The President Game

Name and Purpose

The President Game builds memory, quick recall, and focus through a fast-moving chair sequence.
Players practise active listening, self-awareness under mild pressure, and friendly competition.

a.k.a.

Age / Group / Time / Space

Ages 10-16 | 8-25 players | 15-30 minutes | Any indoor or outdoor space with enough room for a row of chairs plus one extra

Materials

Quick-Run Card

Line up one chair per player in a row. Place one extra chair at the end, facing the row.
Assign titles left to right: President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Secretary, then numbers 1, 2, 3… for remaining chairs. The facing chair is the “Caller’s Chair.”
The Caller’s Chair player calls any title or number in the row.
That player calls their own title, then calls another. Each player may use “Phone a Friend” once per round to tag a neighbour for help.
A player who hesitates, calls the wrong title, or speaks out of turn moves to the Caller’s Chair. Everyone between that chair and the Caller’s Chair shifts one position. Play continues for a set time.

Setup and Boundaries

Set up chairs in a clear row with enough space between each for comfortable seating
Signal: staff claps twice to pause and reset the chair assignments if titles are lost
Decide the time limit before play begins; a visible timer helps players know when the round ends

How to Play

Arrange chairs in a straight row. Place one extra chair at one end facing the row.
Players choose a chair and sit down. Assign titles from the row end closest to the extra chair: President is first, then Vice-President, Treasurer, Secretary, and all remaining chairs are numbered in order. The extra facing chair is the Caller’s Chair.
The player in the Caller’s Chair begins by calling any title or number from the row: for example, “President.”
The President must immediately respond: “President calls [title or number].”
That player responds in kind and calls another. The chain continues.
Phone a Friend: Once per round, any player who blanks on their title or gets stuck may tag the player sitting next to them for a whispered reminder. This keeps the game moving and takes the sting out of a memory lapse.
If a player hesitates too long (even after using Phone a Friend, or if they have already used it), calls the wrong title, calls their own seat, or speaks out of turn, that player moves to the Caller’s Chair.
When a player moves to the Caller’s Chair, every player sitting between the vacated chair and the Caller’s Chair shifts one seat closer to the President’s end. Each player takes on the new title or number for their new chair.
Play runs for the agreed time. At the end, the player sitting in the President’s chair is the round winner.
Optional: track how many total rounds each player held the President’s chair across the session for an overall champion.

I-OPt Options

A (Active): Play in the chair row, calling and responding at full speed
S (Support): Help a newer player remember their title quietly between turns; be a ready “Phone a Friend” partner
Q (Quiet): Sit in a lower-numbered chair and participate at a steady pace without racing to respond first
O (Observer): Watch one full round before choosing a chair; join at the start of the next round

Inclusion Adaptations

Players who find remembering titles difficult can write their title on a small card clipped to their chair back
The time limit can be extended between calls (staff sets a generous count) for groups who are new to the game
“Phone a Friend” provides a built-in safety net so no player is left stranded under pressure

Stewardship Moment

Stack chairs together after play as a team
Reflection: “We used only chairs and our voices. What happens when a team practises together? Does it get easier?”

Consent

Pre-brief: “This game moves quickly and involves being called on. For those not comfortable with fast-paced recall pressure, sitting in a numbered chair (rather than a titled one) means fewer quick calls come your way, and that is a perfectly good way to play. You also have a Phone a Friend lifeline once per round.”
Mid-game check: after the first round, check in; anyone who wants to swap to a different chair position can do so
Opt-out and re-entry: any player can step out between rounds; re-enter by taking the Caller’s Chair or a numbered chair at the start of the next round

Risks and Mitigation

Players moving chairs quickly and bumping each other: remind everyone that only the player called moves, not the whole row at once
Confusion about new titles after a shift: pause and confirm titles aloud after any shift if there is uncertainty
Dominant players monopolising the President’s chair: set a rule that any player holding President for three consecutive turns automatically “graduates” and becomes the game scorekeeper for one round
A player freezing under pressure: “Phone a Friend” gives them a lifeline before they move to the Caller’s Chair

Warm-Up Suggestions

“Name Chain”: go around the circle saying your name and the name of everyone who came before you
“Number Swap”: players are numbered 1-5; staff calls two numbers and those players swap seats quickly

Debrief Questions

What? “How hard was it to remember your title when the calling got fast? What helped?”
So What? “What did you notice about staying focused when the pressure increased?”
Now What? “Where in your life does staying calm and thinking clearly under pressure matter most?”

Cleanup and Reset