If You Really Knew Me…

junior coaches
  1. Icebreaker
  2. Indoor Game

  • 11+ Players

  • Grades 3-5

  • None

  • 5-10 Minutes

Goal

To share and learn about one another and to build social connections.

Before You Start

  • Explain the rules of play.
  • Demonstrate how to play. 
  • Lead a quick discussion about attentive listening:
  • What does it mean to really listen? 
  • How can you show someone you’re paying attention?

Set Up

Designate a clear playing area large enough for everyone to stand or sit in pairs.

How to Play

  • Group players into groups of two and decide who is Player A and who is Player B.
  • Player A’s role is to listen silently to Player B for one minute (or shorter for younger groups).
  • On a start signal, Player B says, “If you really knew me, you would know that…” and finishes the sentence with something true about themselves. Examples include sharing about:
    • Family (e.g., “I’m the youngest of four siblings.”)
    • School (e.g., “My favorite subject is Art.”)
    • Likes or dislikes (e.g., “I hate broccoli.”)
    • Anything else they’d like to share about themselves!
  • Player B continues to repeat the phrase and share about themselves until time is up.
  • When time is up, have partners thank each other for listening and for sharing and then switch roles.
  • On the next start signal Player B should be actively listening while Player A shares.
  • After both pairs have shared and thanked each other, bring the whole group together and ask players to share one thing they learned about their partner.

Variations

Consider adding an element of movement into the game by having players toss an object (e.g. a ball, a bean bag, etc.) back and forth while they are sharing.