Great Group Games: 175 Boredom-Busting, Zero-Prep Team Builders for All Ages

by Susan Ragsdale, Ann Saylor

Whether it’s the kick-off of an event, a 20-minute gap between functions, or an all-day or multiday retreat, this sourcebook suggests a wide array of solutions for keeping young people upbeat, engaged, and unified. Offering icebreakers, “straight-up” games, and reflection activities, the book provides instructions for staging meaningful, fun interactions that encourage participants to think. Games are organized in sections identifying various stages of group-building, ranging from establishing foundational relationships and building upon them to transitions and celebrations. Among the games included are: Change Over—turn a tarp completely over while always remaining on the tarp; Common Ground—Which team has the most in common?; and You’re a Star—team members guess whose celebrity name is on their backs. Details on timing and supplies are also featured for each activity.

228 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

Reviews

[Ann Saylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to do a little shameless self-promotion, because this is the first book I have published. :)

It's easy-to-scan to find great teambuilding activities that range from learning names, to discovering connections, to building trust, to maximizing teamwork to celebrating the group.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very nice resource when looking for a creative activity! The games are categorized and easy to look through when searching for a specific type of game or age range.

[Timothy Pitkin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some really good ice breakers to use with students, friends, and random people you have to work with. While there are some I would never do especially the ones that require specific materials but still some fun ideas that can inspire your own activity.

[Mariko - · Rating 4 out of 5]

For once I actually got some new stuff out of one of these books. Finally. Great ideas with easy to put together materials and limited prep time.

[Rebecca Kelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love these games! Useful for interactive training and meeting facilitation. Get adults and youth moving and talking!

[Heather Bickell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great resource!

[Jeridel Banks · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is great for people looking to engage children and youth clubs in various activities. It only got a 3-star rating from me because I read it from an ESL teacher's point of view. Many of the games don't have any real educational value unless you make variations. For those types of games, use Google. The useful games here are for PG, bond-building games that encourage teams and groups. The best activities in this book are for group leaders and officers in a club or team as they suggest games focused on trust-building and personal exchanges (i.e. "What's an obstacle in your life?").

I hope that if another edition of this book comes out, it should be updated with more games with less supplies needed and pictures.

[Anchit · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely solid book. It contains lots of interesting games that you can play in a group of people. These don't require major props and are easy to play.

There are lots of games and they are all categorized based on the group's trust levels. Loved this book.

[Connie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of icebreaker-type games.

[Kathy McC]

Read for ideas for my Baker class. Found lots of activities and corresponding discussion questions. Very worthwhile.

[Ika · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are a leader, you are going to read this book. This book is god for all ages.