Your Guide to Large Group Team Building
Who We Are
What makes us experts on events and bonding activities for large groups? We've hosted thousands of gatherings over the last ten years. Our experiences cover family fun days, bachelor/bachelorette bashes, and corporate team-building events!
Our brand evolved from our original ’throwback’-themed fitness studio in NYC. Our approach to working out centered around light competition and play. Now we place that same emphasis on ‘old-school fun’ in our (non-fitness) events!
We've learned a few things about creating awesome experiences for large groups and have shared some tips in this post.
The Challenge of Large Group Dynamics
Plenty of options for small teams are out there: cooking classes, arts & crafts, escape rooms. But what if the goal is to bring together hundreds of people?
Large companies (or any group) mean a diverse mix of personalities, ages, skills, and backgrounds. Pleasing everyone is a tricky task and striking the right balance of activities is somewhat of an art.
Many organizers will just open a tab at a bar or buy several dozen seats to a ball game. If looking for games to play with big groups, hosts may end up with just a handful of standard lawn activities.
These options are easy to organize but they're routine and forgetful.
But thoughtful planning, structured activities, and the right amount of competition can make a huge difference.
Key components of large group activities
Our critical elements for large group team building are:
Fun: emphasizing smiles and laughs
Nostalgia: we all have fond memories of childhood
Moderated games: led by an official or coach
Friendly Competition: good-natured rivalry that enhances relationships
We incorporate these themes while considering group dynamics to make every participant feel included.
How Large Group Activities Can Empower Your Organization
Large group activities are more than just fun and games. They're tools that can significantly empower an organization in plenty of ways. Here are our top 5:
Enhanced Communication: Break down barriers among team members from different departments or levels within the company
Promote Inclusion: Make every member feel engaged, valued, and part of the team
Improve Morale: Boost spirits and create a more positive work environment, leading to increased job satisfaction and retention
Strengthen Relationships: Shared experiences outside the office help build friendships and strengthen relationships among colleagues
Drive Company Culture: Reinforce the values and vision of the company, making them lived experiences for employees
Creating the Perfect Experience
Let's get into the nitty-gritty of what makes a large group event stand out. Here are five practical tips we've honed to ensure the experience is a hit for everyone.
Pick the Right Venue
Balance is Key
Fun Games for Large Groups
Customize Games for Your Group
Intimate Interactions, Large Scale
1. Pick the Right Venue
Hosts should put thought into the event location which impacts game selection and the overall vibe of the event.
Throwback's best large-group games vary depending on whether the event is outdoors or indoors. And when indoors, the size of the open space matters too.
Groups can also weigh the convenience of the venue versus the atmosphere. You may have the option of holding an event the the office or home. This offers convenience by removing travel time.
Hosting outdoors is our favorite setting for large team building activities. But some things to consider when planning outdoors are weather and park permits.
2. Balance is Key
A mix of physical, mental, and creative challenges ensures that every player has an awesome experience. On an intensity scale of 1-10, we recommend between a 4 and 5.
At this level, you'll have a couple of games that allow teammates to show off their athleticism. Others will be pretty mild in physical activity. Then we recommend sprinkling in some purely mental games to challenge problem-solving skills.
Event length is another aspect to balance. Adults usually don't have the stamina of kids so a full day of fun games for large groups is probably overkill. Throwback has a sweet spot depending on the group's preferences.
3. Fun Games for Large Groups
Speaking of games, we've tried it all and have learned which ones resonate and which fall flat. plus, we've crafted our own unique activities. Throwback-developed games have quickly become client favorites for their originality and ability to bring people together.
Without giving away our secret sauce, here are some suggestions.
Traditional Games
You probably remember these from summer camp or recess. Large groups of adults still have a blast with them with a few tweaks.
Tug-o-war: A test of strength and cooperation that's great for all ages.
Lay out a rope with each team taking a position on opposite ends
Tie a bandana in the middle of the rope
Tie additional bandanas 3 feet away from the middle bandana to indicate where teams should position themselves
Place a soccer cone on the ground to line up the middle bandana on the rope
Teams pull the rope and the first to bring the far bandana past the center cone is the winner
Throwback tips:
Use a polyester cotton blend rope of 1.5" thickness for the best safety, grip, and comfort
Set this up as a tournament so more than 2 teams can play
Not everyone will want to play this one because of the physical demands. Allow people to spectate and cheer on their teammates which can be as fun as playing
Make sure matchups are fair with a roughly equal split of guys and girls on each team
Capture the Flag: The camp classic that emphasizes strategy, speed, and stealth
Use cones to create a playing field with a perimeter, midfield line, and end zone for each team
Place an equal number of flags or bandanas in each team's end zone
Each team positions themselves on one side of the midfield line
When the game begins, players will run through the opposing team's territory in an attempt to steal a flag
If a player reaches the enemy end zone, they can safely bring one flag back to their own side
The winner is the team with the most flags in their end zone when time is up
Throwback tips:
Try doing mini rounds of about 3 minutes each since this game can be tiring
You don't have to set up a jail. Tell players they are out for the remainder of the round if tagged
Set this up as a tournament so more than 2 teams can play
Egg & Spoon Race: A game of speed and agility that all ages and fitness levels can have fun with
Use cones to set up a start and finish line in the playing area
Have teams line up behind the starting line and give the first player on each an egg and spoon
When the game begins, the first player on each team will move as fast as they can to the opposite set of cones and back
If a player drops the egg, they must perform a penalty before continuing
This could include returning to the starting line or performing 3 jumping jacks
Continue in relay fashion until all players have completed the course
Throwback tips:
Make sure to account for uneven teams
Use plastic eggs to avoid a mess
Silent Order: The ultimate silent team challenge where actions speak louder than words
Split the group into teams and provide instructions that they cannot speak
State a method for teams to arrange themselves; examples could be:
First name
Birthday by calendar year (month and day only)
City born
High school mascot
The first team to arrange themselves correctly is the winner
Throwback tips:
A team may have one more attempt if they make a mistake the first time. But after 2 strikes, the team is out for that round
Classic Trivia: Test your team's whits with this supreme trivia showdown
Prepare a series of multiple-choice questions from various categories like history, science, pop culture, and sports
For each round, a small delegation (3 or 5 players) per team steps forward
Those players are the only ones allowed to provide an answer to that particular question
The host will announce the question and allow about 30 seconds for players to discuss
The host will then get each delegation's answer, in secret
The host announces the correct answer and awards points to the teams that answered correctly
Throwback tips:
Allow players outside the delegation to hear each question, but they may not provide answers
Chose a new delegation for each question
This is a good activity to include trivia specific to your group
Avoid these games
We've all probably played these at some point in our lives. Yes, they seem like good games for large groups. But while you may have fond memories of some, they aren't as fun for adults as you might remember.
