Everyone stands in a circle.
Someone points to someone else and says ZIP
The pattern continues ZAP
ZOP
The impulse is sent across the circle repeating this pattern.
Zip → Zap → Zop → Zip etc
To up the ante a little:
Every time someone says Zop then they need to clap their hands instead of point.
If someone fails to do this or says the wrong thing, there are CONSEQUENCES.
The consequences are that they must progress their consonants, so instead of ZIP, ZAP, ZOP - you get: BIP BAP BOP CHIP CHAP CHOP DIP DAP DOP FIP FAP FOP and so on in sequence.
As the game progresses, everyone will be on a different consonant but they still have to play together in the same sequence.
FINALLY, make it sudden death. So if you mess up you're OUT OF THE GAME.
However, people who are out do not leave the circle. They stay and try and make eye contact with active players, if the impulse is passed to them then that player is also OUT.
This version taught to me by Jay Sukow .
This exercise is about awareness.
The point of it is to stick to the pattern whilst increasing the speed.
Can be used as part of a larger multi-game exercise like Zip, You, Clap.