Soft Tomahawks

All activities need to be risk assessed, but it's sometimes daunting starting from a blank page. Therefore, we’ve provided an example risk assessment to help get you thinking about what you may include in yours, or how this may look.

Remember:

• A risk assessment is only effective if you and the volunteer team act on it. You must follow through with any actions required and review it on a regular basis.
• Don’t just copy the examples, your circumstances are unique and so you need to do a risk assessment appropriate to your setting and young people, making sure you are clear on the hazards and controls.
• Even if the hazards you see are the same as in the examples, the controls may differ, so make sure you are being clear on what you will be doing in your location to control the risks and then follow through on these controls.

This activity kit contains:

• 3 x bristle targets
• 3 x Red & 3 x Blue Plastic Tomahawks per target
• 8m ropes & tent pegs
• Rubber floor markers (for indoor use only)

Briefing: Give a short briefing to explain the activity and some rules (2 minutes)

• If you are not throwing, you must wait behind the waiting line
• You are ONLY allowed to throw tomahawks at the targets
• If anyone shouts "STOP" you must freeze exactly where you are!

Demonstration: Next show the group how it works. (3 minutes)

Do this 3 times:

1. First show them how without speaking
2. Next do it again and explain each action
3. Finally ask them to explain to you what to do while you do it

Have a go: Let everyone have a go, work in small groups (20 minutes)

• Get the first participants to come up to the throwing line. Ask another adult to make sure the rest of the group are behind the waiting line.
• When everyone has their feet correct, place 3 tomahawks next to each participant and tell them to throw at the target! Don’t worry if someone throws too early – it’s an exciting time! You might be able to give some hints or coaching too.
• When everyone has thrown all 3, ask them to get the tomahawks back, it doesn’t matter which they collect if they get 3! Switch to the next group and repeat until everyone has had a go at throwing, then play some games!