Capture the flag activities are often used in team-building workshops to promote communication, strategy, problem-solving, and teamwork.
A capture-the-flag activity involves teams or groups competing to “capture” the other team’s flag and return it safely to their home base.
This friendly competition encourages participants to work together, assign roles, develop plans and think creatively. It is an engaging way to energize a team, build trust, and strengthen working relationships.
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Instructions
To complete a capture the flag activity:
- Divide participants into two or more teams.
- Set up a “home base” area for each team, with their flag prominently displayed.
- Define the boundaries for the game, either indoors or outdoors.
- Explain the rules: Teams must try to capture the other team’s flag and return it to their home base while protecting their flag from capture.
- Set a time limit, such as 20-30 minutes for the game.
- Have teams strategize before starting and assign roles like defenders, scouts, decoys, etc.
- Start the game and let teams try to capture flags while defending their own.
- When time is up, debrief and discuss what happened and what was learned.
Cost and Resources
The costs are low. You need flags or objects to use as team flags, plus a timer. No other special equipment is required. The activity can be done indoors or outdoors.
Time Required
Allow 30-60 minutes, including briefing, playing time and debriefing. Adjust time as needed.
Number of Participants
This is ideal for 10-30 participants divided into teams of 4-8 people each. Adjust team sizes as needed.
Best Suited For
The activity works for any team, including corporate teams, sports teams, youth groups, camps, etc. It is best for ages 12 and up. We hear this from customers looking for learning materials to present human resource management training courses.
Facilitator’s Role
The facilitator explains rules, sets parameters, divides people into teams, times the game, oversees the action and leads the debrief. The facilitator may also need to resolve any disputes.
Participants’ Role
Participants strategize with their teams, take on assigned roles, communicate, problem-solve, and creatively work together to capture the other team’s flag.
Reflection and Debrief
After the game, debrief by asking questions like: What strategies did you use? What worked well or didn’t work? How did you communicate and make decisions? What roles emerged? How might this relate to collaboration at work? What lessons can be applied?
Conclusion
A capture the flag activity brings teamwork, problem-solving, communication skills, and fun competition.
Thoughtful debriefing can provide relevant lessons for applying workplace collaboration, communication and creativity.
This energetic game involves people working together in large group activities towards a common goal, making it an engaging team-building activity.
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With 30+ years of training experience, I founded Oak Innovation (oakinnovation.com) in 1995. I help busy training professionals and business managers deliver better training courses in less time by giving them instant access to editable training course material. I received my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from University College Cork. I hold qualifications in Professional Development And Training from University College Galway. Clients include Apple, Time Warner, and Harvard University.
