Question Ball (Beach Ball Icebreaker)
A beach ball covered with questions is tossed around. Whoever catches it answers the question under their right thumb. Energetic, spontaneous icebreaker perfect for adding movement and unpredictability.
10-20 min
6-30 people
high
props
About This Game
Question Ball transforms a simple beach ball into an interactive icebreaker tool. Before the session, write 20-30 questions across the ball's surface using permanent marker - different colors for different question types. Questions range from light ("What's your favorite pizza topping?") to thought-provoking ("What's the best advice you've ever received?") to work-related ("What's your ideal Friday afternoon?"). During the activity, participants stand in a circle and toss the ball. Whoever catches it answers the question under their right thumb (or closest to it). This simple mechanic creates spontaneity - people don't know which question they'll get - and the physical tossing adds energy and breaks down formality. Works brilliantly for teams of all types.
Objectives
- Add physical movement and energy to break down social barriers
- Create spontaneous, unscripted moments through random question selection
- Ensure everyone participates through the inclusive nature of ball-tossing
- Learn diverse facts about teammates through varied question types
- Build comfort with being put on the spot in a low-stakes, fun environment
How to Run This Game
Facilitator Script:
"Before the session, I've prepared our Question Ball! It has questions written all over it in different colors. When you catch it, you'll answer the question under your right thumb - or closest to it. Questions range from silly to serious, so be ready for anything!"
Actions:
- Pre-session: Write 20-30 questions on beach ball with permanent marker
- Use different colored markers for different question categories
- Test that ink is dry and won't smudge on hands
- Have ball ready and visible to build curiosity
Tips:
- • Question mix: 40% fun/silly, 30% personal/values, 20% work-related, 10% creative/hypothetical
- • Examples: "Favorite childhood memory?", "Superpower you wish you had?", "Best vacation ever?", "What makes you laugh?"
- • Avoid questions that are too personal, controversial, or could embarrass
- • Inflatable beach balls (12-16 inches) work best - easy to catch, visible from distance
Facilitator Script:
"Here's how this works: We'll stand in a circle. I'll toss the ball to someone. Catch it, look under your right thumb, and answer that question - just 20-30 seconds, keep it brief. Then toss it to someone else who hasn't gone yet. No overthinking - first thoughts are often the best! Ready? Here we go!"
Actions:
- Arrange group in standing circle (or seated if needed)
- Demonstrate by catching ball yourself and answering a question
- Emphasize: under right thumb, brief answers, toss to someone new
- Establish signal for who hasn't gone yet (raise hand, etc.)
- Start the game by tossing to someone energetic/outgoing first
Tips:
- • Model the energy you want: enthusiastic, brief, authentic answer
- • Start with someone who will set a positive, fun tone
- • Encourage gentle tosses - this isn't dodgeball!
- • For virtual hybrid: person who catches chooses someone on Zoom to answer next question
- • Have a few backup questions ready if one lands between sections
Facilitator Script:
"Great answer! Who are you tossing to? ...Nice catch! What's your question? ...[Listen and react]. Love it! Keep it going, folks. Remember - brief answers and make sure everyone gets a turn!"
Actions:
- Monitor who has and hasn't participated
- Gently guide tosses: "Make sure to throw to someone who hasn't gone yet"
- React to answers with enthusiasm, laughter, follow-up comments
- Keep energy high - this shouldn't feel like an interview
- Watch timing - if someone talks too long, kindly redirect
Tips:
- • Be the energy conductor: laugh, engage, make people feel good about sharing
- • If answer is brief/shy, add a quick follow-up: "That's awesome!" or "I love that!"
- • If someone gets a question they've answered before, let them pick adjacent question
- • For large groups (20+), consider 2 balls simultaneously to increase participation
- • Watch for people being skipped - redirect tosses if needed
Facilitator Script:
"Last toss! ...And that's a wrap on Question Ball! That was fun - I learned [mention surprising fact]. What surprised you most? Anyone learn something unexpected about a teammate?"
Actions:
- Signal when it's time for final few tosses
- After last person, bring group back together
- Share one surprising thing you learned
- Invite 1-2 people to share what surprised them
- Thank everyone for being great sports
Tips:
- • Keep closing brief - energy is high, maintain it
- • Highlight funny moments or surprising connections that emerged
- • If time allows, ask: "Favorite question on the ball?" for future reference
- • Consider keeping the ball for future team meetings - becomes a team tradition
Facilitator Tips
- Invest in good permanent markers - cheap ones fade or smudge
- Write questions large enough to read from arm's length away
- Include a few "free choice" spaces where person can answer any question they want
- Store the ball deflated to save space, re-inflate 30 min before session
- Create a digital "master list" of all questions for easy reference and future balls
- Start toss sequence with your most outgoing participant to model energy
- For large groups, consider having 2 balls with different question sets going simultaneously
- Keep ball available for breaks - people often continue playing organically
Common Challenges & Solutions
Variations & Adaptations
Create balls with specific themes: all work-related questions, all "get to know you" questions, all hypothetical scenarios, or all values-based questions. Use multiple balls for different purposes.
After someone answers, the person who tossed to them can ask one quick follow-up question before the next toss. Creates mini-dialogues and deeper engagement.
Use different colored markers for question categories (blue=work, red=personal, green=fun, yellow=creative). Person catching chooses which color question to answer, giving them some control.
For accessibility or virtual hybrid, roll ball across floor or table instead of tossing. Same mechanics, lower physical demand. Works for teams with mobility considerations.
teams have used this game