The Wave

Resources

Props

1 x very sturdy chair per person

Environment

Indoor
Outdoor

Step-by-Step Instructions

Form a circle sitting on chairs, positioned close to each other, facing into the centre.
One person leaves their seat and stands in the centre of the circle, creating an empty seat.
Immediately, one of the two people either side of the vacant seat chooses to slide into it, thereby creating a new vacant seat.
The process of sliding into vacant seats continues in the same direction like a ‘wave’ around the circle.
During this time, the person without a seat attempts to sit in any one of the suddenly vacant seats.
When an empty seat is filled, one of the two people currently sitting next to it will leave their seat to repeat the process.
Play until the energy dissipates.

Video Tutorial

Video Tutorial for The Wave
presented by Mark Collard

I don’t often get to work with very sturdy, solid chairs like this and I recommend you need this apparel, this equipment, in order to do this exercise.

What happens here is that we have a seat at the moment that is empty, and Marcus is right on to it. Either that he likes… is holding a warm seat. That is not where I was headed, Marcus.

In a moment, as I have now left the circle, either left or right can choose to fill the space, and whoever fills it will then determine the wave in which we’ll travel.

For example Marcus if you filled it it’s moving to the right and off we go.

But at any point… Let’s just stop for a second, Ambry. That’s right. Exactly. You could choose to actually… Can I actually demonstrate it? If I can just be your person for a second…

The wave might be going this way and I might choose to move it, but at the last minute pull back and actually create a wave the other direction. Now it’s coming this way.

So you’ve got to be careful. The wave might change direction at any point in time, and I’m trying to get a seat at all times. Okay?

So I’m trying to get a seat. I’m trying to get in there before someone else puts their tush in it. Got the idea?

Alright, keeping your seats together and keep your fingers away from the edges of your seats, folks, go!

(people changing seats in The Wave)

So generally whoever is the next who perhaps missed that opportunity is the next one to have some fun in the centre.

(people changing seats in The Wave)

Hang on a second. What’s going on over here?

(people changing seats in The Wave)

How To Play Narrative

Invite your group to sit on a chair that is part of a perfect circle. By this I mean, no corners, no straight lines, a lovely 360 degree circle of chairs.

Position the chairs so that the legs of one are touching the closest legs of its neighbours. And be sure the chairs are sturdy, no flimsy plastic types.

One person (perhaps you by demonstration) will start, by leaving their seat, causing it to be empty. Strange as it may sound, your goal now is to try to sit back in that empty seat. Or, indeed, any empty seat.

You see, as I will explain, at any time a seat is empty, one of the two people sitting beside it will be impelled to slide onto it thereby causing a new seat to become vacant, thus starting the process of someone moving into this newly-created vacant seat.

A ‘wave’ will quickly develop as a series of people (seated together one after the other) shift their position to the left, or to the right.

Of course, during all of this, the empty-nester is trying to find his or her way into a seat. Missed attempts, sitting on laps, and bountiful laughter will result, guaranteed.

When an empty seat is finally filled, one of the two people sitting directly next to the person who filled it (depending on the direction that the wave was travelling) will be invited to leave their seat, and the game starts over.

Continue until you and/or your group is exhausted.

Practical Leadership Tips

I love this game. It works up a sweat quicker than you can say “Unique New York” six times. But, and it’s a big BUT, make sure your chairs are of good, solid, sturdy stock. I have to admit to breaking a few in my time when my eyes for FUNN were bigger than my estimation of costly repairs!

Given the frenetic movement this activity generates, the chairs will often shift position. At an appropriate point (often when a seat has just been re-claimed,) make this observation to the group, encouraging them to periodically re-position their chairs as they go along.

As with all ‘elimination’ type activities, allow anyone who gets caught without a seat to fly the white flag and invite someone else (a comfortably seated person) in the circle to swap roles at anytime. Lest you run the risk of embarrassing someone too long.

Social-Emotional Learning

You could integrate The Wave as part of a well-designed SEL program to help your group make caring and constructive choices about personal behaviour and social interactions across different situations.

