Make the Longest Line
Teams build the longest line they can from whatever they have on them.
Teams lay out a line on the floor using only what they are carrying, and the winning line is always the one whose team was least precious about their shoes. It takes four minutes, needs nothing, and the negotiation inside each team is more interesting than the result.
In your teams, make the longest single line you can on the floor. You can only use things you have on you or are wearing right now. Nothing from the room, nothing from anyone else's team. Four minutes.
Teams need to work together on something trivial before they work together on something real, and there is floor space.
Props: None — teams use what they already have
Run this when…
If none of these is your room, pick another.Newly formed teams before a real task
Before a session on resourcefulness or negotiation
A competitive energiser with no equipment
How to run it
Written to be glanced at mid-room, not memorised.
- Split into teams of four to six and give each a stretch of floor.
- Only what they have on them or are wearing. Nothing from the room.
- Four minutes, and say the time out loud as it goes.
- Measure by walking the lines and counting paces — precision is not the point.
- Ask the winning team how they decided what to contribute.
- Everyone collects their things back before you move on, and give that a full minute.
Running it well
Only the host sees these. Participants never do.
- Say clearly that nobody should remove anything they would be uncomfortable removing. Shoes and belts are where this goes, and one sentence at the start keeps it light.
- The interesting question is how they decided, not who won. Ask the winners and then ask a team that came last — the answers are usually different in a revealing way.
- Give a proper minute for collecting things back. Somebody always loses a shoe and it ruins the transition into the next thing.
Watch out for
Space, safety and the traps worth knowing before you start.
- People take off shoes and belts. Say once that nothing anybody is uncomfortable removing should go in the line, and leave it there.
- Lines end up across walkways. Assign each team a stretch of floor before you start.
- Watch for anything valuable going on the floor — phones and glasses get stepped on. Say to keep those out of it.
Seated version
“Everybody stand up” is not a neutral instruction. Offer this alongside, not instead.
Teams build their line along a table using only what is in their pockets and bags. Shorter lines, same negotiation.
Run it yourself
Free for thirty days, no card. Put it on the projector and step through it — nobody in the room needs a phone.
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- Where
- Needs a room
- Props
- None — teams use what they already have
- Big screen
- Required
- Teams
- Supported