Walk & Stop

Type: Energizer

Logistics Required: Nil

Instructions:

1. Invite your group to spread throughout a large open space

2. Instruct your group to walk when you say “WALK” and to stop when you say “STOP.”

3. Issue a series of these two commands, in any order, for 20 to 30 seconds to help your group practise responding.

4. When ready, announce that you will now swap the meaning of these commands, so “WALK” means stop and “STOP” means walk.

5. Challenge the group to be as accurate and as fast as possible responding to each command.

6. When ready, announce two new commands – “NAME” invites everyone to say their own name out loud; and – “CLAP” invites your group to perform one simultaneous clap.

7. Practice these two new commands together with “WALK” and ”STOP.”

8. Finally, announce that you will swap the meaning of the last two commands, e.g. when you call “NAME” everyone must clap and vice versa.

9. Continue playing for several minutes, and/or try a variation.

Variations:

1. Walk & Stop Plus: Add two more commands – “JUMP” which means everyone must jump on the spot, and “DANCE”, which invites everyone to dance a little boogie for a few seconds. Then, of course, swap their meanings.

2. Musical Moves: Replace your verbal commands with a variety of distinct musical sounds, e.g. car horn, drum beat, flute, etc. Thus, when your group hears a particular sound, they must react accordingly.