3-Legged Race: This favorite from grade school has some safety hazards
Adults are more likely to sustain injuries from trips and falls compared to kids
Adult matchups may naturally include unsafe pairings where there's a large weight difference between the two players
Potato Sack Relay: The classic relay isn't friendly to adult bodies
This can be a fun one, but the constant hopping is jarring on the ankles
Red Light Green Light: Your group may be excited about this one, especially with its feature in Squid Game
The original version of this game is safe but it's difficult to judge
Players may feel frustrated when they don't like the call
Red Rover: This game encourages forceful collisions
When a player attempts to break through the linked arms, it can cause a significant impact, risking arm or shoulder injuries
The stress on the arms and hands from holding the chain can lead to joint or muscle strains
Throwback has an adult-friendly version of this!
'Fun Fact' Activities: This social icebreaker can be awkward
This puts people on the spot and they may struggle to find something they want to share with the group
No one wants to follow someone who might have said they're an Olympic medalist
Unique Throwback Favorites
We haven't even gotten to what we feel are the best games for a large group. We see the most smiles, laughs, and high-fives from the games we've created ourselves. Yes, there's inspiration from things you may have seen on TV, but you won't get to play these anywhere else (that we know of).
Here are 5 of our favorites that are tests of both brains and sometimes brawn:
Battlechips: Prevent it from hitting the ground while at the same time trying to knock down the opposing players’ chips
Benchball: Safely move all teammates to the opponent’s bench, relying on throwing and catching skills
Clue Minefield: Work with your team to uncover clues placed across the field and use the clues to solve puzzles
Rebus Race: Be the first team to move their game piece to the finish line by solving a series of brain teasers
Torpedo: Outmaneuver your opponents by sinking their ships while strategically defending your own fleet
4. Customize Games for Your Group
Birthday, bachelor, bachelorette parties, and corporate team-building events are not one-size-fits-all. Groups can customize some games for a team's culture and vibe.
Trivia-based games are great for this. Here's a Throwback example:
This summer, we hosted for over 100 Netflix employees at one of their LA studios. We ran a game where we played songs over a loudspeaker. Teams had to:
identify what Netflix show the song was from, and ultimately
guess the year that show premiered
Another example is from our field days with Burn Boot Camp:
In one game, competitors ran across the field to read clues. Players raced back to their team to tell their teammates each clue. Teammates would then piece the clues together to lead to the correct answers... the company's four specific corporate values.
5. Intimate Interactions, Large Scale
Even in large groups, it's important to create moments for individual connections. This helps to make everyone feel valued and part of the team. Close interactions help build deeper friendships and trust.
Throwback creates mini groups in many of our corporate field day and color war events. Teams may have 15 or more players but folks will be working together with a smaller group of 4 or 5 for many games. We shuffle these cohorts around from game to game to give players the chance to work with different individuals on their team.
For super large groups, we rarely have all teams playing the same game at once. Splitting the event into stations allows better management of group sizes.
Need Help Planning A Large Event?
Organizing a successful large group team-building event lies in the details. From game selection, managing logistics, and keeping players engaged, it can be a lot to manage.
Our expertise in planning large-scale events isn't only about fun and games. We've mastered creating an environment where every participant feels engaged, included, and valued. We understand the details of large group dynamics and tailor our events to suit specific needs.
Why shoulder the burden of planning when you can have professionals do it for you? With Throwback, you get:
Customized Event Planning: We'll tailor your event to meet the unique needs and preferences of your group. We consider everything from your company culture to your preferred physical activity level.
Seamless Execution: Throwback is your behind-the-scenes partner in logistics. We handle the nitty-gritty details—permits, equipment, team division, setup—so you can focus on the experience.
Engaging and Unique Activities: Our array of games is both extensive and exclusive. We bring the thrill of unique, custom-designed games that you won't find anywhere else.
Expert Hosts: Our coaches, with their fitness studio ethos, are experts in motivation and engagement. They're the maestros of the day's events, conducting the symphony of activities that bring out the best in your team.
Hand over the reins to us, and we'll turn your large group team-building event into an unforgettable experience. Get in touch with Throwback today, and let's start planning an event that your team will talk about for years to come!