Blindman Guidance II: Minefield

Focus

Gameplan/Strategy, Fun.

Purpose

The second in the 'blindman' series, this drill teaches the importance of voice by having several players help a player with no vision navigate successfully through traffic.

Players

16⁺

Ages

6⁺

Balls

Cones

Distance (max)

25m

Setup
Ideally bring several blindfolds/eye patches, otherwise players can pull guernseys over their eyes. Also have a stop watch. Mark out 4 lanes on well-grassed ovals free of pot-holes or divots, or indoors. Split into two teams. Team 1 (yellow) will start as the blindfolded team. Players (A) to (D) are positioned at the end of lanes as per the diagram (the 'voices' or guiders), the rest of the team line-up behind (A) - distribute blindfolds to these players and first 2 put them on. Team 2 players (F - L) are scattered throughout the lanes - they are the 'mines' that team 1 blindfolded players must avoid. They must NOT stand side-by-side to block passage around them.
Step 1
On the whistle, start the stopwatch. The first blindfolded player (E) sets out to try to navigate the course with the assistance of the guider in their lane, in the first instance this player is (A).

Opposition players (F) and (G) MUST REMAIN STATIONARY while a blindfolded player is in their lane.
Step 2
(A) uses their voice to tell the player when to run, when to slow down/stop and how to avoid the stationary players.
Step 3
Once the blinfolded player reaches the end of the lane, they must be guided around the corner and down the second lane by (B).

After (E) exits their lane, red 'mines' (F) and (G) are free to move to another position.
Step 4
This continues for lane 3, guided by (C). Once in lane (4), player (D) must guide the player to handball through the 'gate' marked out with cones.
Step 5
If a player touches a 'mine', or puts both feet outside the lane, they must be guided back to the start and begin again (achieved by running towards (A)'s voice).
Step 6
If a player successfully navigates the course, the next player can begin.

They player who succeeded removes their blindfold and returns to the line, handing over the blindfold to anyone needing one.
Step 7
Once all players have navigated the course, stop the clock, read out the time.
Step 8
Repeat for team 2.
Step 9
After both team have got everyone through, team 1 go again, this time players who were guides previously are blindfolded. Repeat for team 2.
Step 10
The team with the lowest time is the winner.