Let's Come Up With A Handshake

Intricate handshakes are awesome. If you don't believe me, check out this video of NBA star, Dwayne Wade, and TV host, Kelly Ripa. If you want more proof, check out the most elaborate handshake ever courtesy of the Coastal Carolina baseball team.

3 Ways to Use Elaborate Handshakes in Youth Ministry

Mixer/Upfront Game

Have kids pair up and give them 3-5 minutes to come up with an elaborate handshake and to practice. Have leaders walk around and judge. Pick out the best 3 and bring them up front to perform and the audience can vote for the winners. Make sure no kids get left out. Mixers that involve pairing up can be stressful for kids, hoping someone wants to be with them. You could avoid it by writing numbers on kids hands as they come into youth group and then everyone pairs up based on their number. Have 2 lines of entry and 2 youth leaders with sharpies marking hands.

Program Characters/Run-on

If you're using skit characters to sell a fall camp weekend, why not add an elaborate handshake into your routine? If you're doing skit characters at camp, you could work it into your characters routine and give kids an award when you see them around camp performing their E.H.S. (Elaborate Hand Shakes). 

"I'm Dusty, and I'm Rusty...and we're 6th year seniors at Eerie High School...EHS fo' lyfe! EHS! EHS! EHS! We like to catch snakes...and turn em into steaks...but our favorite past time...is ELABORATE HAND SHAKES. EHS! EHS! EHS! (Chanting)

Small Groups

D-Wade discusses with Kelly Ripa about the fact that he has special handshakes with each of his teammates. What if your small group did the same thing. Every time someone from your group walked into a room, they did the different handshakes with every different person in your small group. You could even have a different small group perform at youth group each week.