+ All Categories
Home > Entertainment & Humor > Mix & Match Games/Ice Breakers for Social Events

Mix & Match Games/Ice Breakers for Social Events

Date post: 22-Nov-2014
Category:
Upload: andrew-chow
View: 11,489 times
Download: 0 times
Share this document with a friend
Description:
 
24
This publication is produced by the Social Development Unit
Transcript
Page 1: Mix & Match Games/Ice Breakers for Social Events

This publication is produced by the Social Development Unit

Page 2: Mix & Match Games/Ice Breakers for Social Events

INTRODUCTION 2

RULES OF THE GAME 6

GAME TIPS 8

READY, GET SET… 10

GETTING TO KNOW YOU 16Mix n Match 17TicTacToe 18TicTacToeToo 20Bingo! 221,001 Questions? 24

GETTING TO KNOW ALL ABOUT YOU 26Secret Pal 27He Said, She Said 29

DATING GAMES 31Speed Dating 32Blind Date 34

GAMES FOR ALL OCCASIONS 36Charades 37Director’s Chair 39Blind Voice Recognition 40Land Mine 41The Amputator 43

LAST WORD 44

Disclaimer: The masculine pronoun is conveniently used throughout the book to avoidcumbersome language use. No discrimination or bias is intended.

Contents

Page 3: Mix & Match Games/Ice Breakers for Social Events

Most of us played games when we were young, during recess time,or at home with neighbours of the same age. From hopscotch, tohide-and-seek and police-and-thief, those sessions helped us tomake friends and get along with the opposite sex. Well, some thingsdon’t change and, today even as adults, we still play games. Be ittennis, Scrabble, or a day at the beach, these activities help usunwind, relax, and yes, widen our social circle, meet people and getto know a potential partner. It is therefore not uncommon for acouple to end up dating after they get to know each other througha few sessions of rollerblading, for example.

2

Introduction

Why Mix N Match

The results from one of SDU’s surveys reinforce what we all knewinstinctively as children: when it comes to socialising, individualslook for an informal setting, and singles prefer to interact with theopposite sex through the familiar. More than 85% of singles saythat the ideal way to find a partner is to have friends and familyintroduce the dates to them. Additionally, half of those surveyed seethe workplace as one of the best places to meet a suitable match.So, what’s the score? Singles prefer the familiar, and informal, whenit comes to dating, and playing games definitely provides one of themost informal settings for couples to get to know one another.

Where do you fit in? You are someone who enjoys games. Betteryet, you are someone who enjoys organising games for the enjoymentof others. It doesn’t matter whom you are doing it for, be it a socialcommunity club or group, or a company; what’s important is thatyou believe in the power of games. You are in charge of, or areinterested in, arranging activities that let singles meet in a friendlyand relaxed setting. This fun book will help you break the ice betweenmen and women and help them get to know each other in aninformal and fun environment. It has games and tips that stimulateand promote different degrees of interaction. It also has tips foranyone who wants to help individuals meet on a one-on-one basis.

For sure, this book is not designed for you to help singles get hitched.It is to show you how to organise games that let singles interact andmake more friends. And, in the process of playing the games, theymay end up meeting their match – and finding their life partner. So,as they say in the Olympics – let the games begin.

3Mix N Match - The dating games guide

Page 4: Mix & Match Games/Ice Breakers for Social Events

4

How to use this guide

This guide maps the typical stages of social interaction: from strangersto friends to, hopefully, soul mates. However, there is no particularorder to using this book, so feel free to jump to different sectionsaccording to your needs.

‘Getting To Know You’ This is the section for you if you wantgames and activities to break the ice between groups of peoplemeeting for the first time.

Getting

To

Know

You

5Mix N Match - The dating games guide

Getting

To

Know

All

About You

‘Getting To Know All About You’ This section is what youneed to develop relationships between couples or groups ofpeople familiar with each other.

Every game has its rules so check out the objectives and method foreach activity when in doubt. These are spelt out clearly in eachsection, along with suggestions on how to vary the activity. Weencourage you to experiment and adapt the rules according to yourparticular situation and setting, and to look for ways to improve theinteraction among participants. And there’s absolutely nothing tostop you from coming up with other ingenious ways to add somespice to these games.

Page 5: Mix & Match Games/Ice Breakers for Social Events

6

Rules ofthe Game

Exude Exuberance,Energy and ExcitementA dour face inspires nobody and as the organiser,you just have to keep up the smiles, the fun, andthe excitement – no matter how many times youhave done it, or how tired you may be. In short,you’ve got to have enough for everyone, evenwhen you are running on empty! This is becauseyou have a group of strangers on your hands. Theymay feel awkward and uneasy about being put ina strange situation. Because these qualities areinfectious, it’s essential that you exude a positiveattitude – even if it means having to fake it on youroff day! After all, if you don’t warm up their socialengines, who will?

