Video Transcript for Toss-A-Name Game
presented by Mark Collard
Big group here and often at this point as a group of adults, you’ve probably taken it upon yourself to have picked up a couple of names as you go through. I know I certainly take that responsibility pretty seriously with any group I work with.
But there’s no magic to it, except I have actually brought one of my magic fleece-balls with me today. You may not have come across a fleece-ball before, but in this case, it is just like a really big thick pompom.
So just taking a half step in, first of all, what’s going to happen here is we’re going to pass this around the group first of all. All you need to say is your own name.
If you need to practice that you can do that now. It’s simply saying your own name, nice and loud so everyone can hear it. It goes around the group.
(Steven.)
You got it right. You’ve obviously been practicing. Fantastic. So…
Mark.
(people passing ball, saying names as part of Toss-A-Name Game)
Johanna, fantastic. Well done. Okay, we’ll go back the other direction but we’re going to add an extra challenge.
This time as it goes around, again still say your own name, but this time try to remember one new name, that is find someone in the circle right now that you don’t actually know the name of, listen carefully because they’re about to say their name.
Try to remember just that one name, but still saying your own name.
Mark.
(Johanna.)
You had to think about that, didn’t you? You did right, your own name.
(You want me to say my own name?)
That’s what I said, you say your own name but just remember somebody else’s name.
(people passing ball, saying names as part of Toss-A-Name Game)
You’ve all gone very quiet, you’ve become very serious now. Alright, so we’ll break it up a little bit. So hopefully you remember one new name. You probably know others, but you’ve actually taken on a challenge to remember someone’s new name.
For example, Camille, I still remember your name. Did I get that right? Always a good start.
So now changing the instructions that when you’ve got the fleece-ball you’re now entitled to pass it across the circle.
Notice I said pass and not zing. This is not a catching game. It just simply needs to get to the other side.
So once I’ve said your name, ordinarily, I’ll attract your attention, and then pass the ball to her. It does not matter if she catches it or not. And then when she’s ready, she’ll call the name of somebody else and the process will repeat.
For example, Camille. Excellent.
(people tossing ball and saying names as part of Toss-A-Name Game)
Great. Now at this point it’s come back to me and that’s okay. It’s possible that some of you haven’t had the ball. That means one or two things, that you’re unlucky to not get it, or no one remembers your name.
So I’m going to suggest to you that if you don’t know someone, you can actually ask them. So if you’ve forgotten a name, it might sound like this, what’s your name?
(Helen.)
Helen. Fantastic. That exchange says I care enough to want to know the name, not that I’m stupid and forgot it, because clearly I’ve heard the name go around twice now. So, Helen.
(people tossing items, calling names, playing Toss-A-Name Game)
Make sure that you’ve got their attention before you toss it.
(people tossing items, calling names playing Toss-A-Name Game)
Alright. Now hold the ball if you’ve got a ball this time. You’re doing very well. I’m a little bit upset by your manners.
As we’ve had some fantastic passes here, I invite you now to say “Thank you” to the person who tossed it to you.
Now as you’ve got no control over who gives you the ball, you may need to actually ask that person what their name is before you say thank you to them.
So let’s say I got it from Allen, say thank you, Allen, before passing it on to that person and say thank you, Mark, and move on.
So we’re adding to the challenge now, saying thank you to the person to whom you received it from. Okay? For example, what is your name again?
(Richard.)
Thank you, Richard. And he gets it and he says…
(Thank you, Mark.)
Beautiful. And then you pass it on. If you’ve got an item, continue the process.
(people tossing items, calling names, saying thank you when they play Toss-A-Name Game)
So if you have an item, just place it at your feet, except hang on to the rubber chook at this point. So if you’ve got an item, just place it at your feet for a second.
Now at this point, it’s highly likely that you’ve picked up a few names but there are some that you still don’t have. So this variation may be useful for you.
So for example, what is your name again?
(Carina.)
Carina, you’ve got the rubber chook. You’re now going to pass it to anyone who has eye contact with you, but do not say their name.
You might actually give it to someone you don’t know the name of, because as soon as that person receives it, everyone else in the circle who knows that person’s name will call out that person’s name.
