Ladder Game Penalty and Prize Ideas
The fun of the ladder game is in the results. Here are light penalties and prizes that everyone can laugh about, grouped by situation.
Before you start
Keep penalties light enough that anyone could take them with a smile. Expensive, embarrassing or drinking-related penalties can spoil the mood. Show everyone the result boxes before you start and make sure they agree.
With colleagues
- Buy coffee for the team (agree on a spending limit first)
- Bring afternoon snacks
- Take notes at the next meeting
- Water the office plants for a week
- Be the team photographer
- Prizes: skip one meeting, leave 30 minutes early (with the manager’s OK)
With friends
- Book the place for the next get-together
- Buy everyone a drink
- Sing the first song at karaoke
- Post the group photo with a caption
- Bring snacks next time
- Prizes: choose the menu, choose your seat, skip paying this round
With family
- Do the dishes tonight
- Take out the recycling for a week
- Choose and cook the weekend breakfast
- Give a five-minute shoulder massage
- Prizes: control of the remote for a day, an extra dessert, pick the movie
In the classroom
- Clean the board
- Write today’s quiz question
- Present first
- Close the classroom door for a week
- Prizes: a sticker, choose your seat, lighter homework once (teacher’s choice)
Example result sets
Mix and match like this to suit the group size and the goal.
- 4 players, one unlucky person: Buys coffee / Pass / Pass / Pass
- 6 players, prizes and penalties: Choose menu / Skip paying / Pass / Pass / Pass / Pays today
- 5 players, roles: Driver / Bookings / Treasurer / Photos / Rest
- 8 players, order: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8