Human Spring

1. Form into pairs, and stand facing one another 60cm (2′) apart.
2. With feet spaced shoulder-width apart, ask each person to raise their arms above their heads with palms facing towards their partner.
3. When ready, each person leans in slowly towards their partner until their hands meet in the middle.
4. From this position, invite each partnership to spring off one another by gently pushing away.
5. Announce that the aim for each partnership is to lean in and spring back several times in a comfortable, rhythmic manner.
6. After several minutes, swap partners.

Video Transcript for Human Spring Teambuilding Activity
presented by Mark Collard

Eric, you and I can find a bit of flat ground, maybe here. We’ll start the game with a little challenge by choice, the space between your toes, that is yours and your partner’s toes, will determine the level of challenge. This is particularly easy right from this space, but let’s just start here anyway because it’s a good place to start.

With your hands up, palms facing forward, your plan is to only ever touch your partner in this place. So I plan to only ever engage with Eric in this position. This is too easy. I don’t even have to move in order to engage with him at this level.

So if we just take a step back out. Now each of us is going to need to lean in a little bit, then again, keeping our hands as high as we can. The object is to be able to end up leaning. But we don’t start from this position, we start from… if you could be fully standing up, our plan is to now lean in, again, relatively simple.

(Mark demonstrates Human Spring team building activity with Eric)

Come on back a little bit more. You’ll notice that each time you go back, don’t go back a long way, because it becomes increasingly dynamic as I start to move towards him. So keeping it up, maybe with your elbows a little bit bent, we’re now going to lean towards each other.

(Mark demonstrates Human Spring teambuilding activity with Eric again)

Okay, that’s good.

Okay, try that again because I fell forward. Are you ready? Here we go. And then try… and push each other back.

(Mark demonstrates Human Spring teambuilding activity with Eric)

Right. It’s like a human spring. Just try that again, Eric, just from that position. Here we go.

(Mark demonstrates Human Spring team building activity with Eric)

Okay.

Now recognising the physics involved, both in terms of height, weight, strength, all those abilities, put that into play. You might find that to get to this level, ooh, too much, too much challenge, then determine what’s going to work for you in that situation.

We went through that process and that flow really quickly. Take your time. Work with your partner. Establish what’s working. As you start to get an understanding of the dynamic of their weight, their shape, all that other stuff, you get a sense of how much further can we go back at a time. Take it back only in centimetres or inches at a time as you move forward.

The object is to be able to catch each other, and then from that point spring back into your position, hopefully keeping your feet in the same position. If they move, that’s okay, just adjust accordingly.

If you end up butting heads, you’ve probably gone too far, too soon. So clearly understand that’s what’s happening before it actually happens.

(people trying Human Spring teambuilding activity)

A variation. Sometimes, as we saw just there, you look at the gap you think, ooh, that’s going to be dynamic. What’s that going to be like when they come in, what happens if they miss, all that sort of stuff. Again, if you’ve taken time with your group to sensitively prepare them for that stuff, it’s less likely to happen, but of course it still can. Then change it up a little bit.

So John, you and I were partners. Start from this position. Again, I’d missed mentioning it earlier, try not to interlock fingers. If you need to lock, use open palm if necessary. But start from this position, and then move your feet back. Get to a point where you feel pretty comfortable you go, ooh.

From here, the object is to spring enough that each of us pulls back and tries not to move their feet. So this takes out some of the risk of getting to this position, which is you know what happens anyways. So John, are you happy to give it a go?

(Ready.)

Alright. One. Two. Three. Nicely played. Alright. Give it a go. Just find someone close to you now starting from that position.

(people practising Human Spring teambuilding activity)

If you can both get there without your feet moving, that’s the ideal.

(people practising Human Spring teambuilding activity)

As a rather physically-involved activity, sequence this one appropriately. Some warm-ups, stretches or the like would be ideal, but consider the emotional readiness of your group as well.

Separate your group into pairs, and invite each partnership to face one another standing about 60 cm (2′) apart. Ask them to raise their hands, with their open palms facing toward their partner.

Now explain that you would like each person to slowly – let me say that again, slowly – lean in toward their partner until their hands meet in the middle. With arms bent, the meeting of hands will feel quite springy, and it’s supposed to. But if heads smash, there’s too much give in the springs!

From this position, invite each partnership to spring off one another by gently pushing away from the other at the same time. With a little practice, and timed perfectly, a couple can lean in, spring back, lean in and spring back effortlessly for a long time.

This is the goal, to develop a rhythm and tune into the partner’s body and needs. To push a mate over is not.

