Gutter Ball / Pipeline Challenge

A team works together to move a small ball (or a more fragile object, like an egg) along a track made of gutters held by the players. The ball moves only by gravity - no one is allowed to touch it with their hands. The game builds communication, coordination, and the ability to work in clearly defined roles.

Equipment

- plastic gutters/half-pipes - one for each player - a ball or other object to transport (tennis ball, golf ball, raw egg, etc.) - optional: a container as the finish point

How to Play

Each player gets one gutter. Players line up and connect their gutters one after another to form a continuous track. The ball is released at the start and must reach the end of the track - moving only by gravity, with no help from anyone's hands.

Basic rules:

- If a player has the ball in their gutter, they are not allowed to walk or move from their spot. - The ball must not roll backward, only forward. - No one is allowed to touch the ball with their hands or any other part of their body. - Players must not bend or squeeze their gutters to control the ball.

The team gets about 5 minutes to plan a strategy and try it out before the real run starts. The track should get harder step by step, from easiest to hardest, and should include turns - so players cannot just line up in a straight "row".

You can increase the difficulty over time: start with a slow object (tennis ball), then a faster one (golf ball, marble), and finally a fragile one (raw egg).

Tips & Variations

- Harder version - no touching gutters: gutters cannot touch or overlap each other; you can also set rules for how players must hold them (for example, only on the back of their hands). - Harder version - liquid transport: instead of a solid object, the team transports a liquid across a distance within a time limit. - Harder version - terrain: the track goes uphill, over obstacles, or through difficult terrain (stairs, sharp turns). - Harder version - silence: players are not allowed to talk during the transport. - Restart on drop: if the ball falls to the ground or someone touches it, the team must go back to the start and begin again - this raises the tension and the need for precision. - Mandatory rotation: every player must use their gutter at least once - this stops the activity from being carried only by the fastest players. - Team relay: two teams compete against each other on time, or on who can deliver more balls to the finish within a time limit. - More players than gutters: if there are more participants than gutters, players take turns during the game so everyone gets to join in. - Multiple balls at once: you can release several balls at the same time, or one shortly after another - this raises the demands on coordination and pace.