introduction manual

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TeenGames The Big Picture Manual page 0
 MORE THAN GOLD TEENGAMES lll

The Big Picture of TeenGames

TEENGAMES INTRODUCTION MANUAL 2004 - 2005

TeenGames is a registered trademark.

The material in this book or on this disk may be freely copied, translated and adapted to
local needs by those churches, organizations and individuals who have registered with
TeenGames or KidsGames. Please do this via the TeenGames website at

www.theteengames.com

Other TeenGames and KidsGames resources can be found at the TeenGames website.

This Manual is the result of collaborative work by the TeenGames Workgroup, a part of
the International Sports Coalition Partnership under the Games Facilitation Team.

TeenGames in the years 2004-2005, 2008-2009 and 2012-2013 are part of the
More Than Gold partnership worldwide. TeenGames in 2006-2007 and
2010-2011 are part of The Ultimate Goal partnership.

TeenGames The Big Picture Manual page 1

 Index of this Manual

Welcome to TeenGames................................................................................................... 3
TeenGames is a Worldwide Partnership............................................................................ 3
What is TeenGames?........................................................................................................ 4
TeenGames happens every two years............................................................................... 5
TeenGames Definition....................................................................................................... 5
How Does a TeenGames Work? ....................................................................................... 7
Overview of a Typical TeenGames Day............................................................................. 7
Planning Ahead................................................................................................................. 8
Location and Equipment .................................................................................................... 8
GETTING STARTED............................................................................................................ 8
Who can participate?......................................................................................................... 8
TeenGames Guidelines..................................................................................................... 8
Getting the Resources for TeenGames.............................................................................. 9

Go for it!............................................................................................................................ 9
APPENDIX ......................................................................................................................... 10
Background to TeenGames............................................................................................. 10
TeenGames: WHAT A STORY!....................................................................................... 10

Objectives Include ........................................................................................................... 10

Essential Values Include ................................................................................................. 11
Vision Statement ............................................................................................................. 11
Mission Statement........................................................................................................... 11
KidsGames Manuals ....................................................................................................... 11
To Contact or Contribute Ideas to TeenGames................................................................ 13

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 1 Introduction Manual
The Big Picture of TeenGames

Welcome to TeenGames

TeenGames is a worldwide phenomenon connecting teenagers with Jesus using sports,

competition and the Bible, all integrated into an easy-to-run initiative.
Anyone can run a TeenGames, as long as they agree to follow the stated guidelines of
TeenGames. These are listed at the end of this manual.
This manual will help walk you through the many aspects of TeenGames. It will show you
where to look for any information you need. There is a TeenGames Leaders Organizing
Manual that goes through material in more depth.

TeenGames is a Worldwide Partnership

There are TeenGames happening all over the world. After launching in the year 2000 in
Cape Town, South Africa, by 2002 tens of thousands of teenagers in numerous countries
have participated in the program, and this number is continuing to grow rapidly.
TeenGames has been developed by many people, groups and organizations from across
the globe who want to impact the lives of teenagers and who want to help you do the
same.
TeenGames is not an organization. It has no staff, no office and exists because people
like you catch the vision and spread it locally to interested groups. It is facilitated by the
KidsGames/TeenGames International Facilitation Team, a team of volunteers from
across the world under the banner of the International Sports Coalition (ISC) and its
Major Sports Events Partnership (MSEP).
Out of the extraordinary growth of TeenGames have come several other Games events
that you or your country could also consider:
KidsGames a fun sports and games sports event for children -
www.kidsgames.com
FamilyGames an extension of KidsGames to build up families -
www.thefamilygames.com
EdgeGames for older teenagers and young adults - www.theedgegames.com
For more information about these Games or the ISC or MSEP see the:

14 KidsGames Other Sports and Games Events Manual

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What is TeenGames?

Describing TeenGames is like describing a tree. Every tree has roots, branches, leaves
and a trunk. But what those elements look like in one part of the world will be very
different to how they look in another but both will still be a tree. In the same way,
TeenGames varies greatly in different parts of the world.

The great strength of TeenGames is that it comes from everywhere. As you read the
TeenGames manuals there are ideas and models from the Middle East, Africa, North
America, Asia and Europe.
But like a tree, every TeenGames may differ in appearance, but they all have the same
core elements.

