Chapter 31

SCORE.--A team scores one point each time that it makes a goal. The game is played on time limits, the team winning which has the highest score at the end. Where a large number of players is divided into two parties to take turns at playing, the time limits for each are generally ten minutes; with such rest intervals the two parties may play indefinitely. Where all of the players are engaged in one game the period may be anywhere from thirty to sixty minutes.

OVER AND UNDER RELAY

_10 to 100 players._

_Playground; gymnasium; schoolroom._

_Balls; bean bags; substitutes._

This game is a combination of Arch Ball and Stride Ball.

The players stand in two or more files, the files containing an equal number of players. The game is a passing relay, the files competing against each other. The leaders of each file have two balls, bean bags, or blackboard erasers. At a signal, a ball (or whatever is used) is passed back over the heads of the players until it reaches the last one in the line, who keeps it. The leader counts ten after the ball leaves his hands and at once passes back the second ball between his feet, the players bending over to pass it along. When this reaches the last player, he runs forward with a ball in each hand and takes his place at the head of the line, which moves back one place to give him room. At once he passes one ball backward overhead, counts ten, and passes the other between his feet. This continues until the original leader, who has been gradually backing to the rear of the line, reaches the front again, carrying both balls. The line wins whose leader first accomplishes this.

This game has some admirable exercise in it, keeping the players bending and stretching alternately. Quick play should be encouraged. When played in a schoolroom alternate aisles should be kept clear that the runners may use them in running to the front of the room.

OVERTAKE

_20 to 60 players._

_2 balls or bean bags._

_Playground; gymnasium; schoolroom._

OBJECTS OF GAME.--This is a toss and catch game between a captain and the players of his team who are lined up around a square alternating with the players of an opposing team. The objects of the game are (1) to complete the round of tossing and catching quicker than the opponents; (2) to "overtake" or outdistance the bag or ball which the opponents are tossing.

FORMATION.--When played in a gymnasium, a well-defined square should be marked, around which the players take their places. The size may vary with the number of players and their skill in throwing to and catching from the captain who stands in the center. In the schoolroom the players stand around the room next the wall, outside a line marked on the floor, within which they may not go.

TEAMS.--Any number from twenty to sixty may play. Forty is an especially good number.

The players are evenly divided into two teams, preferably designated by colors; or the players of one team may each tie a handkerchief on one arm to distinguish them. Polo caps of a colored cheese cloth are a serviceable device. If it be used in the schoolroom, each player may easily keep such a cap in his or her desk. Corresponding colors for the two bean bags or balls are also desirable.

One player from each team is chosen for captain and stands in the center, the two captains being side by side and moving around each other within a small circle drawn on the floor, as becomes necessary for the shifting direction of the play. The other players of each team are numbered consecutively, and take their places alternately around the square, the two Numbers One standing opposite each other. A referee is also desirable who should start the game, announce score, and award points to the opposing team when fouls are made. The referee may act as scorer, or, if there be a separate scorer, announce the points for scoring. The referee should also pick up any dead (dropped) ball and toss it to the captain of the team.

START.--The game starts, on a signal from the referee, with the captains standing back to back in the center, each facing the Number One player of his team. At the signal each captain tosses his ball to his Number One, who at once tosses it back to him; the captain then tosses it to the next player of his team standing on Number One's right, and he tosses it back. The play is thus continued around the entire square until the captain tosses it again to his Number One, which is called getting the ball "home." The two balls are thus being played around in the same direction, following each other; and one of the main features of the game is to have a ball "overtake" that of its opponents. In the next inning or round the balls may follow in the opposite direction (to the left).

RULES AND POINTS OF PLAY.--Players may lunge or "fall out" when tossing or catching, if one foot be left without the boundary.

Players may stoop or jump to catch a low or high ball, but may not advance beyond the boundary.

One or both hands may be used in tossing or catching.

A dropped ball is returned to play by the referee, who tosses it to the captain.

If a captain drops a ball or bag three times, he changes places with Number One player of his team; this captain, failing three times, changes with Number Two, and so on.

Every ball dropped scores for the opponents, as stated under "Score."

An opponent may interfere, but with one hand only.

FOULS.--It is a foul--

_a._ To use the arms in any way to interfere with a player who does not hold the ball.

_b._ To grasp the clothing or person of an opponent.

_c._ To use both hands for interfering.

_d._ To drop the ball.

_e._ To send the ball afield.

All fouls are penalized by the opponents' scoring one point, except for a ball that goes afield (outside the boundaries): that scores two points for the opponents. A ball dropped inside the boundaries scores one point for opponents.

