World of Play
Play Leadership
Getting It Going
Elements of The Play Experience
100

To act in a manner such that one has fun
To engage in activities to express ourselves
Self-motivated, carried on for intrinsic purposes
Appears most frequently in free-time activities
Has profound developmental and health benefits

What is Play?

100

Contagious Energy 

Easing the passage of other players

Personal Contribution made to the play experience

What is Enthusiasm?

100

Emphasize teamwork and empower players
(Rule suggestions, Help with equipment, Demonstration, Safety)
Emphasize involvement and participation
(Challenge players and modify games to involve all)

What is building community?

100

Influences leadership style and techniques

Some considerations:

Group size, Age, Gender, Special needs, accommodations, Experience, Reason for participation, Expectations from group, Familiarity with one another, Medical history



Who is The Player (Group Composition)?

200

Player, Game, Setting, Situation, Leader

(Think Chemistry)


What are the Elements of the Play Experience?

200

Physical safety (Knowing that you are not likely to hurt your body)

Psychological or emotional safety (Feeling that you are not likely to hurt your heart and soul)

Play is a state of being in which a person feels safe enough to open up, relax, and take things lightly. Your safety consciousness allows for freedom



What are the types of Safety?

200

Preparation - Goals and Objectives 

Enhance effective leadership, Provide structure, Define responsibilities as a leader, Encourage participant involvement, Help demonstrate outcomes





What is Phase 1 of Direct Leadership?

200

Consider the following:

What is the surrounding emotional and activity environment the players are immersed in?

What is happening before and after your game session?

Is your game session required? Or self-chosen?



What is the Situation?

300

Play with/without equipment, inside/outside, board/guessing games, SELF DIRECTED, LEADER-DIRECTED/FACILITATED, in the rain/snow, sports, with food

What are Forms of Play?


300

 Cheering, Singing, Getting close together, Moving energetically, Telling a good/bad joke



What encourages "group enthusiasm"?

300

A course of action leader intends to follow, “What do I want to have happen?”, “What do the players want?”, Short or long term, Broad, general intentions, Common _____, Skill and knowledge development, Interpersonal skills, Democratic living skills, Fun, Health

------------------------------------------------

Effective _____

Steps to reaching a goal, Practical, identifiable steps with specific actions

SMART - Specific, Measurable, Assignable/Achievable, Realistic, Timely

Hint: ________ and ________ 

With Phase 1

What are Goals and Objectives?

300

How large is the venue?
What shape is it?
Is it a hard or soft surface? grass?
Do you have full access to the venue? Will there be other groups using it? Doing
what?
What is the access transition time from inside to
outside?

Manipulate the environment to influence positively: Use color, Lighting, Noise, music, Smell, Equipment/arranging space

What is The Setting?

400
Complex learning, skill development, social learning, imagination and creativity, an exercise of freedom and choice, self-esteem, transformation, stress reduction, work-life balance, sense of community and connection

What are the Values of Play?

400

Use your creativity to: Anticipate potential hazards in a particular play situation, Come up with solutions without changing the game too much

Empower the group

Be aware what’s safe now may not always be safe at other times

We can’t eliminate all risks but can minimize them



What are ways to keep your players feeling safe?

400

PRIMING THE GROUP

Recruiting

Getting participant attention

Dividing group

Fun, experiential, and related to activity

Where leaders make an impression



What is Phase 2 of Direct Leadership?

400

Know your games and experiment with them

Consider the following:

What level of energy do they require? Or create?

What is the level of challenge?

Competitive or Cooperative?

What is the level of expressiveness required?



What is The Game?

500

Enthusiasm and Safety

What are the Fundamentals of Play Leadership

500

Conceptual (See the big picture, Critical thinking, Problem solving, Decision making)

Interpersonal skills (Communication, Understanding of group dynamics, Trust building, Conflict resolution)

Technical skills (Plan, Implement, Evaluate)



What are Leadership Skill Categories?

500

DELIVERY

Introducing an activity - 

Leader introduction, Activity name, Identify goal of the activity, Tell a story

DDADA

Describe

*KISS – Keep it short and simple

*KIP – Keep it positive

Demonstrate

Ask for questions

Do it

Adapt it




What is Phase 3 of Direct Leadership?

500

Set it up for success, but keep taking steadily calculated risks

Overplan with flexibility

Find a way to get everyone involved and active

Remember that developing into and being a good leader is a process! YOU got this!



Who is The Leader (YOU)?

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