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Icebreaker

Paper Snowball Fight

Also called Snowball Icebreaker, Snowball Toss

Everyone writes three facts about themselves, crumples the paper into a snowball, has a quick snowball fight, then finds the owner of the snowball they catch.

people
10–100
time
15 min
energy
High
materials
Household items
Kids-safeHR-safeChurch-safe
Watch it played
What you need3
How to play4

Before you start

Hand out paper and pens. Clear breakables and drinks from tables.

  1. 1Everyone writes three facts about themselves without their name, then crumples the sheet into a ball.
  2. 2On “go”, the room has a 30-second snowball fight.
  3. 3On “stop”, each person picks up one snowball that is not their own.
  4. 4Players read the facts and hunt for the owner by asking around; introduce your owner to the room.
What to say3
  1. 1“Three facts — no names! Crumple them up!”
  2. 2“Snowball fight… GO! Thirty seconds!”
  3. 3“Stop! Grab a snowball and go find its owner!”
Host tips3
  • Give examples of good facts — “I have never seen snow”, “I can cook adobo blindfolded”. Without them people write their department and job title and the hunt is dull.
  • Keep the fight to 30 seconds. Longer and people start aiming at the boss's face.
  • Debrief: ask what surprised people and what they now have in common with someone they had not spoken to — a quick way to show new teams how much they do not yet know about each other.
Variants2

  • Questions instead

    Each snowball holds a question; whoever catches it answers it to the person beside them.

  • Christmas wishes

    Write a Christmas memory or wish instead of facts; the room guesses whose it is.

Safety2
  • Underhand throws only, no aiming at faces.
  • Snowballs on the floor are slippery — pick them all up before the next game.
Good for

Occasions

Team buildingChristmasSchoolRetreat

Venues

Indoor, smallIndoor, largeOfficeChurch hall