SCORE.--A ball which "overtakes" (passes) the opponents' ball scores five points.

The ball that first makes the circuit and gets back to Number One player of its team, or "home," scores two points.

Fouls score one point for the opponent, except when a ball goes afield, which scores two points for the opponents.

The game is won on a score of ten points.

This game was originated and copyrighted by Mrs. Elizabeth R. Walton, of Washington, D.C. It received honorable mention in a competition for schoolroom games conducted by the Girls' Branch of the Public Schools Athletic League of New York City in 1906. It is here published by the kind permission of its author.

PASS BALL RELAY

_10 to 100 players.

Playground; gymnasium.

Basket ball._

Any number of teams may compete, but should contain an equal number of players. The teams line up in single file, and the game consists in a competition between them in passing a basket ball backward overhead, followed by a short run for each player in turn.

A starting line is drawn across the playing space, behind which the teams line up. The players in a team must not stand close enough together to touch. An objective point or goal, such as a basket, is placed in front of each team at a good running distance,--at least fifty or seventy-five feet if the space admits of it. On an athletic field a player not on the team may be stationed to serve as this objective point. Good form at the opening of the game calls for the teams to be lined up with the balls resting on the ground in front of the first players. On the starter's signal, "On your mark!" the first players toe the starting line with both feet; on the next signal, "Get ready!" they raise the balls overhead, but not to be touched by the next players until put in play on the final signal. When the starter says "Go!" the first player hands the ball backward overhead to the next player, and each one in turn passes it in a similar way down the line. When the last player receives the ball, he runs forward with it around the goal, returns, and passes it to the player at the head of the line, when it again travels backward to the rear as before. A returning player may hand the ball to the front player, either facing him or turning with his back to him and passing the ball overhead; but he may not toss it to him. A returning player takes his place at the head of the line, toeing the line, the file moving backward one step to make room for him. The original leader of the line will thus move gradually backward until he is at the rear of the file; he will be the last runner forward, and should be plainly marked with a sash diagonally across the breast to aid the judges in distinguishing him. When he receives the ball, he runs forward with it around the goal like his predecessors, but on his return, instead of lining up and passing the ball backward, dashes with it over the finish line. The finish line should be a tape (strand of worsted) stretched parallel with the starting line, but three feet to the rear of the files. Should the playing space not admit of this, the starting line may be used as a finish line.

Should the ball be dropped as it is passed down the line, the player next behind the one who last touched it must leave his place in the line, pick up the ball, return, and put it in play from where it left the line. If so rectified, this dropping of the ball does not score as a foul.

There should be a judge of fouls for each team and two judges at the finish. One foul is scored against a team for--

1. Every player who does not touch the ball as it is passed backward.

2. Every player (except a returning player) who turns to face the next one and hand the ball instead of passing it backward overhead.

3. A returning player tossing the ball to the head of the file.

4. The head player standing forward of the starting line.

5. A runner touching the goal as he encircles it.

The teams win in the order of finishing if there be no fouls. One foul disqualifies a team unless the competing teams have made an equal or greater number of fouls. In such a case the teams win in the order of finishing, plus consideration of the smallest record on fouls. A team finishing second, for example, with no fouls, would win over a team finishing first with one or more fouls.

Teams Order of Finishing Number of Fouls Order of Winning

A 1 3 B 4 2 Third place C 2 2 Second place D 3 0 First place

These rules are used by the Girls' Branch of the Public Schools Athletic League of New York.

PIG IN A HOLE

_10 to 60 players._

_Playground; seashore; gymnasium._

_Basket ball._

Each player should be provided with a stick about three feet long. This may be made by whittling branches, or a gymnasium wand or piece of broomstick may be used. A hole is dug in the ground measuring twelve or fifteen inches in diameter. All of the players but one stand in a circle around this, with several feet between each two players so that they may move freely. Each player digs a small hole in the ground in front of his place in the circle, the hole to measure about four inches in diameter. The game is played with a basket ball, although a smaller ball may be used, in which case the center hole need not be quite so large, though it should be somewhat larger than the ball used.

The game consists in the odd player trying (1) to get the ball (the "pig") into the center hole with his stick, which all of the other players will try to prevent; and (2) the odd player trying to be released from his position by placing the end of his stick in one of the small holes belonging to one of the circle players, which he can only do when the player in question has his own stick out of it.

