open · Icebreaker, Team Building · 1–2 min · 8-15 people · medium energy
Sole Mate
Sole Mate is a quick and playful partner-matching activity that encourages participants to find someone with a similar shoe sole. This fosters lighthearted interaction and helps create random pairings without social awkwardness.
When to use Sole Mate
Use this method at the beginning of a workshop or meeting to quickly form random pairs for subsequent activities, especially when you want to avoid pre-existing cliques.
What it solves
Difficulty forming diverse groups due to established social dynamics or participants sticking with familiar faces.
How to run Sole Mate, step by step
- Gather the group and explain the activity: find someone whose shoe sole is similar to yours. (1 minute)
- Instruct participants to mingle and compare shoe soles to find their 'sole mate'. (1-2 minutes)
- Once everyone has found a partner, signal the end of the activity.
Materials needed
- None
Facilitator tips
- Encourage participants to look beyond obvious similarities (e.g., color) and consider tread patterns.
- Be mindful of participants with mobility issues and offer assistance if needed.
Common pitfalls
- Participants may struggle to find a match if shoe styles are too diverse. Suggest focusing on general patterns instead of exact matches.
- Some participants may feel self-conscious about their shoes. Emphasize the lighthearted nature of the activity.
Variations
- Instead of shoe soles, use another easily visible attribute like clothing color or accessory type.
- After finding a 'sole mate,' have each pair briefly introduce themselves to the larger group.
Running it online or hybrid
Participants can share photos of their shoe soles in a virtual meeting platform's chat or on a shared document.
What it produces
Randomly formed pairs of participants.
Origin
Created by Mark Collard, Playmeo — source
Build a session around Sole Mate
METODIC places Sole Mate inside a complete, timed session plan — agenda, worksheets, facilitator guide and slides — matched to your group and goal.