyball – flipping the ball immediately after it lands. No one said that they could not catch the ball in the tarp, collect their composure before moving on to the next flip of the ball. Sometimes, we just need to breathe for a moment, assess our performance before moving ahead.
Don’t panic! Recognise when and where you can take control in a seemingly hectic situation.

I’m going to be using this a lot more – I just need to find a stronger tarp. My one, although new, has already started to fall apart!

Reply
Chris
11/30/2024 10:32:22 am

Thanks for Reposting this Neil. I just shared your insights (love them, by the way) in my latest FUNdoing Fridays email. I always learn from your thoughts!!

Reply
Karen Whittaker
12/2/2024 05:31:07 am

I love these activities. I have done "tarp tossing" with parachutes for years. I call it Fling It. I divide a class in half and give them each a large parachute and a playground ball (not a dodge ball, light than that.). I give them practice time of course. It takes a bit of time to figure out how to get everyone on the same page.
The tarp flip we call "Sunny Side Up." Love this one too. We add balls for each successful flip. My high school students have successfully flipped 16 tennis balls and the Army Corp of engineers have accomplished 26 tennis balls! I will send the video to your email. It is quite impressive!

Reply
Chris
12/3/2024 12:07:33 pm

Thanks Karen!! I'm excited to try Sunny Side Up.

Reply
Neil Mercer link
12/11/2024 06:18:19 am

Hi Karen,
I'd love to see the video too, if you don't mind sharing it!

Reply

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    Dr. Chris Cavert is an internationally known author, speaker, and trainer in the area of adventure-based activity programming and its relation to community and pro-social behavior development.

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