Chapter 33

This drill consists in throwing a ball against a wall, and catching it, with the following variations. It may be used for individual play, or for competition between two players, or as a game for large numbers. When used for large numbers, the players should be divided into several teams of equal numbers, each player throwing in turn for as many feats as he can perform without failure, each successful feat or play scoring one point for his team. He gives place to the next player upon failing.

Each play should be first performed by allowing the ball to bounce once on the ground before catching it; later it should be caught without the bound.

1. Throw the ball against the wall, let it bounce once, and catch it; repeat this three times.

2. Throw, and clap hands three times before catching.

3. Throw, and twirl the hands around each other before catching.

4. Throw, and clap hands and touch the right shoulder.

5. Throw, clap hands, and touch the left shoulder.

6. Throw three times with the right hand and catch with the same hand.

7. Throw three times with the left hand and catch with the same hand.

8. Throw with the right hand and catch with the right with the palm downward (knuckles up, "dog snack" fashion).

9. Throw with the left hand and catch with the left in the same manner as in 8.

10. Throw, clap the hands, touch the right knee, and catch.

11. Throw, clap the hands, touch the left knee, and catch.

12. Throw the ball; clap the hands in front, behind, in front again, and catch the ball.

13. Throw, lift the right knee, clap the hands under it, and catch.

14. Throw, lift the left knee, clap the hands under, and catch.

15. Throw, turn around, and catch.

WAR

_10 to 60 players._

_Playground; gymnasium._

_Basket ball._

Two concentric circles are drawn at each end of the playground, the size of the circles depending on the number of players. When there are thirty on each side, the diameter of the inner circle should be fifteen feet and that of the outer circle thirty feet. The inner circle is the fortress, and the space between the two circles is the trench. Behind each trench is drawn a prison ten feet square. The rest of the floor is the battlefield. The players are divided into two teams, which take possession of the two fortresses. Then one side advances to attack the fortress of the other side. The attacking party has a basket ball, which represents ammunition. The object is to throw the ball in such a way as to strike within the opponents' fortress. The assailants surround the trench and pass the ball among themselves until a favorable opportunity offers for a well-directed shot. By making this preliminary passing of the ball very rapid, the enemy is confused as to the quarter from which the ball may be expected. If one of the assailing party enters the enemy's trench, he may be tagged, and so become a prisoner, being placed in the prison and therefore out of the play. If the shot (throw of the ball), when finally made for the enemy's fortress, be successful, the assailing party scores one, and all of its men who are held prisoners are set free.

The defending party during the attack stand within their trench or their fortress, as they see fit, and try to block the ball. If at any time the ball falls into their hands, they immediately rush out in an attack on the enemy's fortress at the opposite end of the ground, and in transit may tag with the ball, and so make prisoners of, as many of the enemy as they can touch. The enemy must therefore, when a ball lands within its opponents' fortress, flee immediately for the safety of its own fortress. The attacking _en route_ may be done either by throwing the ball or by touching the opponent with the ball held in hand; but it may only be done with the ball and not with the hand alone.

When the opposite fortress has been reached, the attacking party tries to throw the ball within it, and the game goes on as before. Members of the defending party may at any time go outside of their trench to get the ball, but run great risk of being made prisoners in doing so by having the ball thrown from the enemy so as to hit them. When a ball is aimed for this purpose, if the player at whom it is aimed touches or intercepts it in any way, he is a prisoner. Of course he may dodge it.

Each single point that is made is called a battle, and the side that wins the greater number of battles within the time limit wins the game.

This game was originated by Mr. J. E. Doldt, and is here printed by kind permission of members of the Alumni Association of the Boston Normal School of Gymnastics, from their book, _One Hundred and Fifty Gymnastic Games_.

ZIGZAG GAMES

These games may be played with any kind of a ball or with bean bags.

There are several forms of Zigzag Ball. The simpler forms are useful in getting young players or those unused to play accustomed to the skill of handling balls. The more complicated forms make very lively games, interesting to players of any age. The different games are played in line and circle formation. The main characteristics of the different line forms are as follows:--

(1) The players are divided into groups of two ranks each, each group forming a separate team. The ball is zigzagged from one rank to another of a group without skipping any players. The groups are competitive, as in relay races.

