_Small ball._
This game is played by rolling a ball about the size of a golf ball
into holes made in the ground. Three holes are made by spinning on the
heel. They should be in a straight line, at a distance of from six to
fifteen feet apart. At the same distance from them and at right angles
to them, a line is drawn from which the players roll their balls. The
first player stands with his heel on the bowling line and rolls his
ball into hole number one. If successful, he takes his ball out of the
hole, places his heel in the hole, and rolls the ball to hole two. If
successful, he repeats this play for hole three, and then turns around
and rolls the ball back again into hole two and then into hole one.
Having done this, he starts again at the line and rolls the ball
successively into each of the three holes until he reaches number
three a second time. When this is accomplished, he has won the game.
[Illustration diagram: THREE HOLES]
The probabilities, however, are that the player will not succeed in
making the holes so quickly as here described. Whenever a player's
ball fails to get into a hole, he leaves it where it lies and gives
place to the next player. The next player has the choice of aiming
for the hole or for his antagonist's ball, the latter being a
desirable play if it lies in a position that makes a shorter roll than
to his own. Having hit this ball, he then rolls from that position to
the hole. Should he fail to make either his opponent's ball or the
hole, his ball must lie where it stopped, and the next player takes a
turn. A skillful player will be able to play on his antagonists' balls
so as to serve his own in making short rolls between holes. Whether
the play be interrupted by failures of different players or not, the
player wins who first rolls his ball up the line, down again, and back
to the third hole, as first described.
TOSS BALL
_10 to 60 players._
_Schoolroom._
_Gas ball; bean bag._
This game should be played with a light gas ball or a bean bag, which
the teacher holds, standing in the front of the room. All of the
players are seated. The teacher throws the ball suddenly in any
direction at any player, who must stand at once to catch the ball and
immediately toss it back to the teacher. A player failing to catch the
ball, or catching it without standing, has one point counted against
him. Any player having failed in this way three times is out of the
game and must take his place at one side of the room set apart for
that purpose. As the game progresses, one outside row of seats or the
rear row across the room may be reserved for the players out of the
game, other rows being added as needed.
This game may also be played with a pupil tossing the ball instead of
the teacher. Any player failing to catch the ball, or catching it
while seated, changes places with the thrower instead of being out of
the game, as when the teacher throws. The thrower stands always in the
front of the room. Both methods make a good game.
A large part of the interest of this game lies in the rapidity of the
play and the unexpectedness with which the ball is thrown in any given
direction.
TREE BALL
_5 to 15 or more players._
_Out of doors._
_Football; hand ball; bean bag._
This game is a form of Ball Tag, and may be played with any
light-weight football, or with a bag or sack filled with leaves or
grass.
Each of the players but one chooses a tree, as for the games Puss in
the Corner or Ball Puss. The object of the game for the odd player is
(1) to kick the ball so as to tag one of the tree men with it, and (2)
to secure a tree for himself, which he may do when no one else has it.
The object of the tree players should be not only to avoid the ball by
dodging, which may include running around the trees, but they should
also try to exchange places as frequently as possible, their prowess
in this way serving as an aggravation to the odd man. The game should
be played where there is not much undergrowth, and under such
conditions may be very lively and full of sport.
This game may also be played with a hand ball or bean bag. This should
be tossed instead of kicked. The game differs from Ball Puss in that
the players are tagged by the ball while at their stations instead of
while changing.
VOLLEY BALL
(See also _Schoolroom Volley Ball_.)
_2 to 30 players._
_Playground; gymnasium._
_Volley ball._
This game consists in keeping a large ball in motion back and forth
across a high net by striking it with the open palm. The ball must not
be allowed to touch the floor.
GROUND.--For large teams this game should be played on a ground
measuring fifty feet long and twenty-five feet wide. For smaller teams
a smaller ground will answer.
A tennis net, or net two feet wide, preferably the latter, is
stretched across the center of the ground, from side to side,
extending one or two feet beyond the boundaries on either side. The
upper edge should be from six feet six inches to seven feet six inches
above the ground.
[Illustration diagram: VOLLEY BALL]
PLAYERS.--Any number of players up to thirty may play. The players are
evenly divided into two parties, which scatter over their respective
courts without special arrangement. There is a captain for each side.
