Do these things and your games will always suck!
1. Thou shalt continue regardless of results Sometimes, even with all the best preparation and planning, games can just turn out bad, either the young people aren’t in the right mental state to handle it, someone farts and everyone loses it… or it’s just a bad game! When this happens, don’t keep going forcing people to change, just accept that it sucked, make it into a joke and move on. Some of the best fun times young people will have, is reminding you of a game that just bombed!! That’s ok, it’s a positive memory as long as they end up enjoying it!
2. Thou shalt never prepare Time is always crucial because attention span is short. In this fast food, microwave, 2 minute noodle generation, young people are used to having what they want, stimulating their eyes, ears and mouth EVERY SECOND. Now if we stand up to play a game that required two marshmallows with a piece of string tied around them… if you walk up with a bag of unopened marshmallows and uncut string that is NOT ALREADY TIED… you’ve already lost. Have everything ready, give prior information to leaders so they know what they’re doing and be ready to direct leaders to help you on the fly.
3. Thou shalt have other leaders watching Hopefully your leaders are there to hang out with young people, not to be just a chaperone on the sidelines. Chaperones are no fun and no one wants a relationship with someone who’s just watching them playing a game. If your leaders are having fun, I guarantee your young people will too. Your leaders should get on the teams and participate as much as possible, even without being asked! Unless they’re needed to run some aspect of the game.
4. Thou shalt labour details of rules while explaining As we talked about in #2, time and attention span are short. Part of being prepared for a game is knowing how to explain it quickly. Give the basics, maybe with a visual example and jump straight into “ready, set, go!” Don’t be afraid to start a game even when some are still confused. Other leaders can help push these people along once you start… as long as they’re prepared and listening.
5. Thou shalt take time making teams Same principle as above. Have a quick tactic planned to divide teams fast. Be creative, you can even make a game out of this. Try not to do the same thing every time and leave numbering off as a last resort. If leaders are geared up, they can work out how many in each team and divide up teams in seconds.
6. Thou shalt lead like a librarian (no offence intended) Game leading isn’t going to be for everyone, some people will be much happier doing the behind scenes stuff. Give all leaders an opportunity on occasions, but don’t flog a dead horse, if they don’t like it, leave it to someone else. Be enthusiastic about leading the game, if you don’t believe it’s fun, no one else will. Be aware of voice and being able to control the crowd. Sometimes the person with the most lively personality isn’t the best person, because they get constantly distracted!
7. Thou shalt block the crowd from seeing “Of course” you say. But how many times have I seen some cool up front game where a teenager is getting covered with syrup or a girl is about to blow a jelly bean out of her nose and… I couldn’t see cause some leader or a bunch of teens were standing right in the way! If you’re leading a game… STEP ASIDE! If you’re in a level room and you have a visual game… elevate it somehow! You get the point.
8. Thou shalt compete ruthlessly Youth group games can get competitive and everyone wants to win, but there’s a time when leaders need to step back and allow someone half their age (and strength) to win. There’s nothing more sad than an adult reliving his youth and destroying a 13 year old girl. Competition has the potential to bring out the worst in others—prepare for it.
9. Thou shalt always reinforce cliques If you’re not careful, a game can have the opposite effect of building community and enhancing new relationships. This can happen when formed friendship circles are given the opportunity to band together against others. Be careful how you form teams, and be very careful about allowing teenagers to form teams—remember, it’s brutal to be picked last.
10. Thou shalt always take chances and risks! It’s okay if a game is a little unsafe…like roller coaster unsafe (it feels more wild than it actually is). You don’t want to push the envelope where your student’s safety is concerned. It’s not worth the risk. Teenagers will want to do things that they’ve heard others doing, but if it’s not safe, we’re not going to be honoring God by playing it or their parents who won’t bring them back the following week!!
