Managing Boys and Risk

"Why can't we jump off this cliff?"

"Why can't we jump off this cliff backwards?". "Why do we have to wear life jackets? I can swim!". "I can do a 20-foot jump, no worries!".

If you work with boys on school excursions, you have heard these questions. It is the same question every time: Why can't I push the boundary until it breaks?.

The Reward vs. Risk Brain

This behaviour isn't intentional disobedience. It's biology. The adolescent male brain is wired to see reward clearly but struggle to perceive risk. They genuinely don't understand the danger in what they are asking to do.

For an inexperienced instructor, this can be a minefield. Boys will often try to "play one teacher off another" ("Mr Jones lets us do it!"). A wrong move here can lead to a serious accident.

Strategies for the "Minefield"

Be Hyper-Vigilant: With boys, you must look out for the "dumbest and most dangerous thing possible," because that is exactly what they are about to do.

Check the Basics: It is easy to be distracted by their bravado and miss that a student is at the top of an abseil without a helmet or a carabiner.

Use Strong Boundaries: Boys respect strong boundaries. Pulling them up every time they push the line reinforces your position and ensures safety.

Turning Risk into a Lesson

You can't stop boys from wanting to take risks, but you can model positive risk management. If they do something dangerous, use it as a debrief. Link it to real risks in their lives and discuss why we have safety parameters.

While they might not "get it" right away, these experiential learning moments help wire their brains to avoid serious danger later in life.