**Bumpers Up
I just realized that I never made my PS note about Bumpers Up. Here's why we need to explain and then practice proper bumper position:
Trust me...you don't want this happening to one your participants and as a participant, you will only experience this once before you decide that "Bumpers Up" is EXTREMELY important (especially when you're in a group with people you do not know well).
I'd show you a picture of good Bumpers Up Position...but do you think I could find one? Nope. So I'm left with explaining it and hoping that you can understand it. If I ever find one...I will definitely post it (mostly out of triumph).
BUMPERS UP:
With your elbows tight to your side, bend your elbows a little less than 90 degrees with your fingers pointing towards the sky and palms out. Your hands should be only about 4 inches away from your chest. That way - you'll know if hands get too close to your chest (this is more for the female participants). The only thing the participant on the left in the above picture did wrong is that she started reaching with her bumpers rather than keeping them close to her body.
As funny as "goosing" might be in an activity - it's one of the fastest ways to lose trust in fellow participants. Think about it - you have either been touched or have touched someone without permission. And you'll be lucky if you touched them in a non-violating way. If you have touched a sensitive part of someone else's body without permission - that kind of broken trust may never be recovered. The participant who was touched may never trust another activity. As a facilitator, you cannot risk that moment. So it's very important to teach proper Bumpers Up position and then enforce it if you see someone practicing unsafe Bumpers.
Simple, right? You'd think but almost everybody resorts to the "I-just-woke-up-and-it's-pitch-black-and-I-have-no-idea-where-anything-is-so-I'm-going-to-swing-my-arms-around-until-I-hit-something" technique. The only thing you will gain by doing it this way is someone or multiple people getting a black eye. You WILL walk into things, people, and hurt all of those involved.
So for safe "blind" team building activities - practice safe bumpers! And have a happy Christmas!
 |
| Surprisingly enough, the only one who is remotely close to proper Bumpers Up position is the one about to "Double Goose" the participant in the darker blue shirt. You don't want to be either. Bad Bumper! Bad BUMPER! |
Trust me...you don't want this happening to one your participants and as a participant, you will only experience this once before you decide that "Bumpers Up" is EXTREMELY important (especially when you're in a group with people you do not know well).
I'd show you a picture of good Bumpers Up Position...but do you think I could find one? Nope. So I'm left with explaining it and hoping that you can understand it. If I ever find one...I will definitely post it (mostly out of triumph).
BUMPERS UP:
With your elbows tight to your side, bend your elbows a little less than 90 degrees with your fingers pointing towards the sky and palms out. Your hands should be only about 4 inches away from your chest. That way - you'll know if hands get too close to your chest (this is more for the female participants). The only thing the participant on the left in the above picture did wrong is that she started reaching with her bumpers rather than keeping them close to her body.
As funny as "goosing" might be in an activity - it's one of the fastest ways to lose trust in fellow participants. Think about it - you have either been touched or have touched someone without permission. And you'll be lucky if you touched them in a non-violating way. If you have touched a sensitive part of someone else's body without permission - that kind of broken trust may never be recovered. The participant who was touched may never trust another activity. As a facilitator, you cannot risk that moment. So it's very important to teach proper Bumpers Up position and then enforce it if you see someone practicing unsafe Bumpers.
Simple, right? You'd think but almost everybody resorts to the "I-just-woke-up-and-it's-pitch-black-and-I-have-no-idea-where-anything-is-so-I'm-going-to-swing-my-arms-around-until-I-hit-something" technique. The only thing you will gain by doing it this way is someone or multiple people getting a black eye. You WILL walk into things, people, and hurt all of those involved.
So for safe "blind" team building activities - practice safe bumpers! And have a happy Christmas!
Comments