Games to Encourage Teamwork

Relay Lock Race

• Begin the game by dividing the players into pairs. Tell each pair to lock arms at the elbows while standing back to back. Place each pair behind a starting line. Keeping their hands at their stomachs, each pair must make it to the finish line at the opposite side of the room after you say "Go." The players have to figure out how to work together through their collective handicap because they cannot unlink themselves from the elbows. The first pair to get to the finish line and back to the starting point wins the game.

Team Scavenger Hunt

• Prepare for the hunt by coming up with items found around the play area. For instance, if you want to play the game in an office, write down things people can find there. Use vague language, however, to make the game more difficult. If you want the team to find a stapler, write something like, "I keep things together whenever you press down on me." After you've created a few copies of this list, divide the group into teams. Give each a list and tell them that they have only three minutes to find all of the items. The team who correctly checks the most items off their list wins the game.

Hula Hoop Race

• Divide the players into two teams and give each team a hula hoop. Depending on the amount of players and hula hoops you have, you can have more teams. Line up the teams so the players stand side by side. Tell everyone to link hands. When you say "Go," the first player in each team has to get the hula hoop over his head and transfer it to the next player in line without anyone breaking hands. If anyone does break the link, the team has to start over. This process continues on down the line until the last person in the team holds the hula hoop at his side. The team who does this the quickest wins.