Translations:Investiture Achievement/Friend/Spiritual Discovery/9/en

Sword Drill One

Select participants:

a) Two Pathfinders (or staff) to hold the rope. b)As many Pathfinders as desired.

Participants will form one straight line behind a rope held immediately in front of them approximately 30 inches from the floor. Their Bible is to be held (sheathed) under their left arm.
Leaders will give the commands: “ATTEN-TION: “DRAW SWORDS”. Participants quickly bring their right hand across their body-draw their sword (Bible) and hold it in front of them, closed, waist high, ready to find the reference.
Leader announces the reference, eg: “The Book of Mark” (begin with the well-know books), or ask for a book from one of the sections, eg: gospels, letters. The exercise becomes more difficult as you call the smaller books, or ask for specific chapter and verse.
No participant moves until the order is given: “CHARGE”. The rope is dropped to their feet while the participants quickly find the reference. Immediately the reference is found, they take one pace forward, keeping one hand on the open page of the Bible.
A ten second time limit is given from the command “CHARGE” to find the reference and step one pace forward. (Vary the time limit to suit the experience of your group).
The timekeeper will call “TIME” as the time limit expires. The rope will immediately be raised, perhaps catching some participants part way across. They should return behind the line.
Each participant who steps across the line before the time limit is reached is a winner.
An appointed judge will inspect the references.
An award of two points can be given to each winner. See who is the first to get to twenty.
Leader shall call “ONE PACE BACKWARD MARCH”. Ropekeepers shall lower the rope and raise it again after the participants have crossed it.
Leader shall call “SHEATH SWORDS”. Participants quickly tuck their Bibles under their left arm and return right hand to their side.
Ready now to repeat activity from “DRAW SWORDS”.