Be MercurialObserve the social temperature of the group. Arethey generally warm, boisterous or aloof? Make ajudgement call on the group’s personality, anddeploy games and activities accordingly. ‘GettingTo Know You’ is not merely an icebreaker orintroductory activity. It can also be used as a band-aid of sorts, a quick-fix for situations where tensionsrun high. Getting everyone to warm up, and warmup to each other, requires you to have a good feelof the group’s temperature.

7

Encourage, Don’t ForceAt the start of every session, encourage everybodyto be sporting and to have fun but always stressthat nobody needs to feel that he’s being forcedto do something he doesn’t like. This is a goodway to set the tone right, so that an individualwould not feel ostracised or out of place if he werereticent or resistant to participation. After a session,you may wish to have a chat with those who didn’twant to participate. NEVER EVER put down anindividual in front of the entire group. This coulddamage his self-esteem, lead to undesirablerepercussions, and put him off such sessionspermanently.

Go A Step FurtherBe extra-perceptive of the group or individual bodylanguage and the overall sentiment amongparticipants. For ‘Getting To Know All About You’games, such insight will be useful in pairingacquiescent minds together.

Have Fun, Fun, FunThis is the best “rule” to bear in mind. Don’t betoo focused on pairing up couples, or too hung-up about matchmaking. Just help your participantsrelax and have fun. This will go a long way insetting the right tone for everything else.

Mix N Match - The dating games guide

Page 6: Mix & Match Games/Ice Breakers for Social Events

8

Game TipsA novice organiser may find it daunting to arrange

activities for a group and be an informal sort ofmatchmaker. Here are some tips for you if you are

relatively inexperienced at playing Cupid’s assistant

1Discretion Be discreet. If an individual asks youfor help to get to know another, you may first wantto check out how the other party feels, before youdecide on a direct or subtle approach. Alternatively,if you observe that the chemistry is right but not quitethere because of reasons like shyness, then you candeliberately pair the two up in games and activitiesas a start. Secret Pal is an excellent platform fromwhich to start.

Also, unlike days of yore when matchmakers askedpointedly about a single’s love life, being a goodmatchmaker today means you must learn the art ofdiscretion. Not everyone wants the whole world toknow he is actively looking for a mate. Similarly, agood matchmaker would look around for suitablecandidates in a discreet and subtle manner, withoutbeing too intrusive.

32

9

4

Tact Don’t be in-your-face in your eagerness tomatchmake. Exercise tact in asking the right questionsand knowing when to ask those questions. A markof a good matchmaker is the ability to adjust theexpectations of the person seeking a spouse in atactful and unobtrusive fashion. If you come acrossas a Mr Know-it-all, you can be sure that all the singleswill avoid you like the plague. Don’t preach or talkdown on anyone.

Network It’s not easy to introduce friends orcolleagues to potential partners if your network offriends and acquaintances numbers fewer than ten.Having an extensive network of like-minded friendsdefinitely helps you in offering better choices to yoursingle friends. Nobody is saying that you need toknow all the singles in your company, but what isneeded is a critical mass to get the game going.

Passion This is one quality that will win the dayfor you. If you have the passion and interest in aperson’s well-being, and are sincere, then half thebattle is won. This x-factor cuts both ways and worksnot just on the person you are trying to matchmake,but on the person you approach as well.

Mix N Match - The dating games guide

Page 7: Mix & Match Games/Ice Breakers for Social Events

Before you organise any activity, do bear in mindthe following

PARTICIPANTS

Target group

Firstly, think about whomyou are doing it for, i.e.your target group. Are theya group of strangers? Or arethey co-workers? Have you metthem before so that you can assess theneeds of the group, or are you as much a stranger to them as theyare to one another? Different groups require different planning andinteraction formats.

Group composition

Is the group generally uniform? What are their religious and culturalconcerns? What about the age range of the participants? Bear inmind that mature participants resent being treated like children, andif the wrong game is chosen, you risk alienating them. For youngpeople, usually below the age of 25, it is alright to try out the moreexciting games that require physical contact and exertion, such asLandmine. But if your group also consists of a few older people,do avoid playing ‘juvenile’ games like those that involve yelling andplay-acting. Of course, if you know that these participants are gameenough, then by all means, play on!

Ready, Get Set...

10Mix N Match - The dating games guide11

Group size

The role of the organiser or facilitator also depends on the size ofthe group. Different group sizes require different management skills.

For small groups (about 10 people), it is easier to break the ice andyou can give each participant personal attention. Group memberswill also generally find it easier to get to know one another faster.As a rough gauge, there should be one facilitator present for agroup of not more than 10 people. In any case, you may like tohave a back-up so that the group is not left alone when you haveto go for quick errands, such as waiting for the caterer.

If the group is of medium size (15 to 25), you should have betweentwo to three organisers/co-ordinators at hand. This is actually theoptimum group size as there is a large enough number of participantsto mingle yet smallenough for them to getthe opportunity to knoweveryone in the group.

