Debrief & Review Tools

WHY FACILITATORS LOVE IT

• Unlimited flexibility: Build your own prompts for leadership training, icebreakers, coaching sessions, wellness checks, or just-for-fun games.
• Interactive engagement: Toss the ball, answer the question under your thumb, and keep the group energized and involved.
• Reusable and durable: Soft, stitched 6″ fabric ball designed to last through countless training sessions.
• Personalized learning: Helps trainers align activities directly to their content, participants, or organizational culture.

WHAT’S INCLUDED

• One 6″ Thumball® with 32 blank panels
• Permanent marker included for writing prompts

BEST USES

• Corporate training workshops
• Team building and icebreakers
• Leadership coaching and mentoring
• Classroom learning and student engagement
• Wellness, DEI, or custom content programs

FAQS

Q: Can I erase and reuse the panels?
A: No. While this is a customizable team building ball, the panels are not erasable. This design prevents smudging during play and ensures the prompts stay visible long-term.

Q: What kind of marker should I use?
A: To create your personalized conversation starter, be sure to use a fine-tip permanent marker works best. The ball ships with one marker included. Avoid washable or erasable markers as they will smear.

Q: Any tips for writing on the panels?
A: Yes! Use a fine-point permanent marker and take your time to write clearly. Practicing your prompts on paper first is a good way to ensure legibility and fit.

Q: What makes this different from other Thumballs®?
A: Unlike pre-printed Thumballs®, this DIY version gives facilitators total creative freedom to tailor questions and activities to their specific training content and audience.

Q: Who uses Create Your Own Thumball® most?
A: Trainers, teachers, facilitators, HR professionals, coaches, and team leaders who want a versatile tool for engagement and customized learning.

Image above shows suggested use only. You'll get a ball with 30 BLANK panels!

** TIPS **

How to customize your Thumball™

1. Use a permanent, fine-tip marker so it's easy to write and doesn't smudge.
2. Plan before your write! You have 30 panels to fill up (10 blue; 20 silver). The two pre-printed panels on the top and bottom say “You Choose,” allowing players to respond to any panel on the ball.
   
3. Practice your writing! Be sure your handwriting is big, bold and legible.
   
4. Fill all the spaces! Write in vocabulary words, questions, key words, and more. If you still have empty spaces, consider one or more of these ideas:
   

• • Repeat a prompt twice. Repetition can be good (if you put the same words on two panels – simply let players know that they need to build upon a previous answer).
  • “Pass to the right” – player passes the ball to the person directly to the right.
  • “Stump the Leader” – player chooses which panel the facilitator must answer.
  • “Toss Again” – player tosses ball up and re-catches it.
  • “Share 5” or “Group Share”– player gets topic from facilitator and 5 or more players must all offer answers.

Facilitation Suggestions

• Depending on your group, roll, pass, toss, or kick Thumball™ among players.
• Circulate the ball clockwise, counterclockwise or random direction.
• Specify which thumb to look under for the prompt -- right thumb, left thumb or the finger of your choice.
• Ask players to respond to the prompt. Or, to kick it up a notch, invite them to ask another player to respond.
• Select time limits for responses and length of game.
• Add point values to each prompt/question and let players know that will earn and/or lose points for each response.

NOTE: This ball is part of our exclusive Silver Series Thumballs.

MORE RESOURCES

• All about Silver Series Thumballs
• Tips & Suggestion on Facilitating Thumball Experiences
• How Deep to Discuss
• 7 Tips to formulate great questions
• More tools for great conversations
• Discover Your Thumball Style

Use our Quick Response Student Whiteboards to see who's learning what… and who's not getting it! Encourage participation with this fun and effective individual dry-erase boards class set. They’re a huge hit with students and educators, as every individual gets to contribute to the conversation. These super-sturdy, dry-erase, TWO-sided whiteboards are great for conducting icebreaker activities, casting votes, answering questions, rating or ranking items, sharing game answers, and more. You’ll be surprised by how often you pull out your answer boards!

FEATURES

• Set includes 12 Quick Response Whiteboards (a.k.a. Answer Boards) with blue handles and 12 mini-erasers
• Ultra durable and sturdy construction.
• Two-sided student whiteboards with dry-erase surfaces.
• Handles have holes for simple and convenient storage.
• Whiteboard Writing Surface Dimensions: 6" x 7.75".

TIPS

By calling on the first person to answer, everyone else in the room stops thinking on their own. The beauty of answer boards is that they allow every person to think and write an answer. Consider these tips to maximize use of your individual dry erase boards class set:

• Give people ample time to think of answers, and write them down.
• Consider “stand-pair-share” to get people moving and engaged in a meeting or learning event.
• Use student whiteboards for ice-breakers and energizers. Ask each person to jot down a goal, concern, or favorite quote. Or, for instance, ask people to write where they're from, then find the person who lives closest/farthest from them.
• Involve in-person and remote learners with student answer boards
• Entertain kids on long car rides with the travel-friendly individual dry-erase white boards

View Video Demo!

TRAINERS WAREHOUSE FOR ALL YOUR TRAINING NEEDS

We’re thrilled to offer a wide range of innovative products for trainers, teachers, and managers. Browse all of our games for learners to discover new, fun ways to keep your students or team engaged. In addition to these student whiteboards, we have plenty of accessories for response boards, including markers, erasers, extra boards, and more. Give everyone a voice, and improve communication with this individual dry erase boards class set!