How to Use Laser Tag as a Teambuilding Event

If you're searching for a teambuilding event for corporate or sports groups, choose the game that appeals to everybody while it gets the job done. Laser tag, a popular sport with adults and children, incorporates all the elements of critical thinking and decision making that bolster teamwork. Laser tag is completely safe (no real lasers!) and so much fun that players may forget that they're learning and growing.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Access to a laser tag arena, park or mobile service
• Group of 10 or more participants

Plan an Event to Foster Teamwork

1. Involve your group in planning efforts, so they will already be part of the teambuilding experience. Meet to discuss the basics and benefits of laser tag and your teamwork goals.

2. Plan a half-day laser tag teambuilding event any time of the year at a local indoor arena. This may include education, game and debriefing sessions, in which team members get to know and use one another's strengths and weaknesses.

3. Hire an outdoor mobile laser tag service to host team building at your group picnic or retreat. This will allow for more extensive work on individual initiative on behalf of the team, as team members are more spread out over the wider terrain.

4. Use an outdoor laser tag park for repeat events. Game/seminar packages are available that build on team performance, challenging known strengths and weaknesses in successive sessions.

5. Reinforce the camaraderie and knowledge gained from the event. Have a debriefing session on another day, after the experience has sunk in, and talk about your group's performance and whether the event helped you to achieve your goals.

Tips & Warnings

• Laser tag is a very affordable teambuilding event and is a game that is accessible to all, as opposed to some extreme sports often associated with team building, such as whitewater rafting.
• Laser tag can be played outdoors at your group's site, at another outdoor venue or indoors at an arena facility.
• Many laser tag parks offer corporate teambuilding packages, complete with professional facilitation and catering.
• Those unfamiliar with laser tag may be put off by the use of replica-style weapons. When promoting the event within a diverse group, play up the critical-thinking aspect of laser tag and downplay the combat simulation.
• Weather may interfere with outdoor events unless your group is prepared to play rain or shine.
• Participants should be fit enough to move constantly at a walk for the duration of games. Indoor games average 15 to 20 minutes, but outdoor games may be considerably longer.