SSB Progressive Group Task (PGT) — 4 Obstacles, Load & Helping Material
What is the Progressive Group Task?
PGT is the first outdoor GTO task, usually held on Day 3 afternoon. The GTO takes your group to an outdoor arena with four fenced-off obstacles arranged in increasing difficulty. Your group has to cross all four while carrying a load (a wooden plank, log or drum) and using only the helping material provided.
The three colour codes you must respect
Every PGT obstacle is painted with a colour-code system — breaking it means the group has to restart the obstacle:
- White structures — safe. Anyone can stand on them.
- Red structures / red lines — out of bounds. No candidate, no load and no helping material may touch red.
- Blue structures — candidates can touch and stand on them, but helping material (planks, rope, ballie, tolvi) and the load must not touch blue.
The helping material — what is provided
The GTO leaves out standard equipment. Typical items:
- Two wooden planks — usually one long and one short.
- One thick rope (balli-rope) — the group's primary bridging aid.
- One wooden ballie (thick pole).
- One tolvi (a small wooden plank with a curved side).
- One drum or heavy wooden log — the load.
The 4-obstacle progression
Each obstacle is harder than the previous, and the helping material barely suffices — you must reuse plank + rope creatively. The GTO watches how you plan each crossing before you rush in.
The 3-step crossing pattern that works every time
Under time pressure, follow this pattern for every obstacle:
- Step 1 — Someone crosses first with a plank/rope. This "advance party" secures the far side.
- Step 2 — The load is passed across using the advance party as anchor.
- Step 3 — The rest of the group crosses using the material now anchored on both sides.
Six mistakes that lose PGT scores
Any of these mistakes signals poor group functioning:
- Individual heroism — one candidate trying to solve the obstacle alone.
- Talking without doing — spending 5 minutes discussing before touching the material.
- Ignoring colour rules — a red touch = restart, and the GTO notes who did it.
- Forgetting the load — the obstacle is not "crossed" until the load is across too.
- Blaming a peer publicly when a plank slips or a rope loosens.
- Giving up on an obstacle instead of trying an alternative approach.
Do & Don't — Quick Reference
Step-by-step: how to attempt Progressive Group Task (PGT)
Pause before every obstacle
Take 30–60 seconds as a group to look at the obstacle, spot the colour boundaries and identify the two anchor points you can reach.
Pick your bridging material as a group
One long plank + one rope + tolvi is the standard bridge. Confirm what you plan to use before touching it.
Send an advance party first
Two candidates cross with the plank and rope. They anchor the far side.
Pass the load using both anchors
The load moves across only after there is a secure anchor on both sides. Never send the load alone.
Everyone crosses, then reset
Once all candidates and the load are across, quickly collect the material and move to the next obstacle. Speed matters, not perfection.
Frequently asked questions
What are the colour rules in the SSB PGT?
Three codes: white — safe, anyone or anything can touch. Red — completely out of bounds, no candidate, load or helping material may touch it. Blue — candidates can touch and stand on it, but helping material (planks, rope, ballie, tolvi) and the load must not touch blue.
What happens if I accidentally touch red in the PGT?
The group has to restart the obstacle, and the GTO privately notes who broke the rule. One accidental red touch does not end your chances — arguing about it or repeating it does. Reset cleanly and move on.
Do I need to cross all 4 PGT obstacles to be recommended?
No — finishing every obstacle is not the primary scoring criterion. What is scored is initiative, cooperation, organising ability and physical involvement across whatever obstacles you attempt. Groups that finish only 2 obstacles cooperatively often outscore groups that rush through 4 chaotically.
What helping material is provided in the PGT?
A standard set: two wooden planks (usually one long, one short), one thick balli-rope, one wooden ballie (pole), one tolvi (small curved plank), and a load — a drum, plank or heavy wooden log. Everything must be reused across the four obstacles.
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