This is seen in the definition of what TeenGames is:

The TeenGames is a multi-day, multi-group, sport initiated value-based

program for teenagers.

The TeenGames is a multi-day, multi-group, sport initiated value based program for
teenagers. This is what an example of a TeenGames looks like.

Pre-TeenGames Post-TeenGames

Bible Discovery & Sports Competition

Opening Ceremony Closing Ceremony

Pre-TeenGames
Opening Ceremony
Bible Discovery and Sports Competition
Closing Ceremony
Post-TeenGames
These are the basic core elements in a TeenGames.

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TeenGames happens every two years

New TeenGames resources are developed every two years globally to help you run
TeenGames.
While you are free to run TeenGames as often as you like, it is recommended that
TeenGames be run in your city every two years to correspond with these new resources.
Many TeenGames try and run TeenGames at a similar time to large International or
Regional Sports Events to help the teens to feel like they are the sports heroes and
celebrities.
The TeenGames resources are provided at no cost.

TeenGames Definition

The TeenGames is a multi-day, multi-group, sport initiated value based program for
teenagers.
Let us look at the core of what TeenGames is:
Multi-day
TeenGames is run over many days. This is to give the teenagers an opportunity to build
lasting relationships, something that cannot be done quickly.
There are possible variations, but following are the most common models used
successfully by TeenGames:
One day per week for 10 weeks
One day per week for 5 weeks
Every day for 10 days
Every day for 5 days
Each TeenGames organizing committee is free to choose when and how long they want
their TeenGames to be. The details of what is done in these days are covered later in this
manual. The only exception to the multi-day model is when a city does a trial one-day
TeenGames for promotional or training reasons. These are normally a TeenGamesDays.
Multi-group
No TeenGames is done by just one group. The strength and purpose behind TeenGames
is to draw many different groups together. In some cases this will mean 2 or 3 groups, in
other cases it will mean hundreds of groups. If the situation arises that only one church
wants to be involved, then they should run TeenGames and invite other churches to
observe with the hope of more churches becoming involved next time.
Some TeenGames have started on a very large scale with many groups, while other
cities have begun their TeenGames with just a few groups and grown it from a small
beginning. For a large TeenGames involving thousands of teens, see the:
TeenGames Leaders Organizing Manual

For smaller TeenGames with 50-100 and up to a thousand children, you might find the
Organizing a Small KidsGames Manual more helpful:
6b KidsGames City Organizing Manual Small Models

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Sport Initiated
Sport is a universal activity that draws countries and people together in a unique way.
This is particularly seen in the large global Sports events, like the Olympic Games or the
World Cup of Football. TeenGames is a sports event that gives teenagers of all ability an
opportunity to compete. It will be the sports that drive the program and will make the
TeenGames model an exciting program to come to.
TeenGames involves sports in two ways.
Competition Every sports person enjoys the opportunity to put their skills to the
test therefore integral to the TeenGames is specific competition days.
Coaching What will attract teenagers to this program will be the opportunity to be
coached and refine their skills. That is why every bible time will also have a specific
coaching time attached to it.

More details can be found in the TeenGames Leaders Organizing Case Study (Chennai)
and in the:

TeenGames Coaching Manual

If you are involving teens with disabilities in your TeenGames Program, for ideas on
adapting games, drills and activities see:

TeenGames Disabilities Manual

Value based
At the heart of TeenGames is the desire to share the love of God with teens. TeenGames
provides an environment where teenagers can explore the Christian faith in an open and
caring environment where teenagers feel free to express themselves. Why Value based
not Bible based? The decision to offer a values based, rather than a bible Based
Curriculum is because you might want to do a TeenGames with a group of schools, or in
a country where you cant openly speak about the Gospel. However, we all want our
young people to learn good values. Therefore, the Bible is the heart of the program but
we have tried to wrap the Bible up in teaching good values.
The Bible is communicated through the experiential discussion material that is provided.
For 2004 the curriculum has been based on the life of Paul. This material can be found in

TeenGames Curriculum 2004 Manual

Several well designed sports specific TeenGames learning Curriculums have also been
developed. There is one for Football which can be found in the

TeenGames Football Curriculum Manual

A Curriculum for a five day Cricket Coaching Clinic can be found in the

TeenGames Leaders Organizing Case Study (Chennai)

A new Curriculum will be developed every two years for TeenGames and will be available
at the TeenGames website.

