The concept behind the activity
This activity focuses on the importance of respecting the individual needs of all members in a team. When working with StringBall, each member can only contribute effectively to accomplishing the task if all others support her/him by means of effective communication.
Facilitating the activity
The majority of participants put on blindfolds (the difficulty level increases with the number of participants wearing blindfolds). The ‘blind’ are given the task of carrying a ball balanced on a metal ring from one pedestal to another. However, they are not allowed to directly touch the ring! Instead, they transport it using a number of ropes attached to the ring. The ropes must be held at the ends and not shortened. The ‘sighted’ direct the entire process by coordinating the movement of the ‘blind’. All communication is through speaking, no touching is allowed. Dropping the ball during transport is sanctioned in a way the trainer and group see fit. By setting up the two pedestals independently, you can adjust the difficulty level according to the group’s capability (for example, try placing them on bumpy terrain, or put one on a desk). Individual strings can be detached to cater for different group sizes. One more idea: When you are doing this activity outdoors, why not add to the excitement by using a raw egg instead of a ball?