The game starts by all of the players putting their sticks in the center hole under the ball. They count, "One, two, three!" and on the last word all lift the ball with the sticks and then rush for the small holes, each player placing the end of his stick in a hole. As there is one less hole than the number of players, one odd player will be left out. It thereupon becomes his duty to drive the pig into the hole from whatever point it may have landed through the combined effort and toss with which the game opened. The circle players try to prevent the pig getting into the hole by blocking its passage with their sticks. They may not kick it or play upon it in any other way. The odd player will try to ward off the interference of the sticks by clearing a way in front of the ball with his own. The other players may leave their places at any time to block the passage of the ball; but this is a dangerous thing to do, for the odd player may at any moment leave his work with the ball and place his stick in one of the vacant holes. It therefore behooves the circle players to leave their holes unguarded only when there is imminent danger of the ball entering the center hole from that side of the ring, or when a good opportunity comes for aggressive play to drive the ball out of the ring, which should also be one of their objects.

It is not necessary for a player to return to his own hole after having removed his stick from it. Any hole may be taken by any player, and much of the interest of the game lies in the freedom with which players will move about and take chances in this way.

If the driver succeeds in getting his pig in the center hole, he is considered to have won, and the game begins again. Should the driver succeed in placing his stick in an unoccupied hole in the circle, the odd player thus left out must become driver.

FOR THE GYMNASIUM.--This game may be adapted to the gymnasium by drawing chalk circles in place of those that would be dug in the ground out of doors. The same rules apply for the game, which may be played either with a basket ball or a bean bag.

This game is found in many countries. Several of the forms of play here given are from the Chinese. It is an old traditional game in England and popular there to-day.

PROGRESSIVE CAPTAIN BALL

(See _Captain Ball V_.)

PROGRESSIVE DODGEBALL

(See _Dodgeball_.)

RING CALL BALL

(See also _Call Ball_.)

_10 to 30 or more players._

_Playground; gymnasium._

_Hand ball; bean bag._

This game is similar in some respects to Call Ball, but being played in a circle formation, is much simpler and less difficult and exciting, being suited particularly to younger players.

The players form a circle, with one in the center, who throws a ball in the air, at the same time calling the name of one of the circle players. The one called must run forward and catch the ball before it bounds more than once. If he catches it, he returns to the circle. If he does not catch it, he changes places with the thrower.

ROLEY POLEY

(Hat Ball)

_5 to 20 players._

_Playground; gymnasium._

_Hand ball; bean bag._

A row of holes three or four inches in diameter is made in the ground, with about one foot space between. There should be one hole less than the number of players. Boys' caps may be placed in a similar row instead of digging holes. Parallel with the row of holes, and about twenty feet away from it, a base line is drawn. A pile of pebbles (called "babies") should be collected before the game begins.

The game consists primarily of rolling a ball into one of the holes or caps, followed by ball tag, and a scoring with the pebbles. The players stand each a little distance behind a hole except one, who is chosen to be the first roller. He rolls the ball from the base line into one of the holes or caps. Immediately he and all of the players except the one into whose hole the ball has fallen, run, scattering in any direction. The one to whose lot the ball has fallen lifts the ball as quickly as possible, calling "Stand!" as soon as he has it in his hand. The running players must halt when they hear this order, and the one who holds the ball tries to hit one of them with it from where he stands. If he succeeds in doing so, one of the pebbles is put in the cap of the player who is hit. Should he miss hitting any one, a pebble is put in his own cap. Should the player who tries to roll the ball into one of the holes or caps miss getting it in, a pebble is put in his own cap, and he makes other trials until he succeeds. When a player is hit by the ball, he becomes roller, and all of the others return to their places. The game continues until one player gets six (or ten) stones ("babies") in his hole or cap. When this happens, he must be "court-martialed," that is, stand with his face against a wall or fence and let each player take three shots at him with the rubber ball, the first time with the thrower's eyes closed and then with them open. The distance of the throwers from the fence is determined by the victim's throwing the ball at the fence three times so it will rebound; the farthest point to which the ball rebounds becomes the throwing line for the court-martialing. If no fence or wall be available, the throwing is done from an agreed distance at the back of the victim.

This game may be played by drawing a series of circles on the ground or floor in place of the holes or cap, and sliding a bean bag into them. This form is serviceable for a gymnasium.

ROUND BALL

_20 to 60 players._

_Playground; gymnasium; schoolroom._

_Hand ball; basket ball._

This is an advanced form of Circle Ball, there being two competing teams in a circle, with wide spaces between.

