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Description

• This is a 20min exercise run by a leader in patrols as a base to seek improve troop discipline when Leaders are explaining activity instructions.
• By demonstrating the impact of not listening, sparking a discussion through a Scouts own experience, and hopefully generating some shared empathy, we can make a change without just “telling them” how to behave.
• It needs to be used with other activities like code of conduct discussions.
• The activity involves a Scout reading through some complicated game rules with the Patrol before a game that in the end you never run. The Scout may struggle to get through to the end of the instructions and it will be obvious that the Scouts have not got a grasp of what they need to do. This will spark a discussion around behaviour and the outcome should be an agreement how we can do better.

Resources

A tennis ball
notepad and paper

Instructions

1. Explain you will be running a team activity with a tennis ball and one of the Scouts will be reading the instructions for experience. Give the Scouts the ball.
2. Choose a Scout to read the rules (attached) who will carry on and not get overwhelmed. One who is respected / one of the gang will be of benefit when discussing the impact (not a skilled PL).
3. Pass over the rules and stand back. The game rules are designed to be complex and to create an early reaction / chat amongst the Scouts. They will stop listening and start working out what they are doing.
4. The Scout reading the rules will find it increasingly difficult. Avoid stepping in to help too much if you can. Let it run its course. If they are listening well you might need to disrupt a little yourself.
5. Let the exercise go all the way to the point the Scouts would get ready to set up the teams. Then stop and take back leadership.
o Do they understand the game rules explained? Why not?
o How hard was it for the Scout explaining. Is that fair? How would they have felt?
o Ask Patrol Leaders and APL’s for their view.
o What is the impact of their behaviour?. Less game time, difficult time for leaders, leaders not enjoying Scouts, other Scouts not happy, disruption.
o What should we do differently, ideas? How can we make sure they work? What shall we choose first? Will they make a personal commitment?
6. Thank the Scouts for their input and maturity. If running as a base, patrol by patrol, ask the Scouts not to tell the other Patrols as not to spoil it for them.

Tags

• behaviour
• empathy
• Listening to others

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