TEAM BUILDING
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Drainpipe Challenge 2 Chopstick Challenge
COMMAND TASKS
CADETS FROM BLACK WATCH BN ACF TOOK ON THE DRAINPIPE CHALLENGE AT LAST YEAR’S ANNUAL CAMP. MEANWHILE, MEMBERS OF 7TH BN, THE ROYAL REGIMENT OF SCOTLAND (7 SCOTS), INTRODUCED THE CHOPSTICK CHALLENGE TO CADETS FROM ELGIN AND FORRES DETACHMENTS, 1ST BN THE HIGHLANDERS ACF
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DRAINPIPE CHALLENGE Equipment: Pieces of drainpipe and marbles or balls such as ping pong balls or golf balls. Time: 5 minutes planning, 10 minutes to complete the task. Where: Indoors or outdoors. Aim: To get the balls from a start point to an end point as quickly as possible without dropping them. Benefits: Requires a high level of communication and teamwork. Instructions: Cadets are given one piece of pipe each and must move the balls from a designated starting position to a finishing point using only the drain pipe. Each team member must carry the balls at least once and if the balls touch the floor the team must start again. Make it harder: • Separate the start and end points by obstacles. • Race teams against each other.
IF THE BALLS TOUCH THE FLOOR THE TEAM MUST START AGAIN
12 ACF SUMMER 2017
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CHOPSTICK CHALLENGE Equipment: Two canes (or broomstick handles) for each team member, a football, cones and a bucket. Time: 15 minutes (5 minutes team discussion and 10 minutes to complete). Where: Indoors or outdoors. Aim: For cadets to get the ball from the floor at one end and into the bucket at the other without dropping it. Benefits: The task requires concentration, control and hand-eye coordination. It is aimed towards junior cadets and promotes teamworking skills and communication. Instructions: Each member of the team stands at their cone holding their two canes. The cones are placed at 1-1.5m intervals in file formation. The first team member picks up the football from the floor with their canes and passes the ball to
the cadet diagonally opposite them, using their canes as well. Each cadet takes it in turn to receive and pass on the ball until the last cadet places it in the bucket at the other end of the course. Team members cannot move from their cone and if the ball is dropped it is moved back to the start. The trick is to keep the canes under arms as short as possible to keep a tight hold of the ball. The task is recommended for a minimum of eight cadets. Make it harder: • Make it a competition using multiple groups and the winner is the team that completes the task first. • Increase the number of cadets involved. • Remove the bucket. When the last cadet receives the ball they must pass it back down the line.