Title: Red Ball, Yellow Ball

Exercise Type: Personal Growth

Time Required: 10-20 minutes

Group Size: Small: 6-20

Suggested Age Group: Children, Teenagers, Adults

Activity Level: Light

Keywords: concentration, attention, presence, focus

Materials Needed: Three balls of exactly the same size and color

Venue: Typical Room

Purpose/Outcome: Learning to being attentive to the whole picture versus tracking only on one aspect.

Activity Description:

• Players stand in a circle.

• Leader tosses a ball to someone (anywhere in the circle) and identifies it as a "red ball", irrespective of what color it actually is.

• This "red ball" is tossed around the circle with each person identifying it as they toss it. There is no pattern to the tossing.

• After everyone has had an opportunity to catch and toss the "red ball", the leader introduces the next ball, the "yellow ball" which is tossed around in the same manner.

• As the "yellow ball" is being identified and tossed, the leader re-introduces the "red ball". Now both are moving around the circle, being identified as they go.

Side Coaching:

• Make eye contact before you toss the ball. Identify the color to that person.

• Throw the ball so it can be easily caught.

• Take your time, this isn't a contest.

Variation:

If the group is large and they are doing well keeping two balls clearly identified and off the floor, a third ball is introduced into the play, a "green (or blue or whatever it actually isn't) ball".

Debrief/Facilitator Notes:

• What made the game easy for you?

• What made it challenging?

• Note: Keep this short, not much discussion is needed.

About the Author: Sue Walden is the Founder and Director of ImprovWorks, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to building Life Skills through Improvisation. Her experience includes a BA in Education and 26 years of teaching, performing and adapting and widely applying the techniques of improvisation. She approaches improv training as a powerful and joyful way to peel away constraints, restraints and inhibitions, allowing the naturally expressive, collaborative and creative self to emerge. Visit Sue's website at www.improvworks.org.