Tennis Ball Throw

This game is especially useful for helping new groups learn each other's names. It is also a valuable object lesson if a topic for a group is stress, and group members are using biodots, to show them that although physical activity is usually a stress reducer, competitive physical activity actually increases the stress level of most individuals (usually their biodots turn darker).
For this activity, the group members stand in a circle. The facilitator has a basket of tennis balls or marshmallows (or anything else easy to toss and retrieve). The facilitator will throw a ball to a person across the circle and say his/her name. That person will then toss the ball to a new person and say his/her name. After the ball has been tossed and caught by each person in the group, the facilitator will inform the group members that each time they receive the ball, they must throw it to the same person they just threw it to, and they must say his/her name. After the first ball is thrown and caught, the facilitator will throw another to the same person and then another. The receiver must not only look at whomever he/she is throwing to and say his/her name, but must also watch for balls coming his/her way.