For Teenagers
In so many ways, teenagers are special.

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 People often say that they want to be younger, but would any of us want to be 13 again?
It is that stage of growing up that is in between childhood, and adulthood. Young people
are often asked to act their age but that is like asking them to behave like mature adults.
This is of course impossible, as the teenagers still need to go through a process of
maturing, physically, mentally, emotionally, socially, and spiritually. Its not easy being a
teenager, as the comforts of childhood seem to disappear slowly and the rewards of
adulthood are slow at making themselves available. Who would be a teenager again?
One of the greatest dangers when dealing with teenagers is to group them all together as
one big age group, believing that their needs are all the same. Teenagers are individuals
and therefore need to be treated as such. During their development their own specific
needs will change and as leaders we need to be aware of this, and sensitive to such
issues.
People often say teenagers are the problems of our societies and communities. Well
todays teenagers will be the next generation of teachers, doctors, businessmen etc.
Therefore we need to invest in our teenagers lives and instead of being the cause of our
problems the TeenGames believe our teenagers can be the solution.

How Does a TeenGames Work?

While every TeenGames look different, they all follow a similar pattern.
There are a variety of ways that different cities, islands and villages have followed this
pattern. The TeenGames CD and the website will tell you about many of these models.
Additionally, there are many excellent KidsGames Manuals written by people all over the
world that will provide ideas and strategies to help you run a TeenGames. Videos,
photos, graphics and more are also available.

To access these KidsGames resources go to the KidsGames Website

www.kidsgames.com

Overview of a Typical TeenGames Day

In between the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, teens meet for the coaching and
curriculum Program. We suggest that teens will spend around 90 minutes at each day of
a TeenGames event though you are free to make it longer or shorter. In a 90 minute
program the time will be allocated approximately as follows:
5 minutes in welcome
40 minutes in the coaching session
25 minutes in the values and bible discussion
20 Minutes to let the teens just play and practice.

Total: 90 mins

This is a general timetable you will need to adapt according to your situation. Leaders
could easily make the main games section longer, depending on your team of volunteer
leaders and numbers of teens.

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Planning Ahead

Each TeenGames will be made up of lots of individual churches and groups running
TeenGames at their venue and only coming together for competitions and ceremonies.
Each local church/group would be responsible for there own children.
Each church/group would also have representatives on a Central Organizing Committee
(See TeenGames Leaders Organizing Manual for an explanation of the role and
function of this group) that would co-ordinate logistics, training, ceremony venues,
program and any other issues that are common to all groups.
Running a TeenGames takes time to build a partnership, advertise, plan your
Ceremonies and train your leaders. For details on what others have done and ideas of
how to run a TeenGames see

TeenGames Leaders Organizing Manual

Location and Equipment

TeenGames will ideally take place in dual locations, with games and some activities
happening outside, and the teaching program inside. However, it would be possible to
stage the whole program outside.

GETTING STARTED

Who can participate?

TeenGames is a Christ-centered program and open to all. The TeenGames name, logo
and other resources on this web site are exclusively reserved for organizations, churches
and schools that wish to use the TeenGames Curriculum without making changes.

TeenGames Guidelines

Participant churches, groups or organizations must agree to follow the statements below
to be a part of TeenGames:

An event organized under the auspices of TeenGames will always draw together
a range of churches/schools/community groups to work together in united
outreach across a city / area of a city / area of a country.
A TeenGames program will be organized for the enrichment of the teenagers
participating in the program. This means it will respect, and be sensitive towards,
teens cultural background, age, ability and spiritual development. It will expect the
Holy Spirit to be at work so that teenagers respond to teaching from God's word,
but it will not manipulate teens emotionally or seek to force commitments.
A TeenGames program will always seek to handle the Bible with integrity in its
teaching resources. It will aim at building teenager's confidence in the Bible as
God's word for their lives, will be thoughtful in its selection of Bible passages and in
matching 'application' with Bible material. It will seek to present the good news of
Jesus Christ in culturally appropriate ways.
A TeenGames program will always seek to direct teenagers and their families
towards the fellowship of a local church, recognizing that the church is the place
where faith is developed and worked out in practice.