If the group is big (50 or more), youneed to be able to mingle and geteveryone to do the same. You also need tobe prepared to make public speeches towelcome them or to give instructions. Itwould be good if there are more than fourorganisers/co-ordinators in such cases, asthe games may get out of hand. As anorganiser, you have to be in control andthere is nothing more exasperating thannot being able to manage the group.

Page 8: Mix & Match Games/Ice Breakers for Social Events

VENUE

How do you choose the venue? There are many tochoose from, for example, a restaurant, a bar, a hotelseminar room, a park, or some other unusual location that matchesyour group’s interest and creates the right mood for the activityat hand.

Restaurants or HotelsIn a public restaurant or formal place,gregarious games are best avoided, asparticipants would not want to drawunwanted attention to themselves and weshould be considerate to other diners orpatrons of the business. If it’s not possibleto book the whole restaurant, get a privateroom. Some hotels do serve lunch or dinner in their seminar roomsand this is acceptable as long as the ambience is cosy.

Pubs or BarsThis is a good venue if you are attracting a younger crowd. However,some might be turned off if smoking is allowed and if it’s held toolate at night. The noise, too, might make it difficult to get the groupto mingle well. Unless you can secure a private room for icebreakersbefore proceeding to the function, it is advisable not to hold functionswith groups of total strangers in a pub or a bar.

ParksThis is a good place for you to organise outdoor games or gameswhich require a lot of space to move around. It’ll also be fun to havethe games followed by a nice picnic. Of course in Singapore, thereis always the chance that it’ll either be raining or too hot to beoutdoors, so you have to make sure that there is a wet-weatherplan and sufficient shelter.

12 13

Dining Table

Seating Arrangement

The seating arrangement can make or break an activity but this isoften overlooked. So put a little more thought into this.

Some of the pitfalls you should avoid are:

Never have two separate free seating areas. Naturally, all theguys will be seated in a cluster and the girls in the other. Thisis especially bad if there is a chasm between the two areas. Youcan expect the group to remain polarised.

Try not to have free seating. This is sometimes the bane oforganisers because no matter where you try to direct yourparticipants, they will naturally gravitate towards someone theyknow, or to those of the same gender.

If you are having a sit-down meal, seating should be assigned priorto the function. Make sure the table can seat an even number ofparticipants. The best arrangement for maximum interaction is thediagonal seating, where a girl sits between two guys and acrossanother one. An example is shown below.

Mix N Match - The dating games guide

Page 9: Mix & Match Games/Ice Breakers for Social Events

To ensure that participants sit where they are supposed to, you canallocate seats by having name cards on the tables. You can put inthat extra effort of playing Cupid’s assistant by trying to figure outwho will be best suited to whom, so that you can assign theappropriate partners to be seated across each other.

If you are organising a function in an informal place where thereare seats placed all around in small clusters, it is crucial to ‘manipulate’the seating arrangement. For example, if there are tables for four,make sure that you get two guys and two girls to sit at a table.

So how do you do this without it looking contrived? Here are somesuggestions:

Explain to the participants that you have planned games whereyou need an equal number of girls and guys sitting at each table.

You can tie balloons on 2 of the chairs andinform the ladies to sit on the chairs withballoons. Or put a stalk of flower on thegirls’ seats.

If you have different door gifts for eachgender, then you may want to place themaccording to where the guys and girls shouldbe sitting.

There are many variations to these suggestions, and all you need isto integrate them into the activities. Just remember that participantsare generally shy about mingling and approaching people of theopposite sex, so chances are that they will thank you for your efforts.

But what if all else fails and you find the group still in small clustersof guys and girls? You can start with having icebreakers where theclusters will have to stand up and participate, like Mix n Match.Once you have the couples standing, you can then ask them to sitat different tables.

14

REFRESHMENTS

So you have the participants, the venue and the games. What aboutthe food? Or is there a need to provide food in the first place?

As a rule of thumb, drinks should be provided. Cold packet drinkswill do nicely for a short session, although light refreshments couldalso be provided if the budget allows for it.

For some activities for singles, the main intention of theparticipants is not to eat, so having light refreshments

like finger food is enough.

Be careful when choosing the menu. For instance, chickendrumsticks are delicious but are a hassle to eat. And make sure

to ask for bite-sized pieces as some participants, especially thewomen, wouldn’t want to risk looking uncouth during the break.

It is also prudent to be sensitive to participants of different religionswith dietary restrictions. If you are not certain of your participants’religious beliefs, the simplest way is to avoid catering anything withpork and beef so that the Buddhists, Hindus and Muslims, will notfeel uncomfortable.

Do keep in mind that the younger your target group is, the lesslikely they are able to afford an expensive meal. So make sure youget your priorities right when organising an activity: It’s the contentand the company that matter more.

