Thursday, February 13, 2003
Deep Fun - A Compendium of YRUU Games
When I first found out that someone had published something called "Deep Fun" I was nigh unto scandalized. To think that my hard-won URL and expensively trademarked conceptual framework was, without my permission or knowledge aforehand, usurped, appropriated, accroached and verily infringed upon - why, it raised my proprietary hackles to their full hackle-length.
I was somewhere between miffed and mollified to discover that it was a publication of the Young Religious Unitarian Universalists. And then I read it. Deep Fun - A Compendium of YRUU Games and Activities - available in hardcopy for a mere $5.00 - is a wonderful collection of games that masterfully expresses the spirit of what I call "Loving Fun."
For example, editor Sienna Baskin introduces the collection with these words: "As Young Religious Unitarian Universalists, we develop our own culture. Games have always been an important part of that culture. We play games in youth group meetings, at conferences, during worships, or to break up a business plenary session. Although games are a wonderful way to socialize, they can also fulfill other goals of successful YRUU programming. They can be a vehicle for learning, leadership, worship, and even social action. Games remind us that the spirit of fun can permeate everything we do, and that fun can be full of meaning."
And, for a taste of the spirit of this collection, here's just one of many "mingling games:"
Syllable Clap:
Parameters: 40 to 60 people
Have each member of the group clap out a beat corresponding to the number of syllables in their first name. Marc claps once. Alison claps three times. Then have people with the same number of syllables in their names find each other without speaking, by walking around the room clapping out their names. Once the group is divided into subgroups, have them introduce themselves to each other and then to the rest of the group.
Variation: Shake hands in a rhythm corresponding to the number of syllables in your name.
And here, a sample "active game."
Calvin Ball
Parameters: 15 to 40 people and a large field
Materials: a beach ball, frisbee, baseball and bat, tennis racket and ball, or whatever assorted sports equipment you can find.
This game has a few more rules than the one Calvin and Hobbies play, but it can be just as open to improvisation. Divide the group into 2 equal teams, called the Batters and the Fielders, and have each team stand in a loose circle opposite the other. Elect a referee to stop anything dangerous and to call for the teams to switch. When teams switch, the new Batters can make up new rules, but here are some to start: Fielders choose a pitcher, who can choose which item he is going to throw. Batters are up to “bat” (or catch and throw) one at a time. When the ball is hit, the batter must run around the entire group of Batters, while the pitcher retrieves the ball and it is passed through the legs of the entire group of Fielders. The last fielder to receive the ball holds it up and yells “Stop!” to the batter. The Batters goal is to accumulate as many complete “runs” as possible.
In sum, Deep Fun - A Compendium of YRUU Games is not an infringement, but a welcome expression of the spirit of Deep FUN that I hope to accomplish through my work (and play).
I was somewhere between miffed and mollified to discover that it was a publication of the Young Religious Unitarian Universalists. And then I read it. Deep Fun - A Compendium of YRUU Games and Activities - available in hardcopy for a mere $5.00 - is a wonderful collection of games that masterfully expresses the spirit of what I call "Loving Fun."
For example, editor Sienna Baskin introduces the collection with these words: "As Young Religious Unitarian Universalists, we develop our own culture. Games have always been an important part of that culture. We play games in youth group meetings, at conferences, during worships, or to break up a business plenary session. Although games are a wonderful way to socialize, they can also fulfill other goals of successful YRUU programming. They can be a vehicle for learning, leadership, worship, and even social action. Games remind us that the spirit of fun can permeate everything we do, and that fun can be full of meaning."
And, for a taste of the spirit of this collection, here's just one of many "mingling games:"
Syllable Clap:
Parameters: 40 to 60 people
Have each member of the group clap out a beat corresponding to the number of syllables in their first name. Marc claps once. Alison claps three times. Then have people with the same number of syllables in their names find each other without speaking, by walking around the room clapping out their names. Once the group is divided into subgroups, have them introduce themselves to each other and then to the rest of the group.
Variation: Shake hands in a rhythm corresponding to the number of syllables in your name.
And here, a sample "active game."
Calvin Ball
Parameters: 15 to 40 people and a large field
Materials: a beach ball, frisbee, baseball and bat, tennis racket and ball, or whatever assorted sports equipment you can find.
This game has a few more rules than the one Calvin and Hobbies play, but it can be just as open to improvisation. Divide the group into 2 equal teams, called the Batters and the Fielders, and have each team stand in a loose circle opposite the other. Elect a referee to stop anything dangerous and to call for the teams to switch. When teams switch, the new Batters can make up new rules, but here are some to start: Fielders choose a pitcher, who can choose which item he is going to throw. Batters are up to “bat” (or catch and throw) one at a time. When the ball is hit, the batter must run around the entire group of Batters, while the pitcher retrieves the ball and it is passed through the legs of the entire group of Fielders. The last fielder to receive the ball holds it up and yells “Stop!” to the batter. The Batters goal is to accumulate as many complete “runs” as possible.
In sum, Deep Fun - A Compendium of YRUU Games is not an infringement, but a welcome expression of the spirit of Deep FUN that I hope to accomplish through my work (and play).
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