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 A TeenGames program, in full cooperation with the local church, will seek to offer
teenagers who become followers of the Lord Jesus appropriate discipleship
resources to help them to continue to grow in their new found faith.
The TeenGames is a means to help teenagers with God given skills to become
leaders in each city/country and will encourage gifted teens to develop their skills.
Art, dance, drama, leadership, media, music, sports etc camps/schools are being
developed.

Getting the Resources for TeenGames

You may be reading this manual from the TeenGames CD or because someone has
given you a copy. Either way, all the resources needed to host your own TeenGames are
available to download by registering with TeenGames online today!
We encourage you to register to order and download core resources at no cost or
obligation. Benefits include:
Access to download resources from web
Instruction/consulting support for your TeenGames
Current models and learning experiences of all TeenGames
There is a KidsGames Resources Manual that will help you understand how to use all
the Games resources, websites and information more effectively, see:

7 KidsGames Resources and Technology Manual

Go for it!

You know enough to get started with TeenGames and join cities, villages, Islands and
whole countries around the world who are being energized by the amazing model of
sports ministry.

It all begins at:

www.theteengames.com
Also available:
www.kidsgames.com
www.mykidsgames.com
www.worldcupofkidsgames.com
www.thefamilygames.com
www.theedgegames.com

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APPENDIX

Background to TeenGames

TeenGames is a worldwide movement. It utilizes strategies that local churches have used
in isolation, presenting them with an exciting city or region wide focus as participants
complete a common curriculum and come together for spectacular Ceremonies.
TeenGames Curriculum and other resources draw on an impressive network of world
leaders in youth and sports ministry from a diversity of cultural, denominational, and
theological backgrounds. Most significantly, can you imagine gaining the attention of a
whole city as thousands and even tens of thousands of teens participate at the same
time. That's a lot of excitement, a wonderful opportunity to show the unity of the church
and the love of Christ.

TeenGames: WHAT A STORY!

A woman in Spain, Ester Rodrguez, had the original idea in 1985 of a sports festival as a
means for churches to work together in ministry to children. The children invite their
friends from the community to be part of their church team. During the week, groups of
churches hold competitions in various sports events integrated with Bible teaching. On
the final day, children from all the churches, together with friends they have invited,
gather in a stadium where the closing ceremonies are held. Parents are always included
in the programs and there is a strong sense of community involvement.
Leaders in the Major Sports Event Partnership (MSEP), inspired by what they saw in
Spain, began to understand the potential of this kind of event KidsGames has therefore
been developed out of the vision of the MSEP to reach and build children into a
generation of leaders. KidsGames provides a means for churches, schools and
community groups to work co-operatively to serve children. The sports and games
provide practical opportunities to teach positive values and the program includes
opportunities for involvement in community-based compassion projects. Leadership and
skills development for children in art, dance, drama, media, music, sports, etc is
encouraged in all KidsGames.
It was out of this model the KidsGames and the TeenGames was birthed. Seeing the
huge success this model was having the vision to produce a model more suited to
teenagers was started. The first ever TeenGames was in South Africa in 2000, but now
the model was spread to impact the lives of many teenagers with the life changing
message of the Gospel.

Objectives Include
1. To provide excellence in sports coaching, in a safe and competitive environment.
2. To encourage Christian teenagers to reach out to non churched teenagers with the
Gospel in a culturally relevant way.
3. To teach teenagers Biblical values in and through sports and competition.
4. To encourage working partnerships of unity and cooperation between churches,
denominations, and agencies.
5. To be a catalyst for long-term sustainable church based sports ministry.

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Essential Values Include
TEENAGERS as an essential but neglected part of society
PARTNERSHIPS as a powerful tool for community transformations
SPORTS as a bridge in uniting teens and adults of diverse backgrounds through
coaching, teaching, and mentoring relationship
POSITIVE VALUES AND STRONG MORAL GROUNDINGS as foundations for
teens everywhere
EXCELLENCE as a standard to strive for in everything
FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS as foundational for teenagers, families, and society
COMPASSION as a way for teenagers to help other teens and communities.

