Loser Ball
Imaginary ball thrown around the group and people spectacularly miss catching it.
by Erica MarxGoal
accepting mistakes as gifts for the scene
support others, group bonding
Instructions
Everyone throws around an object work ball around the circle, but nobody can catch it no matter how hard they try. And rather than being upset that they couldn't catch it, the rest of the circle cheers wildly as if failing to catch the ball was the best thing they've ever seen. The more spectacularly someone fails at catching the ball, the more excited the group should be.
The ball is thrown to a person, preferably by naming that person ("here John") or some other way to focus the group on the catcher. He catcher misses the ball, drops it, fumbles, or whatever, as long as he fails.
Option
The rest of the group finds something praiseworthy about what the catcher did and states this E.g. "Good move!", "Great energy!" etc.
Background
Origin Attributed to Jill Bernard.
Author
I help teams connect, collaborate, and perform at their best in both virtual and in-person environments. As an executive and leadership coach, I design highly engaging experiences where people can think together, navigate challenges, and strengthen the way they work. With a background in leadership coaching, facilitation, and applied improvisation, I create interactive retreats, conferences, and networking events that energize participants and create lasting impact. My work creates the conditions for psychological safety, honest communication, and deep collaboration, allowing teams to build trust, navigate challenges, and achieve meaningful results together. I am deeply committed to mission-driven organizations. As a board member of the International Applied Improvisation Network, I partner with nonprofit and social justice leaders to help their teams thrive in fast-changing environments.
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