An umpire is desirable.
OBJECT OF THE GAME.--The object of the game for each party is to keep
the ball in lively play toward its opponents' court, as each party
scores only on its opponents' failures to return the ball or keep it
in the air.
The ball is put in play by being served by the party which is to
score. The service of the ball, and with it the privilege of scoring,
pass to the opponents according to the rules described hereinafter.
START; RULES FOR SERVICE.--The ball is put in play by being served by
a member of one side, who should stand at the rear of his court with
one foot on the rear boundary line and the other behind the line. From
this position the ball is tossed upward lightly from one hand and
batted with the palm of the other hand toward or into the opponents'
court.
Each server has two trials in which to send the ball into the
opponents' court. The service being over a long course with a
comparatively heavy ball, the following privileges are allowed: a
served ball may be assisted on its course by any two other players on
the server's side; no player so assisting the ball on the serve may
strike it more than twice in succession, and the server under such
circumstances may not strike it more than once; but should the ball
then fail to land in the opponents' court, the server loses his
second serve.
In serving, the ball must be batted at least ten feet by the server
before being touched by any other player on his side.
No "dribbling" is allowed in serving.
A successful server continues serving until his side allows the ball
to touch the floor, knocks it out of bounds, or fails to return it to
the opponents. A server may also lose as follows:
If a returned ball hits a player on the server's side and bounces into
the opponents' court, it is considered in play. If it hits such a
player and does not bounce into the opponents' court, the server is
out, losing his second trial.
If the ball hits the net during service, it is counted a dead ball and
loses the server one of his trials.
If a served ball falls outside the opponents' court, the server loses
his turn.
The players on a side take turns in serving.
RULES OF PLAY.--The ball must always be batted with the open palm. The
ball should be returned by the opponents before it can strike the
ground. Any number of players may strike the ball to send it across
the net, but no player may strike more than twice in succession.
Having struck the ball twice, a player may resume his play only after
some other player has struck it. The ball is thus volleyed back and
forth across the net until one side fails to return it or allows it to
touch the floor, or until it goes out of bounds. A ball is put out of
play by hitting the net in returning after a serve. A ball which
bounds back into the court after striking any other object except the
floor or ceiling is still in play. It is permissible to strike the
ball with both hands at once (open palms).
If a player touches the net at any time, the ball is thereby put out
of play. Should this player be on the serving side, his side loses the
ball and it goes to the opponents. Should this player be on the
receiving side, the serving side scores one point. Should the net be
touched simultaneously by opponents, the ball is thereby put out of
play and the serving side serves again.
No dribbling is allowed at any time through the game; _i.e._ no
keeping the ball in the air by one player hitting it quickly and
repeatedly.
In sending the ball across the net, players should aim for an
unprotected part of the opponents' court, or try in other ways to
place them at a disadvantage.
SCORE.--This is entirely a defensive game, the score being made on
opponents' fouls and failures. Aside from fouls, only the serving side
scores. A good serve unreturned scores one point for the serving side.
A point is similarly scored by the serving side at any time when the
opponents fail to return a ball which is in play. Failure of the
serving side to return a ball to the opponents' court merely puts them
out; that is, the serve passes to the opponents, but no score is made
on the failure. Should a player touching the net be on the receiving
side, the serving side scores one point. A ball sent under the net is
out of play and counts against the side which last struck it, their
opponents scoring one point. If the ball strikes any object outside
the court and bounds back, although it is still in play, it counts
against the side which struck it out, their opponents scoring one
point. A ball sent out of bounds by the receiving side in returning a
service scores one point for the serving side. One point is scored for
the opponents whenever a player catches the ball, or holds it for even
an instant. The game consists of twenty-one points.
WALL BALL DRILL
(See also _Hand Ball Drill_.)
_2 to 10 players._
_Out of doors; gymnasium._
_Hand ball._
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.
[Illustration diagram: CIRCLE ZIGZAG]
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.
[Illustration diagram: LINE ZIGZAG--I]
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._
[Illustration diagram: LINE ZIGZAG--II]
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.
[Illustration diagram: LINE ZIGZAG--III]
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.