Organisation at a higher level
           Much Recreative Training can be done in twelve minutes if the plan or scheme of training is rehearsed by the leader, with explanations reduced to a minimum and all the preparations made beforehand. The necessary equipment should be laid out tidily, the method of collecting and putting it away during class should be made a means of training the memory and giving practice in organisation and control. In fact, from start to finish the training should hold the attention and interest of the class, who at the end should be even more eager and keen than they were at the start. As the training progresses it should include working in “Groups” under a Group Leader.
          The-range of Recreative Training is wide and can embrace the whole Scout family. Anybody, whatever his age, can benefit by dexterity exercises and by the training of the senses. In a class comprised of all ages of the Scout family the training should be adjusted to the most backward pair. The younger the class the quicker should be the tempo of the training.
          The number in a class should be limited to sixteen, but it is advisable for a leader without much experience to start with a smaller number, say, from six to eight. As much training as possible should be done in pairs. Scouts in the field often have to work in couples; training in pairs also teaches the value of co-operation and inculcates a spirit of comradeship, which induces a Scout to try his hand training others outside his class – perhaps his younger brother or sister at home. In this way, as well as spreading the gospel of fitness and Scouting, he is taking a natural step in creating in himself a spirit of enterprise and the ability to lead others. Leadership is relative: a boy of ten years can usually lead a boy of eight, and a boy of twelve the boy often, and so on, up the scale. There are all grades of leaders; you must look up for inspiration in order to lead those below you – the road to leadership is followership. As self-leadership may be said to be the first step in leadership, so can working with another – co-operation – be the next step.
A class should fall in at the “Ready”, the hands at the side and the feet about the width of the shoulders apart. This is the usual position that one stands in games, ready for instant action. This stance provides a stable base for the balance of the body and is the natural starting-position for most physical actions.
     The signal for the “Ready” should be a prearranged one, some sound quick and crisp and not too loud, such as a whistle, a snap of the finger and thumb, a click with the tongue, etc. Much time can be saved if the class formations are natural and simple and can be quickly taken up at a signal. Changing from one class formation to another is in itself a simple and good quickening exercise and a useful means of giving training in  Observation, Memory, Alertness, and Method.
      Each Troop should have its own signals for the different class formations; theyshould be changed from time to time.
(a) In Line. The class in single line facing front and sized off from right to left. The class should be numbered off in twos from right to left.
(b) In single or Indian file One behind the other, sized off with the shortest in front and the tallest at the back.
(c) In Two Files or Teams, each under a Team Captain. In two files parallel to one another about 3ft. apart, with leaders in the front. To form two files from single file, even numbers take a pace to the left (with the left foot) and one to the front (with the right foot).
(d) Groups each under a Group Leader. If the class consists of twelve or more it should be
divided into four groups.
(e) Circle formed from Line or Single File. Form a circle, keeping same relative places as in file,
an arm’s length between individuals. The leader to stand in the circumference of the circle and not inside it. Where space is restricted a double line can be formed with odd numbers in the front, the even numbers standing in rear of the spaces between the odd numbers. As many exercises as possible should be performed in a circle as control is easy and ft is economical of space as well as being a companionable and democratic formation.
(f) Spots. A useful formation in which the class is distributed over the training space equidistant from one another. If possible there should be 6ft. between individuals; this arrangement gives sufficient space for individual staff exercises. The place where each individual stands should be marked by a well-defined spot on the floor.
(g) Sitting and Lying Down, etc.
(i) Sit down.
(ii) Lie down.
(iii) Stand up.
(iv) Rest.
Signals for each action.