Training games represent an important part of a trainer’s toolkit that allows the trainer to foster communication, enhance interaction, creativity and learning, and energize group formation. By their composition, games help to

- Facilitate Introductions
- Assist Group Formation
- Introduce Topics, Concepts Or Themes
- Highlight Key Learning Points
- Prepare Participants For Learning
- Energize The Group

Games are generally used at any stage in the training event. Most opening activity games should last around ten to fifteen minutes though there are a range of issues that influence what games that you employ during the remainder of the event. It is important that all participants are comfortable with the training game even though sometimes the exercise may challenge them.

Choosing Games For Training Events

There are many issues that need to be considered when choosing a game for you training event. These include:

Rationale/Goals

It is always essential that the game chosen reflects the rationale and goals of the training event.

Experience

It is also crucial that it has been tried and tested on others and that as a trainer you are familiar with all aspects of the activity.

Audience

- Consider who the audience is?
- Are they there as a group or as individuals?
- What are their ability levels? Remember individuals also like to be challenged.
- Have they completed the game before?

Connection To The Training Event

The trainer must also ensure that the game ‘connects’ to a point in the training event. To illustrate, an energizer activity is best used after a break period than before the break!

Structure of the Activity

When considering the structure of activity to be used you will need to be aware of:

- The number of participants involved
- Time required: do you have enough time to complete the task?
- Place: where the activity will take place?
- Permission: participants should be allowed to choose not to participate
- Tone: What tone does the activity set with the group
- Opportunity to include learning points for the training event
- Opportunity to ask questions

On the right we have provided examples of games that you can readily apply and/or adapt to your training events.