Well, we hope that these pointers are useful to you as youhelp direct Cupid’s arrows through the games you organise.Be careful not to let any stray arrows kill a person’s interestto know the opposite sex through a group setting. One lastpiece of advice: Don’t be over-ambitious. Start with the warm-up games before you proceed to something more serious. Sowhat are you waiting for? Get cracking on mixing and matchingyour participants now!

15Mix N Match - The dating games guide

Page 10: Mix & Match Games/Ice Breakers for Social Events

All of us know how daunting the dating game can be sometimes– the awkwardness, the expectations and demands. An unsuccessfuldate may also dent a person’s self-confidence for good and put himoff such activities in future. The following games are aptly namedas they act as warm-ups to help break the ice in all first-encountermeetings, and develop contact and name-retention among individuals.

Such warm-ups are especially good if you, as the organiser, areunsure about what will get the group going and need a bit of timeto gauge group dynamics.

16

Getting ToKnow You

MatchMixn

17

Mix n Match

Mix N Match - The dating games guide

This is a solid icebreaker for large groupsbecause it maximises contact amongindividuals as they intersperse and minglein search of their respective partners in the game.

How To PlayIntroduce a pair of corresponding words. They can be aboutobjects, animals, famous couples, etc. Pick pairs of words ornames that are universal or very familiar to your group, forexample, Cinderella & Prince Charming, King & Queen, Romeo& Juliet, Ebony & Ivory, Tom & Jerry, Clark Kent & Louis Lane,Batman & Robin, Front & Back, Entrance & Exit, etc. Mix andmatch according to any theme you fancy

Write each word or name on a piece of paper or card. To illustrate,‘Cinderella’ will be written on one card and ‘Prince Charming’ onanother

Separate the pairs into two separate bowls or containers and mixthem up (or in the absence of these, split the pairs into two pilesand shuffle face down)

The girls can then pick a card at random from one bowl/pile whilethe guys from the other

The participants will then go around the group in search of theirrespective partner. No shouting, please

The first couple to find each other wins

Game VariationsHow you group participants is limited only by your imagination. Ifyou do not have a group with good gender mix, instead of introducingpairs, you may introduce trios (like the 3 stooges) or groups (eg.members of the Beatles, or names of the 7 dwarves). This can alsobe used if you want participants to regroup themselves. To makethings simpler in such cases, you could reveal to the participants thetheme they should be looking for, but it won’t be half as fun!

Game Gear• Indoor/Outdoor venue

• 2 bowls orcontainers (optional)

• Paper or cards• Prizes

Page 11: Mix & Match Games/Ice Breakers for Social Events

18

TicTacToeParticipants fill in the necessary details of each stipulated categorythat is spelt out in the squares of a typical TicTacToe grid. This gamecan be quite a drawn out affair – getting participants’ details andmatching them accordingly – but it’s an exercise that melts shynessand guarantees lots of fun and interaction.

Star Sign

Sleeppatterns

FavouriteFoods Favourite

Movies

HobbiesPet

Peeves Hero

Life

MomentLife

Goals

Game Gear• Sheets of paper with

TicTacToe grid andcategories spelt out within

• Writing materials

• Prizes (optional)

19

How To Play

Determine the categories (on the opposite page) to fill up the9 squares. Think of interesting and unusual categories

Participants are then told to mingle and ask others for theirattributes that will be listed in the appropriate box. The name ofthe respondents should also be included. For example, under‘Hobbies’, the participant may write ‘Shopping’ and the name ofthe person who likes to shop

Set a time limit to the game. A tip for participants would be toget as many names as possible under one category to increasetheir chances of a ‘hit’ later on

The organiser then reads out random attributes, e.g. ‘Shopping’and those who have this listed as one of the attributes under‘Hobbies’ will cross that box out. A tip for the organiser wouldbe to call out an attribute that is less common or unique, to lessenthe chances of a ‘hit’

The first one who has crossed out 3 boxes, either horizontally,vertically or diagonally (as in TicTacToe) will be called upon toidentify the respondents from the list he has. For example, if Paulhas crossed out Lucy’s name, for ‘Shopping’ under ‘Hobbies’, hewill be asked to identify her. This is to make sure that participantsmake an effort to get to know each other and at least recogniseeach other on a first name basis

The one who can identify all the persons named in the boxes willbe the winner

Game Variations

You can make it a rule that participants can only select those whoare not of the same gender. This will ensure better interaction.

To inject more fun, you can also choose a few winners during thefirst round. There will be more excitement when they are asked toidentify the other partners they have listed down.

Mix N Match - The dating games guide

Page 12: Mix & Match Games/Ice Breakers for Social Events

20

TicTacToeTooBased on the rules of TicTacToe, participants cross out the names ontheir cards as they go along and win when they have 3-in-a-row.A quick introductory game to get people warmed up by rememberingnames.

