Rock Paper Scissors Tournament

5-10 Minutes

Everyone pairs up and plays Rock Paper Scissors. Winners advance to the next round, but here's the twist: losers become enthusiastic cheerleaders for the person who beat them. As the tournament progresses, groups of cheerleaders grow larger, creating increasingly energetic cheering sections for the remaining players. By the final round, you have two players facing off with everyone else divided into two massive cheerleading groups. This creates incredible energy and laughter, breaking down inhibitions and status differences - executives and interns cheer with equal enthusiasm. No skill required, purely luck-based, so anyone can win. The game takes 5-10 minutes depending on group size and works with any number from 10 to 1000+. Perfect for energizing large conferences or company meetings.

How to Play

Setup

Clear an open space where people can safely move and face each other. For very large groups, designate a front area for the final rounds.
Explain the twist up front: losers immediately become cheerleaders for the person who beat them. As players keep winning, their cheer squads grow.
Decide on throw format: best-of-1 keeps it fast; best-of-3 can be used for the final.
Demonstrate a single round with two volunteers and show how the losing volunteer joins the winner to cheer them in the next match.
Optional but helpful for big rooms: use a microphone and upbeat music, and recruit 4–6 helpers to guide traffic and help winners find other winners.

How to Play

Pair up quickly with someone near you. If there is an odd number, form one group of three and play a quick mini-bracket to produce one winner.
On the facilitator’s cue (Rock–Paper–Scissors–Shoot), each pair throws rock, paper, or scissors. Resolve ties with immediate re-throws until there is a winner.
Loser becomes a cheerleader: they immediately join the winner, follow them to the next match, and cheer loudly and positively. Simple chants like “Let’s go, Jamie!” or claps work great.
Winners find other winners to face. Now each contender has a small cheer squad behind them. After each match, the losing side merges into the winning cheer squad, creating bigger and bigger cheering sections.
Continue until two finalists remain. Bring them to the front for a best-of-3 finale with the entire room split into two massive cheer groups. Lead a dramatic countdown for each throw.
Celebrate the champion with a big group cheer and, if desired, a quick photo.

Rules

Safety first: no running or pushing; keep aisles and exits clear; respect personal space.
Keep cheers positive. No booing individuals. Cheer for your champion; celebrate great plays on both sides.
If your champion loses, you immediately switch sides and cheer for the new winner. No lingering or switching back.
Resolve ties with immediate re-throws. If progress stalls, the facilitator may call time and fast-forward to a semi-final.
Hands only; no props or physical contact beyond high-fives with consent.

Tips

Model high energy. A clear countdown and upbeat music amplify the fun.
Encourage short, simple chants and claps to keep pace brisk.
For accessibility, allow seated participation, softer clapping, or visual cheering (hand waves). Pair a buddy to help navigate the room.
To speed pairing, instruct winners to raise a hand so other winners can spot them quickly.
Use spotters to merge small clusters and prevent bottlenecks.

Variations

Finale Spotlight: Dim lights slightly and add a short drumroll or clap pattern before each final throw.
Department Showdown: Start by pairing within teams, then advance cross-team; great for conferences.
Silent Cheer: Cheer with gestures only (waves, jazz hands) for quiet environments.
Mini-Tournaments: In huge venues, run simultaneous zones, then have zone champions face off on stage.