Vision Statement

To see all teenagers united globally, learning, and playing together, to bring about
personal, spiritual, and community transformation through Gods love as seen through
Jesus and the Bible.

Mission Statement

To instill hope and positive Christian values in teenagers of the world through sport.

KidsGames Manuals

KidsGames has gathered an enormous amount of practical and helpful information from
around the world. To help communicate the scope of great ideas clearly, we have broken
the topics down in 14 key areas and compiled at least one manual for each topic. These
are the core manuals for KidsGames and can be used in conjunction with the
TeenGames Manuals.
Many other resources are available in these topics and are referred to in the Manual.
Videos, photos, graphics, stories, songs, rules, and much more can be found at the
KidsGames website.

Everything is made available to you at no cost.

No. Name Whats it about?

1 Introduction Manual Explains what KidsGames is and what resources

The Big Picture of KidsGames are available to run a KidsGames

2 Sports & Games Manual Covers the Competition Sports, Experiential

Games and the Fun Games that are all a part of
KidsGames

3 PAUL Curriculum A Bible Curriculum on the life of Paul created for

To be the best 2004/2005. Curriculums on the life of Joseph and
one called The Champions are also available.

4 Ceremony Manual Explaining what a KidsGames Opening and

Closing Ceremony are and how to run one.

5 World Championships Manual Introduces the various World events that any
KidsGames competing across the KidsGames can participate in:

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 World World Water Bucket Championship
World 12X10 Relay
Compassion Awards plus the KidsGames
Million hours project
Kids Art, Journalism & Photography Awards
6a City Organizing Manual How to plan and organize a KidsGames for more
Large KidsGames model than 1000 kids.

6b City Organizing Manual How to plan and organize a KidsGames for less
Smaller KidsGames model than 1000 kids.

7 KidsGames Resources and Explains how to access and use the KidsGames
Technology Manual resources plus how to set up your KidsGames
website through the automatic KidsGames website
maker.

8 Compassion Manual Enhance your kids experience of KidsGames by

Kids caring for kids encouraging them to help others in compassionate
ways. This manual explains ways of doing this.

9 Disabilities Manual This manual helps you to know how to include

Including Individuals with Disabilities children with disabilities in your KidsGames with
love and care.

10 Link Partnerships Manual KidsGames provides ways for your children to link
Kids linking with kids across the with kids in other parts of the world through
world KidsGames CityLink and KidsLink and other
partnership opportunities.

11 Kids Media Manual All large sporting events have press corps or press
Journalism, Art, Photography and galleries. In KidsGames enable your kids to be the
more journalists, artists and photographers.

12 Follow-through Camps/Schools Helping to Disciple and Develop skills in Children -

Manual Sport, Creative or Leadership. A Follow-Through
Sport, Creative or Leadership Camp or School helps to build up the gifts of
children in the years that KidsGames isnt running.

13 Multiplication Manual KidsGames has spread remarkably quickly

Helping KidsGames to Spread because of the multiplication principle of inviting
other cities and villages near-by to observe your
KidsGames and be trained at the same time. All
KidsGames are encouraged to do the same.

14 Other Sports & Games Events Many other initiatives exist to use Sports.
Manual TeenGames, FamilyGames, EdgeGames, and
The International Sports Coalition much more are discussed in this manual.

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To Contact or Contribute Ideas to TeenGames

TeenGames is all about sharing resources and ideas. The ideas in this manual have
come from many people and they are shared with you at no cost. Your ideas are also
important and we want to be able to share them with others worldwide and in later
editions of this manual. We would like to encourage you to send your best ideas back to
us so that we can share them with others. This includes scripts, songs, graphics, ideas,
games, torch-lighting ideas, photos, etc.
You can email files to:
ais.uk@btinternet.com
or post your ideas to:
TeenGames Work Group
AIS, Claremont House,
St Georges Road, Bolton,
BL1 2BY, England
Please send us the information or resources, in the best way you can, (for example:
actual photos, CDs, computer files, and videos) so that we can share at a high-quality
with others. We would also appreciate all feedback and comments from you, so please
would you fill out and respond to our evaluation form at the back of this manual.
If you have a video of your ceremony please also send this to the Frans Cronje
fcronje@iafrica.com

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