Game Gear• Indoor/Outdoor Venue

• Sheets of paper withTicTacToe grid with some

participants’ names written on

• Writing materials

21

How To Play

Pre-determine random names to fill up the 9 squares

Participants gather and meet each other

They will then be handed the TicTacToe sheet containing thenames

Participants start to cross out names as they go round meetingother participants. No shouting, please

The one who crosses out three names in a row, either horizontally,vertically or diagonally, is declared the winner

Game Variations

Inject more challenge into the game by getting the winner to comeforward to identify and say something about the individuals whosenames he has crossed out in his TicTacToe squares.

The participants can also be divided into 2 groups – girls and guys– so that they will have to mingle with participants of the oppositesex. You can then have 2 separate TicTacToe sheets with names ofguys in one and girls in the other. The sheets with the guys’ nameswill be given to the girls and vice versa.

You can add spice by adding forfeits. Those who are not able toidentify or answer simple questions about a participant will be askedto do a forfeit.

Mix N Match - The dating games guide

Page 13: Mix & Match Games/Ice Breakers for Social Events

The gambler instinct in some of us willdefinitely find this game appealing!

The sense of chance and risk may stoke somehidden romantic embers. It is Bingo with a little

twist: instead of the individual winning with a set of matchingnumbers, the winner is declared whenthe first couple with the same set ofmatching numbers finds each other.

22

Bingo!

Game Gear• Indoor/Outdoor venue

• Bingo score sheets(you can make some or duplicate

the ones shown here)• Writing materials

• Prizes

How To Play

Individuals are grouped based ontheir gender and each is givena Bingo score sheet. A sample isavailable on this page

The organiser then informsparticipants of the number ofmatches they need to have to shoutBingo! For example, if theorganiser says 3 (correspondingnumbers), the participant mustthen find another who has anycorresponding 3 numbers in his/herBingo sheet. No shouting, please

Once the 2 participants have foundeach other, they have to shoutBingo! and they win

22 68 85

26 42 53 73 88

8 19 37 43 58

13 23 62 84

3 17 49 59 64

27 33 77 87

12 30 54 61

2 47 66 89

9 29 32 72 90

21 43 56 75

7 10 28 80

14 22 48 65 88

4 33 55 74

5 18 34 44 59

6 20 38 47 79

1 32 40 59 71

11 24 52 78

16 25 57 60 83

2

27

10

41

46

8

11

52

6 20

23Mix N Match - The dating games guide

Game Variations

If you’d rather not use numbers on scorecards, you can substitutethese items with common objects like articles of clothing, physicaltraits, personal items, etc. – morphing the game into a kind of Bingo-Scavenger hunt! Here’s how:

Treasure Hunt Bingo! WayThis is a team event. Team members are required to collect the items(either vertical, horizontal or diagonal – three in a row) and bringthem to the organiser. First three teams to come up with thecompleted list of items win attractive prizes!

One cashregister receipt

One pair ofear-rings

Three bunchesof keys

Two pairs ofsunglasses

One watchwithout hands

One credit card

Four belts

One lotteryticket

Two sweets

One watch withleather strap

One phone card

Onehandkerchief

One lipstick

Five differentname cards

One bottle cap

One shampoobottle

One packetof tissue

One $1.00 coinin the year 1995

One key chain

Two name tags

One blackwallet

Onemembership card

One safety pin

One hair pin

Six one-centcoins

One strandof long hair

Five movieticket stubs

Page 14: Mix & Match Games/Ice Breakers for Social Events

24

1,001 Questions?

Probably the simplest game used to warm up a group of strangers.Each participant introduces himself to the group. The group is thenexpected to ask a thousand and one questions of the person. Ofcourse, the number of questions is an exaggeration, but the nameof the game is really to get participants to ask as many questionsas possible. To make it more interesting, the introduction mustinclude peculiar traits of the participant. Participants are motivatedto learn more about each other if this game adopts a system ofrewards and penalties. The game ends after every participant hasintroduced himself.

25

How To Play

A person (preferably the organiser) who has been chosen to startthe game will introduce himself by prefixing his name with acharacter trait that starts with the same letter as his name. Forexample, Angelic Anna or Meticulous Mike

The one sitting next to ‘Angelic Anna’ will ask her why thecharacter trait is chosen

There is no winner to this game but as the organiser, you mightwant to give out prizes for the most imaginative names. Also, asmall gift can be given to the most sporting participant, i.e. onewho answers all questions readily. For penalties, try to get acouple, so that they can either sing or dance together

Game Variations

It’s up to you to decide how the participants can describe themselves.To make it more interesting, you can even ask the participants touse animal sounds or actions to describe themselves.

Game Gear• Open venue preferred

• Prizes (optional)

• A rich imagination

Mix N Match - The dating games guide

Page 15: Mix & Match Games/Ice Breakers for Social Events

The games and activities in this section are more intricate andprogressive than those of the previous section. If the first section isfor beginners, then this section is definitely meant for intermediateor even advanced participants! They require the participants to knoweach other and to be comfortable with one another.

