Nose Jousting
Used For 💡
Injecting extreme playfulness into a group
Helping people drop self-consciousness and take themselves far less seriously
Group Size 👫
8+
Total Time ⏳
4–5 minutes
Energy Level ⚡
High
Noise Level 🔊
Loud (cheering strongly encouraged)
What This Is 🤔
Nose Jousting is a deliberately absurd, physical energizer designed to flood a room with laughter and collective silliness. Participants engage in exaggerated, nose-to-nose “battles” using nothing but masking tape and enthusiasm.
It’s ridiculous on purpose — and that’s exactly why it works.
How It Works 🔩
1. Set the Stage
Give each participant a strip of masking tape (approx. 8–10 cm).
Ask them to form the tape into a loop with the sticky side facing out.
They attach the loop to the tip of their nose.
Once the tape is on: no hands allowed.
2. Find a Partner
Ask everyone to walk randomly around the room.
When you shout “Stop!”, participants pair up with the nearest person.
3. The Joust Begins
Partners face each other.
The objective: remove your partner’s tape using only the tape on your own nose.
No hands, no grabbing—just noses and determination.
Expect uncontrollable laughter, awkward movements, and joyful chaos.
4. Keep It Moving
The winner moves on to face another winner.
The loser does not sit out — they immediately become an over-the-top cheerleader for the person who beat them, hyping them loudly during their next match.
5. The Grand Finale
Continue until two finalists remain.
The final joust becomes a full-room spectacle, with cheering, chanting, and dramatic encouragement.
Crown the ultimate Nose Jousting Champion.
What You’re Practicing 🎯
Letting go of stiffness
Shared laughter and bonding
Comfort with physical proximity
Playfulness without self-judgment
Group energy and participation
Why It Works 🏗️
By pushing absurdity well past normal social boundaries, this energizer short-circuits self-monitoring and social comparison. Everyone looks ridiculous together, which flattens hierarchy and dissolves inhibition. Laughter becomes collective, not performative.
The cheering rule ensures no one “loses” — they simply change roles.
Pro Tips 🥠
Your energy matters more than the rules — model full commitment.
Encourage exaggerated cheering; volume amplifies permission.
Keep rounds short to maintain momentum and avoid fatigue.
Common Pitfalls ⚠️
Letting people use their hands — this breaks the spell.
Running it too long. End while energy is peaking.
Using it in contexts where physical proximity would feel unsafe or inappropriate.
Optional 1-min Debrief 💬
“What did it feel like to look ridiculous together?”
“When did you stop caring how you looked?”
“What changed in the room once laughter took over?”
The Takeaway 🥡
Nose Jousting is a joyful reminder that seriousness is often optional. When groups allow themselves to look silly together, connection accelerates, hierarchy dissolves, and energy skyrockets. Sometimes the fastest way forward is through shared absurdity — especially when tape is involved.