Trust Falls

Duration:          20 – 30 minutes

Group Size:       Section Level

Resources:       NIL

Purpose:      To learn how important trust is within a team situation.

Overview:    To take turns experiencing a situation in which one is required to have complete trust in fellow team-members.

Conduct:

  1. Facilitator divides the participants into pairs or threes, and instructs each group to assign 1 Faller and 1 or 2 Spotters.
  2. The Fallers are blindfolded (blindfolds are recommended, but simply keeping their eyes closed during the exercise is acceptable) 
  3. Fallers stand facing away from their Spotter (the second Spotter can stand in front of the Faller.) Fallers should keep their bodies stiff, with feet slightly apart and knees locked; their arms either folded lightly across their chests or held flat against their sides. 
  4. Spotters should stand with one leg forward, foot pointing at Faller. The other foot should be perpendicular to the forward foot. Their body weight should rest more on the front leg. Their shoulders should be forward, and their hands up in front of their chests, palms facing the Faller, ready to catch him.
  5. Use the following statements to initiate the fall:
    • Spotter: “I am ready.”
    • Faller: “I am falling.”
    • Spotter: “Fall.”
  6. Upon the cue “Fall”, the Fallers are to relax and let their bodies fall backwards (and forward, if a trio). The Spotter should catch them, using their hands and bodies as cushioning.
  7. After a few “falls”, ask them to exchange places so that everyone has a turn at being a Faller. 
  8. Once everyone has experienced being a Faller, gather the whole section for a group Trust Fall.
  9. One appointed Faller stands in the middle of a ring of Spotters. He is blindfolded as before, body manner as before. The Spotters stand in a tight circle, all facing inwards, standing shoulder to shoulder.
  10. An appointed head Spotter checks that the rest are ready and initiates the fall with: 
    • Spotter: “We are ready.”
    • Faller: “I am falling.”
    • Spotter: “Fall.”
  11. The Faller falls in any direction, trusting the Spotters to catch him and push him upright. He should continue to fall in different directions as the momentum carries him.
  12. Once he is safely upright, the Faller can remove his blindfold and a new Faller can be chosen.
  13. Try to repeat the group exercise enough times to allow everyone to be the Faller. 

NOTE: Facilitators should remind the participants to take this exercise very seriously – otherwise people could get hurt and mutual trust can be damaged.

Debrief Questions:

  1. What does this activity tell us about trust?
  2. What does it takes to build trust?

Notes:

  • Trust is a two-way thing. Sometimes we play the role of Spotter – responsible for supporting others who trust us; and sometimes we are the Faller – who must learn to trust the people around us. Trust fails when the Spotter is unreliable or the Faller is afraid to give trust. 
  • It is easier to trust people in big situations when the person has shown dependability in smaller situations.
  • Each successful experience reinforces trust.
  • Demonstrating competency and care is important in building trust.