Some overnight games may engage individuals at a more personaland physical level and, in some cases, may be on the provocativeside of things. As the organiser, you should exercise care and cautionto maintain civility and ensure that no one feels awkward oruncomfortable in any way.

26

Getting To Know

All About You

27

Secret PalThink Cluedo – but no one’s looking for a murderer here. Instead,Secret Pal challenges participants to engage one another in ananonymous dialogue, if you like, and the cover of anonymity addsto the sense of mystery and excitement. This game is similar toCluedo insofar as the identities of individuals are kept secret for aslong as possible. So, Michael may think that he is writing andcommunicating with Patricia, who may think that she’s “talking” toGeorge! In reality, Michael could be writing to Anna, and Patricia’sactually communicating with Tim! The game ends when participants,through hints and clues culled from various forms of correspondence– long letters, little secret notes, body language – successfully identifytheir secret pal.

Mix N Match - The dating games guide

Page 16: Mix & Match Games/Ice Breakers for Social Events

Secret Pal is best played overa period of time, say on a holidayor at a camp when the organiserpre-assigns secret pals to everyone(note: secret pals need not necessarily bemutually exclusive – Jon could be a secret pal to Jane but Jane couldbe Mark’s secret pal as well). The game ends when the holiday ends.The clandestine nature of the game adds to the suspense and thrill.Besides, the anonymous nature of the game may just encouragesome latent Romeos to express their feelings in an unbridled fashion!

How To Play

This game is best played at the start of a getaway trip (for singles).Organisers assign each participant a secret pal, preferably of theopposite sex

Organisers should find out about each participant in the groupso as to try and match secret pals according to an individual’spersonality. Better yet, if early signals are evident between acouple, Secret Pal is an excellent platform to stoke thoseembers (Wow!)

The pair of secret pals can give tokens or write short notes toeach other, preferably one each day, the contents of which areleft to their own discretion. Secret pals can also carry out secretfavours for their partners. Creative liberty encourages boldnessand gives rise to better things (hopefully)

At the end of the holiday, the organiser will conclude the game.Here the organiser can easily reveal the identities of the secretpals, or make the participants guess if he wants to lengthen thesuspense

One rule though: all participants must be reminded to observerules of civility in content and use of language

28

Game Gear• Paper pads and pens

for letter writing

29

He Said, She SaidWhat’s your name again? Players of this game may find themselvesasking this question very often, even as they trip their tongues intheir struggle to pronounce a string of colourful names. The nameof the game is to have participants remember one another’s namesand the creative adjectives attached to each. The game may be alot of fun but can get a little rowdy and raunchy as participants maymix up those colourful prefixes. Keep a sharp lookout and preventthe game from crossing the boundaries of good taste.

Game Gear• Indoor/Outdoor venue

(with lots of space)• Ball

• Good memory• Nimble tongues

Mix N Match - The dating games guide

Page 17: Mix & Match Games/Ice Breakers for Social Events

30

How To Play

Sit in a circle. The bigger the circle, the merrier. The organiserfirst introduces himself, “Hi, I’m Funny Fred…”

The introductions go round and everyone introduces himselfwith an adjective of his choice. The adjective will help namerecall and retention

Once the introductions are done, the organiser literally startsthe ball rolling, “Hi, I’m Funny Fred and I’m going to passthe ball to Joker Jon.” He then rolls or throws the tennisball/beach ball to Joker Jon, who then says, “Thanks FunnyFred. Hi, I’m Joker Jon and I’m going to pass the ball to SillySally…”

The person that forgets a name or adjective will have toperform a forfeit

Game Variations

It gets a lot more interesting as the adjectives get more colourful,and penalties more creative. To make things more fun, theorganiser can have the names sequentially compounded – SillySally will have to say, “Thanks Joker Jon who got the ball fromFunny Fred, I’m going to pass the ball to Bouncy Betty.” Andshe would have to add, “Thanks Silly Sally who got the ballfrom Joker Jon who got the ball from Funny Fred, I’m goingto pass the ball to…” Well, you get the idea…

31

Dating GamesThis section is definitely for individuals looking for a life partner, asthe games featured here are aimed at getting a couple closer toeach other in a short period of time and at a more intense level.

As the facilitator, you have to be mindful that some participants maynot be as open or enthusiastic when it comes to dating games.Therefore, it is important to ensure that the game is played in anappropriate setting. For example, if you are doing it for colleagues,you can organise it in an informal setting. In any case, ensure thatthe venue is not distracting and is private enough to put participantsat ease and encourage them to open up.

Mix N Match - The dating games guide

Page 18: Mix & Match Games/Ice Breakers for Social Events

32

Speed

DatingPlay this game if you wantparticipants to get to knoweverybody else within the shortesttime possible.

