Name and Purpose
- Toss-A-Name builds name recall and group connection through a progressively silly tossing game.
- Players practise names, focus, and coordination as more objects enter the circle.
a.k.a.
- Name Toss, Name Ball, Multi-Ball Name Game
Age / Group / Time / Space
- Ages 8-16 | 8-30 players | 10-20 minutes | Any space for a standing circle
Materials
- 1 soft ball or beanbag to start
- 3-6 additional tossable items for advanced rounds (rubber chicken, stuffed animals, soft balls)
- Optional: goofy or unusual items for extra fun
Quick-Run Card
- Group stands in a circle. One player says someone’s name and tosses the ball to them.
- That person says another name and tosses to someone who hasn’t received it yet.
- Continue until everyone has received the ball once, creating a pattern.
- Repeat the pattern. Add a second item following the same order.
- Keep adding items for chaos and laughs. End with one final name-toss round.
Setup and Boundaries
- Form a circle with enough space to toss safely
- Use soft, lightweight items only (nothing hard or heavy)
- Signal: facilitator manages pacing; 1 whistle = freeze; 2 whistles = gather
- Dropped items: no restart needed. Pick up and keep going.
How to Play
- The group stands in a circle.
- One player says the name of someone across the circle and gently tosses the ball to them.
- That person says “Thank you, [name]!” (optional), then says a new name and tosses to someone who hasn’t received it.
- This continues until everyone has received the ball once, creating a set pattern.
- The group repeats the same pattern (same order of names) to lock it in.
- Once the pattern is solid, the facilitator adds a second item. It follows the same pattern.
- Add more items one at a time. The group juggles multiple objects following the same name order.
- For the ice breaker version: add as many goofy items as possible and let things get silly.
- For the team-building version: keep it to 4-6 items and hold the pattern. Focus on communication.
- Wind down by removing items one at a time. End with one final round of the original ball.
I-OPt Options
- A (Active): Full participation, catching and tossing multiple items
- S (Support): Stand in the circle and help by pointing to the next person in the pattern, or picking up dropped items
- Q (Quiet): Participate in the circle at a gentler pace; items can be handed rather than tossed
- O (Observer): Watch from outside the circle, learn names, step in when ready
Inclusion Adaptations
- Roll items on the ground for players who prefer not to catch
- Verbal-only version: say the name and point, pass the item to the person beside you who passes it along (for players who can’t toss or catch)
Stewardship Moment
- “Collect all the tossable items. Let’s make sure we return everything we borrowed.”
- Quick count of items before and after to make sure nothing is lost
Consent
- Pre-brief: “This game involves tossing soft items and saying names. If catching isn’t your thing, we can roll or hand-pass. You can also step out and step back in between rounds.”
- Mid-game check: After adding the second item, pause. “How’s everyone doing? Ready for more chaos?”
- Opt-out/re-entry: Step out of the circle any time. The pattern adjusts. Step back in between rounds.
Risks and Mitigation
- Hard or heavy items: use only soft, lightweight objects
- Dropped items causing tripping: pick up immediately, keep the circle area clear
- Name anxiety: allow “Thank you, [name]” as a gentle reinforcement; no penalty for forgetting
Warm-Up Suggestions
- “Name and Wave”: go around the circle, each person says their name with a wave
- “One Ball Slow”: toss the ball slowly around the circle with names before establishing the pattern
Debrief Questions
- What? “How many items did we get going at once? What was the hardest part?”
- So What? “What strategies helped you keep track of your person?”
- Now What? “How is juggling multiple things at once like your regular day?”
Cleanup and Reset
- Count and collect all tossable items
- Return props to storage
- Quick space check