Allow the initial partnerships to develop adroitness, and then swap partners.

It may make sense to invite people of similar height to form pairs in the beginning.

Keep a watchful eye on proceedings, and if you catch a few too many over-zealous attempts, step in and adjust.

Allow me to reinforce my opening comments in regards your sequence. This is not an opening exercise, or you’re bound to break more than just the ice. Your group must have demonstrated a good level of safety-consciousness before you introduce this activity, physically, emotionally and mentally. It’s a powerful exercise, but if not adequately prepared, you risk alienating some members of your group, not to mention cause some injuries.

Palms flat against each other is the most common point of contact between pairs. However, some people have found a clenched fist into their partner’s open palm works well too.

Caution people from interlocking fingers. Not only is this more difficult to unlock when necessary, but increases the potential of broken fingers if things go wrong.

You could integrate Human Spring as part of a well-designed SEL program to develop your group’s ability to understand and perspectives of and empathise with others including those from diverse backgrounds and cultures.

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

Self-Awareness

• Identifying Emotions
• Linking Feelings, Values & Thoughts
• Recognising Strengths, Prejudices & Biases
• Demonstrating Self-Confidence, Honesty & Integrity
• Experiencing Self-Efficacy
• Having A Growth Mindset

Self-Management

• Controlling One’s Emotions
• Identifying & Managing Stress
• Demonstrating Self-Discipline & Self-Motivation
• Setting Personal & Group Goals
• Use Planning & Organisational Skills

Social Awareness

• Taking Other’s Perspectives
• Demonstrating Empathy & Compassion
• Understanding & Expressing Gratitude
• Appreciating Diversity
• Recognising Strengths In Others
• Respecting Others

Relationship Skills

• Communicate & Listen Effectively
• Seeking and/or Offering Support
• Build Positive Relationships
• Demonstrate Cultural Competency
• Work Collaboratively

Responsible Decision-Making

• Demonstrating Curiosity & Open-Mindedness
• Identifying Problems
• Making Reasoned Judgements
• Identifying Solutions
• 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.

Emotional Intelligence

The success of this dynamic partner exercise absolutely relies on the ability of each person to trust the other and their ability to read a variety of social cues. Each person will enter into this exercise at a different physical, mental and emotional level. Therefore, Human-Spring is an excellent activity to explore particular social and interpersonal skills such as impulse control, respect for others and teamwork. Take a look at the questions suggested in the Reflection Tips tab to help your group reflect on these essential emotional competencies.

• Middle Start: Start by holding the hands of your partner, and then together, pushing back against the other to finish standing upright. Progressively move feet back to increase challenge.
• Pick Your Challenge: For well-prepared groups, invite each springing duo to try one or more of the following variations:
  – Each person stands with own feet together (not shoulder-width apart).
  – Take a step further away from each other.
  – Use only one hand.
  – Use both hands, but cross your two arms.
  – Cross your legs.
• Take a look at Isometric Stretch to explore another activity involving the exertion of equal forces between two people.

If you have ever watched a tennis match from the middle of the court, you have probably looked a lot like this [move your head side to side…] as you watch the ball travel back and forth between the two ends. Sometimes, this motion can be quite regular and soothing, much like the ticking of a clock. Tick, tock, tick, tock, etc. Know what I mean? That’s the sort of rhythm I’d like to aim for in this next exercise, a gentle rocking back and forth…

When two equal forces meet, no movement occurs. This is sometimes referred to as isometric forces. But, if one force is greater than the other, it will cause the other to move, or shift off balance. Our aim in this next exercise is to acknowledge that while we are all different, we each have the ability to accommodate the needs of our partner and create an equal force…

Coupled with one or more reflection strategies, here are some sample questions you could use to process your group’s experience after playing this trusting-building stunt:

• What did you observe as the activity progressed?
• Were you able to accurately perceive your limits and those of your partner?
• When did you need to demonstrate respect for yourself or your partner? Why was this necessary?
• What was the most difficult part of the exercise? Did you solve this with or without your partner?
• What was your goal? Did you share this with your partner?
• What might this exercise teach us about our relationships with others?

Fun ‘Trust-Building’ Session

What You Need:
8+ people, 45 mins, 3 x coloured objects (red, yellow, green)

• ESP – passive fun activity which invites partners to think alike
• Human Spring – fun & dynamic balancing exercise for two people
• Keystone – challenging group balance and trust exercise
• Traffic Light Debrief – ideal, interactive strategy to debrief your group’s experience