(2) The players stand in groups of two lines each, but these groups are composed of two different teams, the alternate players of one rank and the alternate players of the opposite rank forming one team, and the intervening players of the two ranks another.

(3) The players are divided into groups, as in the first form, each group consisting of one team arranged in two ranks which face each other, but the ball is zigzagged by skipping every alternate player as it works its way to the end of the line in one direction, and is tossed by these skipped players on its return to the front, thus forming a double zigzag.

Other forms of the game are also here given; namely, the Circle Zigzag, and the Zigzag Overhead Toss, in which latter game the ball is tossed over the heads of intervening ranks, the players of alternate ranks belonging to the same party.

In all of these forms the game may be made more lively and complicated by advancing from the use of one ball to that of two or more. The kind of ball used will also make a great difference in the play, anything from a bean bag to a basket ball or medicine ball being suitable. Where bean bags are used, it is desirable to have different colored bags for the different teams.

CIRCLE ZIGZAG

_12 to 60 players._

_Playground; gymnasium; schoolroom._

_Basket ball; hand ball; bean bag._

This is a game of zigzag ball (or bean bag) between concentric circles, two balls being used, going in opposite directions. The players stand in two concentric circles, facing each other, each circle numbered by twos. The first Number One in the outer circle and the first Number Two in the inner circle have each a ball. These are put in play at a signal, the play consisting in throwing the balls backward and forward in a zigzag line from one circle to the other, the Numbers One in the inner circle throwing to the Numbers One in the outer, and Numbers Two in the inner to Numbers Two in the outer. The inner circle should start its ball to the right; the outer circle should start its ball to the left. The Number One party or the Number Two party wins according to which first completes the circle three times.

If desired, the Numbers One may each tie a handkerchief on one arm to distinguish them from the Numbers Two.

This game may be made more interesting and require much more alertness on the part of the players by putting more balls into play. This may be done by the starters starting a second ball around the circle as soon as the first has reached the third player. In this way several balls may be used at once.

As in all zigzag games, each player should observe closely before the game begins from which player he is to catch the ball, and to which player he is to throw. This will facilitate the rapidity of the play, a feature on which much of the sport depends. For very young or unskilled players the action should be rather slow, especially when the game is being learned.

LINE ZIGZAG--I

_20 to 100 players._

_Playground; gymnasium; schoolroom._

_Any ball; bean bag._

The players are divided into two or more groups which compete against each other. Each group is divided into two ranks, the players standing side by side, with a distance of from two to five feet between each two players. The ranks of a group face each other, with a distance of five feet between them. One rank should stand farther to the rear than its _vis-a-vis_, so that each player is opposite a space instead of a player.

The first player in one rank of each group has a ball. At a given signal this is thrown to the first player in the opposite rank. This player throws it quickly to the second player of the first rank, and so on in zigzag form to the end of the line, where the ball is immediately sent back again in the same way to the front. The group which first gets its ball back to the head wins.

When players have had a little practice with one ball, two or more should be used, the starters starting the second ball down the line as soon as the first ball has reached the third player. Where several balls are used in this way, the last player of the line must hold the balls until all are received before starting them on their return journey.

LINE ZIGZAG--II

_20 to 100 players._

_Playground; gymnasium; schoolroom._

_Any ball; bean bag._

In this form of zigzag ball the players are all in two ranks, which comprise two competing teams, rather than in groups of two ranks each, as in the preceding game. The players of one team alternate with the players of the opposing team in each of the two ranks. The balls will cross in starting and repeatedly thereafter unless one should outdistance the other.

The players form in two ranks which face each other, with five feet space between. The players in each rank should be from two to five feet apart. Each rank numbers off in twos, the first player of one rank starting with number "one," and the first player of the second rank starting with number "two." The players stand so as to face each other directly, instead of facing a space between the players of the opposite rank, as in the previous form of this game. This will bring a Number One facing a Number Two all the way down the ranks. If desired, the Numbers One may each tie a handkerchief on one arm to designate them, though this help to memory detracts much from the alertness demanded and cultivated by the game as well as from its sport, and may be dispensed with after players have become slightly familiar with the game.

