From the source rules
Who goes first in ICECOOL?
English Brain Games rules

Whoever saw a penguin most recently is the first catcher. The player to that person's left takes the first flick, and turns continue clockwise.
Rule details
The catcher assignment does not make that person the first player to move. In a four-player round, the three runners act before the catcher.
The two-player rules keep this starting order.
Source & edition
- ICECOOL: Brain Games rulesBrain Games · Setup step 5; Phase 2, playing the round; two-player changes; PDF pages 2, 4, 10 · Checked 2026-09-23Printed page references: 5, 7, 13Cited PDF pages: 2, 4, 10
- ICECOOL: AMIGO rulesAMIGO · Setup step 5; Phase 2, playing a round; two-player changes; PDF pages 3, 5, 11 · Checked 2026-09-23Printed page references: 3, 5, 11
Image: © Brain Games Publishing and any cover-art licensors or artists (precise ownership not stated on source page) · Brain Games Publishing
If there’s a tie
The rulebook doesn’t say.
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