Game Gear• A cosy indoor venue

• A bell (or some other similardevice) to inform participants

of the timing

• Chairs

• Tables (optional)

How To Play

Split the entire group into two groups based on gender

Each participant is assigned a number

Participants are seated at tables for two. If you don’t have tables,just two seats facing each other will do nicely

The guys and gals are paired off according to the numbers theyare each assigned and seated, for example, Guy 1 sits in front ofGirl 1

The facilitator then announces the start of the game and the pairstarts talking

After a certain period, between a minimum of 7 minutes andmaximum of 15 minutes (depending on group size and timeconstraints), the facilitator rings a bell and the guys will move tothe next seat. For example, Guy 1 now gets to chat with Girl 2,and Guy 2 dates Girl 3, and so forth

Game Variations

This game can still be played even if the two groups are not evenlydistributed based on gender. It simply means that some participantsmay have to wait out certain rounds, as they do not have a partner.There is no hard and fast rule about the timing. You may give 7minutes each round if you want a short game or 15 minutes if thereare fewer people.

You might also want to suggest that participants exchange contactnumbers as they go around – you could be opening doors for thosewho are shy to ask for numbers.

You can even turn this into a game where the pair who can answerthe most correct questions about each other wins. There are manyvariations you might want to try…. just use your imagination!

33Mix N Match - The dating games guide

Page 19: Mix & Match Games/Ice Breakers for Social Events

Blind DateThis is best played in the dark. The game is so called becauseparticipants are not allowed to see each other during the first fewminutes of the meeting. Indeed the name of the game here is thethrill and excitement induced by a sense of mystery and the unknown.

How To Play

The facilitator will have to arrange the seating arrangement beforethe event (see page 13 for suggested seating)

The ladies and men are separated into 2 groups and brought toa holding area. Like soon-to-be-wed couples, they are not supposedto see each other before the actual date

All participants will be blindfolded as they wait their turn to bebrought into a dark room with little or no light

Facilitators are to bring the participants individually into the room,which may be lit dimly only by candlelight

When participants are seated, the blindfolds will be taken off

As the event progresses, the lights will be turned up gradually,so that at the end of the event, participants will be able to seeeach other clearly

Game Variations

You can conduct Blind Date in an exclusive restaurant whereparticipants are able to see more of their partners – and what theyare eating – as the meal progresses. However, Blind Date neednot necessarily be held in a restaurant. But it is advisable to conductthe game in a place where you can control the lighting, and whereit’s enclosed. Although this game might seem strange at first, don’tbe surprised when you find participants talking more when the lightsare dim. It seems that in darkness, tongues begin to loosen up asthere is less superficial judgement and discrimination.

34 35

Game Gear• A cosy restaurant, preferably

with a romantic ambience

• Blindfolds

• Candles

Mix N Match - The dating games guide

Page 20: Mix & Match Games/Ice Breakers for Social Events

As the name of the category suggests, the activities and games herecan be used in a number of situations – as an icebreaker, on a roadtrip, as a filler between events… or just to pass time. As far as generalpurpose games go, the nature of such activities are multi-dimensionaland can be easily modified or adapted to suit different situations.

Games For

All Occasions

36

CharadesThis is a game with universal appeal and many ways of playing.Using a pre-agreed set of codes and signals, a player will mime aword or phrase without speaking.

How To Play

Firstly, the organiser must preparephrases for theparticipants, andwrite them down onpieces of card orpaper. Each teamthen takes turns toselect one written phraseat random to act out

The team then chooses its ownactor to mime the selected phrasewithin a stipulated time limit, usually30 seconds

No verbal exchanges or intonations must be used or a penaltywill be imposed

The team that racks up a pre-determined number of successfulguesses wins

Game Variations

The game of Charades can be modified in a number of ways.The ever-popular “Pictionary©” is a graphical rendition of the “body-language” type of charades – instead of miming a phrase, participantsdraw it out. As an organiser, you need to be careful when choosingthe phrases. Always observe decorum and avoid phrases that aretasteless, too obvious or obtuse.

37

Game GearScraps of paper or cardsto write the phrases on.

If you are interested in the“Pictionary©” version, an easel

stand equipped with markers anda flip chart will be ideal.

A chalkboard in a classroomwill work just as well.

Mix N Match - The dating games guide

Page 21: Mix & Match Games/Ice Breakers for Social Events

Game Gear• Big pieces of paper

(preferably mounted forother players to see)

• Drawing materials

• Prizes (optional)

38 39

Director’s ChairThis is a game that hones communication skills. One player has touse only words to guide another to draw a picture that the lattercannot see. The end result can be a masterpiece in more waysthan one!