The first player in each rank holds a ball. At a signal this is thrown to the first player of his own party in the opposite rank, who as quickly as possible throws it to the second player of his party in the rank from which he received it, etc.

For instance, the starter who belongs to the Number One team will throw to the first Number One player opposite him; this will be the second player in that rank. He, in turn, will throw to the second Number One player in the rank facing him; this will be the third player in that rank. In other words, the Number One party zigzags the ball between all of its members to the end of the line and back again to the front, and simultaneously the Number Two party does the same thing with another ball. The party wins whose ball first gets back to the front.

After some practice, more than one ball may be used, in which case the last player in each party will have to hold the balls until the last one is received before starting them on their return journey.

LINE ZIGZAG--III

(Double Zigzag)

_20 to 100 players._

_Playground; gymnasium; schoolroom._

_Any ball; bean bag._

This form of zigzag ball is a combination of the two previously described.

The players are divided into groups which compete against each other. Each group is divided in turn into two ranks which stand facing each other at a distance of five feet, the individual players being from two to five feet apart.

The players in each rank number off in twos, beginning at the head with different numbers, so that a Number One in each rank will stand opposite a Number Two in the opposite rank.

One or more balls are used and are thrown to alternate players, Numbers One throwing to each other all down the line, and the Numbers Two throwing to each other all the way back. There should be nothing to distinguish the players from one another, each being dependent on his own memory and alertness to know to whom he is to throw the ball and from whom he is to receive it. The particular success of this game lies in having a very considerable number of balls in play at once. In this form the balls do not have to accumulate at the foot of the lines before being returned to the head, as the last Number One player to receive the ball tosses it directly across to the last Number Two player, who begins at once to zigzag it up the line.

The group wins which first succeeds in getting all of its balls back to the head of the line.

ZIGZAG OVERHEAD TOSS

_20 to 100 players._

_Playground; gymnasium; schoolroom._

_Hand ball; basket ball; bean bag._

This game is a variation of Zigzag Ball, and is more difficult and interesting for older players. The players are divided into two parties, best distinguished by colors--say Red and Blue. The two parties stand in even ranks alternately about five feet apart; for instance, the Red party will form ranks one and three, and will play together, facing each other, while the Blue party will form ranks two and four, which will face each other and play together.

The first player in each party has a ball which is put in play upon a signal by being tossed over the heads of the intervening rank to Number One in the other rank of his party. This player tosses the ball back to Number Two in the first rank, and so the ball is tossed in zigzag form from one player to another in ranks of the same color until it reaches the end of the line, when it is zigzagged back to the starting point in the same way. This is all done over the heads of an intervening rank of the opposite color. Simultaneously the competing team is playing in the same way.

The party wins which first gets the ball back to the starting point.

With a large number of players the number of ranks may be increased beyond four if desired.

This game may be made more interesting and require much more alertness on the part of the players by putting more balls into play. This may be done by the starters starting a second or more balls, tossing down the line as soon as a predecessor has reached the third player. When this is done, the game is won (_a_) by the party whose last player at the foot of the line is first to receive the last ball; or (_b_) the last player may accumulate the balls and return them to the front in reverse order, the party winning which first gets its last ball back to the original starter.

INDEX

GAMES FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS

This grading of the games for schools indicates the lowest grade in which, on an average, a game is found to be suitable, its use being intended in any succeeding grade also. The so-called "quiet" games are not necessarily noiseless, but are distinguished from the games in which there is running or much moving around. Most of the quiet games are intended for schoolroom use, many of them for small groups that may assemble before the opening of a session.

1A. First Year (first half), (_6-7 years old_).

