It is a theory to consider

ADHD - In rats. If you were not aware of it, there is a lot of research on the behavior of rats. They laugh when they are tickled, for instance. They laugh at a level we humans cannot hear, but it is true. They also like to play and wrestle as juveniles. Like a dog wanting to play, they spread their front legs and drop their heads and take the pose of "ready" and want to wrestle and tumble and it is part of their maturity process. If they are engaged with a larger partner, by 10% larger, they will engage and probably lose, but if they are allowed to win 30% of the time they will continue to engage. If they lose more often than that they will stop engaging. If they are not allowed to engage this activity they actually are "stunted" in their development and will show signs of ADHD.

We have seen in the last several years a number of things I would like to tie together in a loose bundle of thoughts. One of the things that has taken place since the early 90's in schools and sports programs were the "participation" awards. The noble idea was to not cause the poor dears to have to deal with failure. It has proved a disaster of a policy. Also, the schools took away or reduced recess and eliminated games like Dodgeball. It is always a noble and well meaning thought, with no understanding of consequences that goes this way. Well here we are 30 years later and starting a new generation that knows not the feeling of that red rubber ball on your face from across the gym... I can still smell that red rubber ball... There is also missing the elation of throwing that ball across the gym to take out that jerk that was not looking. This is an act of controlled war. My theory is that the rise in ADHD, and the use of psychotropic drugs to deal with it, is connected to the reduction in rough and tumble play. I am in no way a scientist or Doctor. I am a guy with an understanding of patterned behavior, so take it for what it is worth, simply my opinion. Here is an alternative... https://www.scarymommy.com/texas-school-triples-recess-time-and-sees-immediate-positive-results-in-kids/

Society is always changing, to be sure, but the rise in isolated and computer based play is far different than the engaged group on the sandlot field of a neighborhood game. To many people these games are a great sort of memories of the gang of people that meet and struggle and pit strength against strength. Wins and losses, victory and defeat. Rules and the punishments for not following them. Public approbations and protested claims of bad calls and the obvious talent for resolutions from the future lawyers. I think this adds to things like tech companies putting in gyms at their place of work to put a distraction in, to be sure, but also to create a space for the tumble and sprawl of a well played game. Even if it is only Shuffle Board for penalties, it has a flair for smack and bang.

While driving down the interstate one day I passed a truck and trailer with all manner of gun company names and pictures. The logo of the owner stood out though. It was for "Team building and leadership training". It was a mobile Clay Pigeon shooting system. The idea is simply one of friendly competition with a real and palpable result... Broken clays. Clear, evident, competitive, engaging, and different than the normal "Team Building" exercise. Able to overcome certain obvious strengths of some members and a leveling of the field, this is a way to give a place for those internal needs to be met. Disruptive, fun and not of the normal pattern of activity.

I think we need to reconsider the idea of engaged competition, struggle, and overcoming. Not simple internal competition, but against a worthy foe. One that can win and in a significant and decisive way. If the "team building experience" does not include stress and possibility of failure you cannot have its commensurate level of elation at the overcoming of that stress. To build a team you have to have oxytocin in the mix, and that only comes from challenge. Do some research on it. It is the knitting hormone that bonds the participants as no other thing can do. Otherwise, all you have is a group. You might be in the same place on the same day, doing the same thing, but there is no cohesion. No team.

Think about the role of the engagement. For your own children, for your co-workers, for yourself. If you are better than everyone else, let them win enough to at least want to keep playing. If you are afraid of losing, get back in the game. Everyone loses, you are not that special. If you are the boss, pay attention. Figure out if the softball league needs a kick in the butt, or simply add an archery group of trophies to the wall. I went to a Nuclear Power Generation facility some time ago, and while I was waiting to get my pass I wandered over to the trophy case. Expecting the softball, bowling, etc trophies I was caught off guard by the collection; Best grouping, longest shot, best team score. The things that are important to a security team, at a place that that means something, still has a competitive ring to it. If it isn't your name on it, you can still improve.

I think we need to re-engage. Ponder the possibilities.