Specifically, this activity offers opportunities to explore and practice the following social & interpersonal skills:

Self-Awareness

Demonstrating Self-Confidence, Honesty & Integrity
Experiencing Self-Efficacy

Self-Management

Demonstrating Self-Discipline & Self-Motivation
Setting Personal & Group Goals
Taking Initiative
Use Planning & Organisational Skills

Social Awareness

Demonstrating Empathy & Compassion
Understanding & Expressing Gratitude
Respecting Others

Relationship Skills

Communicate & Listen Effectively
Work Collaboratively
Showing Leadership

Responsible Decision-Making

Identifying Problems
Making Reasoned Judgements
Anticipating & Evaluating the Consequences of One’s Actions
Promoting Personal & Collective Well-Being

You can learn more about SEL and how it can support character education here.

Health & Wellness Programming

There is no specific health & wellness perspective to this activity other than promoting the benefits to one’s well-being of enjoying a good laugh.

In a small way, you could argue that the focus and effort required to interact and engage physically with (and in close proximity to) others may speak to the benefits of having developed a set of supportive and healthy behavioural norms in advance. Or, if not, you could use these less-than-desired interactions or outcomes to explore what sorts of behaviours your group would prefer to see. For example, you could invite your group to reflect on the level of safety consciousness that was demonstrated during the activity (eg crashing into others and the chairs) and relate this to a set of observed impacts on others.

If you can think of more explicit ways in which The Wave could be purposefully integrated into a health and wellness program, please leave a comment at the base of this page.

Popular Variations

Reverse Direction: Allow anyone to reverse the direction of the ‘wave’ at any time, by faking a move into the vacant seat, but at the last second, deciding to return from whence they came.
Multiple Empty Nesters: With really large groups, invite several people to vacate their seats. There should be a vacant seat for every person standing in the middle.
Random Crossings: As above, but invite anyone at any time to leave their seat in an attempt to find another seat. Utter chaos, but pure unadulterated FUNN. Naturally, this will require a heightened awareness of safety consciousness.
Circle Fun: Take a look at Down By The Banks, Ah So Ko and Caught Ya Peekin’ to enjoy three more super-fun circle games that involve some form of elimination.

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Useful Framing Ideas

Have you ever got up from your seat somewhere, a seat that you particularly liked, only to return moments later to find it filled? You could argue with this person (and waste your valuable time,) or focus your efforts on looking for another seat. That’s what I have in store for you…

Reflection Tips & Strategies

Coupled with one or more reflection strategies, here are some sample questions you could use to process your group’s experience after playing this very active, circle game:

On a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being highest, how much fun did you have?
What did you notice during the game?
Did you observe any behaviours or actions that surprised or concerned you? Why?
Did we manage to keep ourselves and others safe? What does ‘safe’ mean anyway?

Source

The inspiration for The Wave, and many more contagiously fun large group games, was sourced from the following publication:

Front cover of Count Me In Large Group Games That Work book, by Mark Collard

COUNT ME IN - $49.00 AUD

Contributor Mark

Add your Comments...

Have you played this activity? What worked, what didn't work? What type of group? Do you have useful advice for other users? Do you know a fun variation?

Comments (1)

David Piang-Nee June 4, 2021
Great point in the video made re sturdy chairs Mark! Such an awesome game to play especially with teens and up. Fast and Furious and Hilarious….
Keep a tab on how people are sitting on the chairs as when participants get carried away, they may push the chairs backwards towards tipping point. Soo much fun!

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The Wave

Resources

Props

Environment

Step-by-Step Instructions

Video Tutorial

How To Play Narrative

Practical Leadership Tips

Social-Emotional Learning

Health & Wellness Programming

Popular Variations

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Dragon Tail Tag

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Balloon Tag

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Jump Tag

Useful Framing Ideas

Reflection Tips & Strategies

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The Wave

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Resources

Props

Environment

Step-by-Step Instructions

Video Tutorial

How To Play Narrative

Practical Leadership Tips

Social-Emotional Learning

Health & Wellness Programming

Popular Variations

You Might Also Like...

Become a Memberto Access this Activity

Dragon Tail Tag

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Balloon Tag

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Jump Tag

Useful Framing Ideas

Reflection Tips & Strategies

Source

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Comments (1)

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