Playground

PAGE

Duck Dance, The 264 Itisket, Itasket 268 Jack be Nimble 114 Kitty White 274 Looby Loo 280 Muffin Man 282 Mulberry Bush 283 Railroad Train 164 Ringmaster 167 Round and Round went the Gallant Ship 170 Slap Jack 178 Snail 292 Squirrel in Trees 185

Schoolroom

PAGE

Cat and Mice 59 Changing Seats--I 63 Did you ever see a Lassie? 261 Good Morning 99 Hide the Thimble 104 Jack be Nimble 114 Looby Loo 280 Muffin Man 282 Mulberry Bush 283 Railroad Train 164 Ringmaster 167 Slap Jack 178 Squirrel and Nut 184 Squirrel in Trees 185

1B. First Year (second half), (_6-7 years old_).

Playground

PAGE

Charley over the Water 65 Crossing the Brook 74 Did you ever see a Lassie? 261 Do this, Do that 75 Farmer in the Dell 265 Jacob and Rachel 115 Kaleidoscope 122 Leaves are Green 276 Lost Child, The 130 Round and Round the Village 290 Teacher and Class 316

Schoolroom

PAGE

Circle Seat Relay 71 Crossing the Brook 74 Do this, Do that 75 Farmer in the Dell 265 Huckle, Buckle, Bean Stalk 109 Kaleidoscope 122 Lost Child, The 130 Round and Round the Village 290 Teacher and Class 316

2A. Second Year (first half), (_7-8 years old_).

Playground

PAGE

Bird Catcher, The 52 Buying a Lock 58 Cat and Rat 60 Hand Ball Drill--I (Elementary) 380 Moon and Morning Stars 133 Midnight 133 Oats, Peas, Beans 287 Puss in the Circle 164 Ring Call Ball 399 Wee Bologna Man 204

Schoolroom

PAGE

Automobile Race 48 Bird Catcher, The 52 Buying a Lock 58 Hand over Head Bean Bag 310 Hand Ball Drill--I (Elementary) 380 Oats, Peas, Beans 287 Wee Bologna Man 204

2B. Second Year (second half), (_7-8 years old_).

Playground

PAGE

Bean Bag Board 304 Center Catch Ball 355 Circle Ball 356 Drop the Handkerchief 80 Flowers and the Wind, The 87 Frog in the Middle 96 Hunting 267 Let the Feet go Tramp 276 Letting out the Doves 129 London Bridge 278

Schoolroom

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Bean Bag and Basket Relay 303 Bean Bag Board 304 Changing Seats 63 Drop the Handkerchief 80 Fox and Squirrel 93 Letting out the Doves 129 London Bridge 278 Simon Says 235

3A. Third Year (first half), (_8-9 years old_).

Playground

PAGE

Bean Bag Circle Toss 305 Bean Bag Ring Throw 306 Center Base 354 Draw a Bucket of Water 263 Have you seen my Sheep? 102 Hill Dill 105 Hopping Relay Race 106 I say, "Stoop!" 113 Nuts in May 285 Puss in a Corner 163 Single Relay Race 175 Tommy Tiddler's Ground 197 Water Sprite 203

Schoolroom

PAGE

Bean Bag Circle Toss 305 Bean Bag Ring Throw 306 Draw a Bucket of Water 263 Have you seen my Sheep? 102 Hopping Relay Race 106 I say, "Stoop!" 113 Line Ball 384 Puss in a Corner 163

3B. Third Year (second half), (_8-9 years old_).

Playground

PAGE

Bean Bag Box 305 Ball Chase 334 Call Ball 338 Chinese Chicken 68 Dodgeball (Informal) 363 Follow Chase 88 Follow the Leader 89 Fox Trail, Single Rim 95 Jumping Rope--I 118 Lame Fox and Chickens 124 Line Zigzag 421 Prisoner's Base--I 157 Shadow Tag 173 Shuttle Relay 173 Stoop Tag 190 Who goes round my Stone Wall? 206

Schoolroom

PAGE

Bean Bag Box 305 Chinese Chicken 68 Flower Match 220 Follow the Leader 89 Horns 223 Line Zigzag 421 Old Man Tag 142 Schoolroom Tag 172 Tag the Wall Relay 192 Weathercock 204

4A. Fourth Year (first half), (9-10 _years old_).

Playground

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