The players form in a circle, drop hands, and step backward two paces to make an interval between players. They number off in twos. The first Number One is captain for the Ones, and the first Number Two is captain for the Twos. Each captain has a ball. The game consists in throwing the ball around the circle, the ball started by captain Number One going only to the players of that number, and the ball started by captain Number Two to the players who bear his number.

The party wins whose ball first completes the circle five times. Each time that the captain receives the ball he calls out a number corresponding to the number of times the ball has circulated, "One" for the first time, "Two" for the second, etc. The play should be rapid. Any player dropping the ball must pick it up and throw in regular form.

The game may be varied by requiring different methods of throwing and catching, such as catching with the right hand, left hand, both hands, etc., if a hand ball be used; or throw from below, above, or pushing straight from the chest if a basket ball be used.

RUSSIAN HOLE BALL

_3 to 10 players._

_Out of doors; seashore; snow._

_Ball; bean bag; stone._

This game is played with one small ball, in size anywhere from that of a golf to a tennis ball. If played in the snow, a hard frozen snowball may be used, or a stone will do.

A series of holes is made in the ground, sand, or snow, large enough to contain the ball. These holes are placed in a straight line, one beyond the other, about three feet apart, there being as many holes as there are players. All holes are numbered, corresponding to the numbers of the players, from one to ten, or whatever the maximum may be. About ten feet from the first hole, and at right angles to the row, a straight line is drawn on the ground, behind which the players stand to throw. The first player stands directly in line with the row of holes and throws for one of them. This is a toss of the ball. The ball scores for the player according to the number of the hole in which it falls, and this number also designates the next player. For instance, if the ball falls in the third hole, it scores three for the first player, who at once gives place to Number Three, who in turn has one throw. Should this ball fall in hole number five, it scores five for this player, and the fifth player will have the next turn. The game may be played according to score, the one first scoring twenty-five or fifty winning; or it may be played according to time, the one having the highest score at the end of fifteen or twenty minutes being the winner.

This is one of the few games that may be adapted to the snow or to the damp sand of the seashore, though it may be played anywhere out of doors where holes can be dug.

This game comes from the Russian province of Bessarabia, which formerly belonged to Turkey.

SCHOOLROOM DODGEBALL

(See _Dodgeball_.)

SCHOOLROOM VOLLEY BALL

_10 to 60 players._

_Gas ball._

The players are divided into two teams, and the players in each team number consecutively. A net or string is placed across the schoolroom, dividing it into two equal parts. The top should be six feet from the floor. The game consists in batting the ball with the hand back and forth over the string, a point being scored by either team whenever its opponents allow the ball to touch the floor. The ball may be batted (not thrown) in any way, but by only one hand at a time.

The players stand in the aisles, each having a required place in which to stand.

The game starts by No. 1 on either side serving the ball, that is, tossing it up with the left hand, and batting it with the right, trying to get the ball over the net or string to the opposing side.

Two fouls in succession (failing to bat the ball over the net) changes the serve to the other side; otherwise, the server continues until the ball is returned by the opposite side and not returned by the server's side. When this happens, the serve changes to No. 1 of team 2, then to No. 2 of team 1, then to No. 2 of 2, etc.

The game continues until all players have served; or the game may be played with time limits; that is, the team wins which has the highest score at the end of a ten-or fifteen-minute period.

Every time that the ball touches the floor (not a desk) it scores against that side on which it falls, counting one point for the opposing team, irrespective of which team served the ball.

This schoolroom adaptation of Volley Ball was made by Miss Mabel L. Pray of Toledo, Ohio, and received honorable mention in a competition for schoolroom games conducted by the Girls' Branch of the Public Schools Athletic League of New York City in 1906. The game is here published by kind permission of the author, and of the Girls' Branch, and of Messrs. A. G. Spalding & Brothers, publishers of the handbook in which the game first appeared.

SPUD

_10 to 100 players._

_Playground; gymnasium._

_Any soft ball or bean bag._

This is a combination of Call Ball and Ball Tag, with scoring and penalties added. It is very popular with boys of almost any age.

The players stand in a group, with one in the center holding the ball. The center player drops the ball, at the same time calling the name of one of the other players. All but the one called immediately scatter, as they are liable to be tagged with the ball. The player called secures the ball as quickly as possible, and tries to hit one of the other players with it. He may not run to do this, but must stand where he secured the ball. If he misses, he secures the ball, stands where he gets it, and tries again, the other players fleeing from him as before. If he hits a player, that one immediately secures the ball, tries to hit some one else with it, the second one hit tries to hit a third, and so on.