How To Play

Players are divided into two groups, preferably with an equalnumber of guys and gals in each

Each team alternately fields a couple (one guy and one gal) toplay each round

One of the pair (the artist) faces the drawing board and staysthat way, while the other (the director) looks at a picture that theorganiser has drawn. The picture could be of an object or anabstract drawing

Within a time limit, the director has to guide the artist to replicatethe drawing with clear verbal instructions, and only that. Noreference may be made to the name of the object and no handgestures may be used. Questions can be asked. After all, effectivecommunication involves lots of listening and asking questions forclarification

The team that comes up with a drawing that best resembles theoriginal wins the game

As with any game, it is good togive incentives to invoke thecompetitive spirit

Mix N Match - The dating games guide

Page 22: Mix & Match Games/Ice Breakers for Social Events

A couple is blindfolded and randomly positioned in a large area,surrounded by the other team members. Team members try to guidethe sightless pair to find each other by shouting out instructions ongeneral location and direction. Opposing team members are free tointerfere in this process using mis-information or mis-direction tofurther blind the couple with confusion.

Blind VoiceRecognition

Game Gear• A large open area,preferably outdoors

• 2 blindfolds

• A loudhailer may proveuseful to cut through

the din!

How To Play

Divide the individuals into evenly numberedgroups, with a balanced representation ofboth sexes if possible. During each turn, bothgroups respectively field a male and female each.The pair will be separated and blindfolded

Using only their voices, the team members try to guide theblindfolded couple back to each other

The opposing team will attempt to mislead the couple by givingwrong directions or simply yelling to add confusion and stress tothe situation

40 41

Land MineThis is the human version of “Battleship” played with “human-pieces” and a life-sized board.

How To Play

This is a gamewhere one triesto locate and mapout the positionof mines on agrid to destroy them

A grid is eitherdrawn on theground or on a sheet torepresent the minefield

Players have to navigate through the grid one square at a time.Players take turns making a move each within 3-5 seconds

The organiser will place ‘invisible mines’ on the grid and playersget ‘killed’ or ‘eliminated’ if they step on a mine

This game tests players’ ability to remember the locations of thedeadly squares on which other less fortunate souls have stepped– and died! The ‘dead’ player is out of the game. The winner(s)may have the privilege to suggest the ‘penalty’

The individual or group who crosses the land mine first wins

Game Variations

The entire group can play as a whole to determine a winner.Alternatively, if space and resources permit, you can have a racebetween 2 or more teams to determine who can cross the minefieldfastest.

Game GearA drawn out map/grid with

landmines clearly stipulated for theorganiser to refer to. Ensure that thegrid markings tally to facilitate easy

cross-reference between theorganiser’s copy and the actual grid(either drawn out on the ground or

on a sheet)

Mix N Match - The dating games guide

Page 23: Mix & Match Games/Ice Breakers for Social Events

42

elbow

handshoulder

ear

chin

nose

Game Gear• Big open space, preferably

a field or basketball court

• Gamesmanship

• Deodorant

The AmputatorThis is a spin on the old twister game. Instead of a mat with colouredcircles, The Amputator simply calls for open space, and physicalagility on the part of the participants. Organisers also need to keepa watchful eye to ensure that the modesty of participants is notcompromised in any way.

How To Play

The organiser calls for the first “volunteer”

Subsequent participants will be called upon for their particularbody parts to be ‘stuck’ to another participant’s, all at the organiser’sdiscretion. For example, “John’s right elbow to Jane’s knee; Jane’sright toe to Mark’s left thumb; Mark’s chest to…”

The participants will have to prove their physical flexibility andshed their inhibitions to really have fun

Game Variations

To increase the range of possibilities and “human-permutations”,articles of clothing may be called upon to be stuck as well!

43Mix N Match - The dating games guide

Page 24: Mix & Match Games/Ice Breakers for Social Events

LAST WORDWe hope you will benefit from the games in this book. Only youwill know which games are most appropriate for the singles in yourcharge, your organization or group. In short, the success of thesegames rests on you. Be imaginative and think of new ways to makethe games more fun.

However, if you feel that you need further information or help inplanning and organising the games, or if you think that you wouldrather have the singles under your charge benefit from otherstructured activities with other singles throughout the island, thenyou can refer them to either of the following:

For graduate singles, contactSocial Development Unit (SDU)

SDU House8 Stevens Road Singapore 257819Tel: 6838 9348 • Fax: 6838 9387Email: [email protected]

www.LoveByte.org.sg

For non-graduate singles, contactSocial Development Service (SDS)

StarDuS Clubhouse277 River Valley Road Singapore 238318

Tel: 6311 9200 • Fax: 6440 8303Email: [email protected]

www.sds.gov.sg

You can also get singles to sign up for a SDU or SDS membershipto benefit from a whole array of dating activities and matchmakingservices. Or you can go ahead and purchase a Corporate Membershipfor your company so that your staff can get the best deals for less.So what are you waiting for? Let the games begin – and set thewheels of romance in motion! Remember, you have to get thesingles to mix – before they meet their match!

44


Recommended