So you might give it to someone you don’t know the name of because you want to learn what it is. Okay, for example… make sure you’ve got their eye contact though and then you pass it to them.
(people tossing items, calling names to engage with Toss-A-Name Game)
Now at this point it’s highly likely, and I do that at least once, as someone received it and you didn’t know what their name was, you just went (mimed a name) and you looked like you knew all the names. but at least one other person helped make it happen.
Let’s go back to all the original balls, continue with the chook. Go back to the original version. You say that person’s name, they collect it, they say thank you to you, for the next sort of thirty seconds.
See how many more names you can gather during that time. So, go.
(people tossing balls, calling names to play Toss-A-Name Game)
Hold it there. Hang on to your items. Very good.
Now with more space, so another variation I will add, you may have seen something of this nature before is that as you receive an item, I’ll ask the person to take a step back, the circle gets bigger. Alternatively every time I collect it, I take a step in, the circle gets smaller.
So all just take half a step in the circle first of all. If you have an item just place it behind you this time. Alright.
At this stage when I start seeing people going like this… it suggests to me that there’s a level of name knowingness that has reached a point where I can actually stop and invite one or more people to have a go and try to remember as many of the names in the circle as possible.
Is there anyone in the group who would like to give that a go?
(few people respond…)
Fantastic. Alright, so Johanna, you go first.
(Johanna saying names)
Everyone who had their hand up before just went like this. Would anyone else like to give it a go? Remember, it’s about getting as many of the names as possible, even though clearly Johanna has set the standard very high for you. Does anyone else like to give that a go? Fantastic.
So before you start though, Jill, can I ask everyone to swap spots in the circle?
(That’s just mean!)
Alright now, Jill if you could just tell us where we were all standing before that’ll be fine. Where we are right now is good, so when you’re ready.
(Jill saying names)
This is one of the all-time classic name-games, and today is still successfully used in many settings.
To start, ask your group to form a square without sides, and pull a soft tossable from your pocket, such as a fleece-ball, koosh-ball or beanie baby. Explain that this tossable has been known to possess special name-remembering qualities, and you would like to pass this magic around.
Begin by passing it from left to right around the circle, asking that each person simply say their name (loudly enough for everyone to hear) as they receive it. This may be the first time the group has heard everyone’s names.
Upon returning to you, pass the tossable back the other way, and repeat the process, but this time ask that everyone remembers at least one other person’s name before it gets back you.
Now the fun begins.
Whoever has the tossable is now entitled to pass it (notice I said “pass,” and not zing!!) to anyone in the circle, but must first call that person’s name. Their attention is attracted, they anxiously await the toss, and voila, it’s received. Nice pass. The process continues.
At some point, as the general level of name-knowingness increases, secretly introduce a second tossable into the mix. Notice the discernible groans of anguish as the group acknowledges what has just occurred.
Keep adding extra tossables, each one initiating a new exchange of names. Chaos will hold sway, but don’t worry too much. People will be having fun, and learning names in the process.
To further reinforce names, ask the people who receive an item to say “THANK YOU” to the person who tossed it to them, but most importantly, using that person’s name.
Yes, this is trickier, because the receiver has no control over who passes to them. Ideal for encouraging a helpful “SORRY, WHAT IS YOUR NAME?” exchange.
Eventually, after five, ten or more minutes, throw down the gauntlet and challenge one or more folks to name as many people in the group as possible (notice, I didn’t say “name everyone.”) No matter how big the group is, there is always one person who will give it a go.
thanks for this, mark.
loooooving the layer of thank you. plus the framing of getting to know as many names as possible.
annnnnd the chicken! you know me – i may attach a yey! to this.
(“,)
Love to use this game at the start of a leadership or Initiative session :). Great for getting names for participants and myself to get to know the group.
Also run it with a timed version so beginning of challenges for the session to see how quickly we can get around the circle, essentially a combination of Toss a Name game and Warp Speed.
Love this variation Mark that involves the whole group naming a participant who receives the Rubber Chicken.. genius way of not putting anyone on the spot!