Focus Ring - International Association of Teamwork ... · Get the package with 5 colors. If you can’t find the five color package use the colors you can find. • Steel ring –

Free team building games at www.teachmeteamwork.com

Copyright 2002 by Tom Heck. All rights reserved. www.teachmeteamwork.comTom Heck is the Teach Me Teamwork Coach

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Focus RingHow To Make

Step # 1: Gather materials

Available at a home improvement stores like Lowes, Home Depot, etc.• Builders twine – It’s made of nylon. Get the package with 5 colors. If you can’t find

the five color package use the colors you can find.• Steel ring – two inches in diameter (can also use a large key ring)

Step # 2: Measure and Cut String

You can measure all five strings at once by placing all of the spools in a container andthen pulling all of the ends at once. Measure out fourteen (14) feet of string and thencut.



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Step # 3: Tie Knots

Immediately tie overhand knots at theends of ALL strings. This will preventthe strings from unraveling.

Drape all of the strings around yourshoulders to keep them from gettingtangled up.

Find the middle of a string by placing oneend of a string through the ring and pull ithalf way through. You can use theweight of the string to find the half waypoint by holding the ends up in the air(see picture at right).



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Tie Overhand Knot - - This step willprevent the string from being removedfrom the ring. Tie an overhand knot withBOTH strings.

Repeat step # 3 until all five stringsare tied on to the ring.

NOTE that the strings are tied to thering in such a way that the strings canfreely move around the ring.

When finished, the Focus Ring willaccommodate up to ten players (eachoperating one string of their own).

Length of strings when finished willbe 7 feet.

Use a piece of cardboard to wrap theFocus Ring up. This will help keep ittangle free.



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How To Make Pedestals

Pedestals are used when you want a team to transport a ball onto something.

Purchase _” diameter PVC pipe at a homeimprovement (8 feet cost less than $2).Measure and cut 4 inches. Cut with ahacksaw.

Place straight connectors on the ends (a bagof 10 cost about $2). These ends will help thepedestal stand straight.

The simple and quick way to make apedestal is to purchase a bag of _ inchPVC pipe connectors (about $2 US forten) from a home improvement store.

When the pedestal is this short (seephoto to the right), it’s easier for thegroup to place a tennis ball on top of thepedestal.

A photo of the finished tall pedestal is atthe right.

Make a couple of these so you canconnect pipes together to make even tallerpedestals (taller = harder).



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Pedestal Variation

Robot Writer

This is a fancy pedestal that requires twoteams to transport their tennis balls ontothe pedestal SIMULTANEOULSLY. If theballs aren’t place on the two receivingposts simultaneously then the pedestalfalls over (and the group starts over).

Parts required:Note: All parts are _” PVC pipe

• One “T” joint• Two 90 degree angle joints• Two straight connectors• One 2 inch x _ inch reducer (to act as the

base• Five – four inch long pipe sections

In this variation, the group must writesome kind of message on a piece ofpaper using the Focus Ring to operate amarker. See photo to the right.

If you operate a character educationprogram you can ask your group to writethe character trait you’re studying on thepaper (ex. HONESTY).



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You’ll need a small pieceof foam and a marker.

This is a close up of the RobotWriter showing how the foamholds the marker in place.

Focus Ring - International Association of Teamwork ... · Get the package with 5 colors. If you can’t find the five color package use the colors you can find. • Steel ring –

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