Minefield

How to Play

Setup

1. Space: Clear an open area (gym, conference room, field) with a defined start and finish line. Use tape, cones, or chairs to mark boundaries.
2. Materials: Gather a variety of safe obstacles such as cones, balls, boxes, cups, water bottles, or paper plates. Avoid sharp or slippery items.
3. Build the minefield: Scatter obstacles unevenly to create narrow passages and open zones. Ensure there is at least one viable route.
4. Form pairs: Each pair has a Walker (blindfolded) and a Navigator (eyes open). Provide blindfolds (or ask Walkers to keep eyes closed and cover with a scarf for integrity).
5. Safety briefing: Establish a universal emergency word like “Freeze!” that stops all movement immediately. Remind Walkers to move slowly and keep hands in front of their body.
6. Language agreement: Decide on direction conventions before starting (e.g., always use the Walker’s left/right, or a clock-face/degree system). Calibrate a “step” length (e.g., one normal step ≈ 60–75 cm) to reduce guesswork.

How to Play

1. Positioning: Walkers stand at the start line, blindfolded. Navigators stand outside the course or along a designated sideline and may not touch the Walker.
2. Go signal: On the facilitator’s cue, Navigators guide their Walkers using only verbal instructions (e.g., “Take two small steps forward… turn slightly left… stop”).
3. Touch penalty: If the Walker touches or displaces any obstacle with any part of the body, they return to the start and try again. Navigators can refine instructions each attempt.
4. Completion: The round ends when the Walker crosses the finish line without contacting an obstacle. Partners then switch roles so both experience guiding and following.
5. Scoring options: Time each pair and rank by fastest clean run; or count total touches to determine the most precise team. For added challenge, launch multiple pairs simultaneously to create cross-talk.
6. Debrief: After both roles, hold a quick reflection on what instructions worked best, how left/right conventions helped, and how trust and tone affected performance.

Rules

1. No physical contact—navigators may not touch the Walker or move obstacles during a run.
2. Walk, don’t run. Use small, controlled steps.
3. Navigators must stay in their designated area and keep instructions concise and consistent.
4. Use the agreed direction system (Walker’s perspective, clock-face, or degrees) and do not switch mid-round.
5. On “Freeze!”, all Walkers stop immediately; only resume on the facilitator’s signal.
6. A touch or knock of any obstacle results in an immediate reset to the start.

Tips

• Use measurable cues: “Three small steps,” “Turn 45 degrees,” “Heel-to-toe shuffle.”
• Establish simple code words: “Pause,” “Back one step,” “Hard left/right.”
• Calibrate: Have the Walker practice one “standard step” before blindfolding.
• Keep tone calm and steady; avoid overtalking. Pause between commands so the Walker can execute safely.
• To reduce confusion with multiple pairs, instruct Navigators to begin each command with their Walker’s name.
• Debrief with prompts: What phrasing reduced errors? How did trust build? What will you change next time?

Variations

• Timed Relay: Teams run one at a time; after finishing, they tag the next pair.
• Limited Vocabulary: Navigators can use only a set list of words (e.g., forward, back, left, right, stop, step), emphasizing clarity.
• Prescribed Path: Require teams to hit checkpoints in order, or collect specific objects, before finishing.
• Voice Chaos Mode: Start multiple pairs simultaneously to simulate noisy workplaces and test focus.
• Reverse Midway: At a midpoint marker, switch roles without leaving the course for an extra trust challenge.