Heckle
Balance is easy when your environment is stable. All you need is a little sensory information and the ability to predict what's going to happen next. But in many sports and physical professions, conditions are unstable and unpredictable. In athletics, your equlibrium may be challenged by an opponent. In labor, by poor footing and tricky surfaces. Consequently, we need some sort of training method that offers surprise.
We can do some of this with wobble boards and physioballs, but sooner or later we adapt and learn how to manage the instability. What we need is a more unpredictable challenge.
This brings us to the group heckle. This game is extremely simple and fun. The human element introduces forces that are guaranteed to be unpredictable. Simply gather your group in a circle, with one member in the center, standing on one foot, with the instruction "don't step down or hop." Perimeter players heckle by lightly touching shoulders and hips, just enough to destabilize the player's balance. Work the center player until he falls or gets sloppy, then rotate him to the perimeter as you bring in a new player.
Be sure to instruct the perimeter players in their dual responsibilities. That is, their job is to both heckle and spot. If the player in the middle appears solid and capable, they should increase the intensity of their touches. But if the player loses balance and stumbles, perimeter players should act as spotters to break any potential falls. With a little training, this game should be completely safe.
If you're in the center, it's important to relax and allow your body to absorb the impacts while making small, fast adjustments through your torso and standing leg. Be sure to work with a bent knee. If you're standing on a straight leg, you won't be able to absorb shock and you'll probably get eliminated in short order.
A common error: in some cases, perimeter hecklers get over-enthusiastic and attack with rapid-fire touches, never giving the player a chance to get organized. A better approach is to slow the game down and apply more infrequent touches. There's nothing to be gained by turning it into a free-for-all. A sneaky touch every so often is more instructive than constant badgering.
The beauty of this game is its adaptability. Depending on your purposes, you can keep it fun or you can turn up the intensity. If you're just warming up or messing around, keep the touches feather light. But if you're working with serious athletes, you can make this a elite level, sophisticated challenge, even a kind of meditation.
You might also choose to use this kind of game in a clinical setting to test the balance and proprioception of patients. This time, set up your client/patient in the center of the room–on one foot–and move around him, challenging him with nudges and light pushes. You won't be able to quantify the response precisely, but by observation you should be able to get a good sense for how solid your patient's base is. Repeat this test througout the rehabilitation period to measure progress.
No matter what variation you choose, good leadership is crucial. The instructor must set the tone and demonstrate good practices. Demostrate the heckling and then demo the spotting. If the students are beginners, make sure they get some actual experience spotting one another and breaking falls. Then, the game can proceed with confidence and exuberance.
