Games for the Playground, Home, School and Gymnasium Part 15

FOX TRAIL (SINGLE RIM)

(Fox and Geese; Half Bushel)

(See also _Fox Trail_ (_Double Rim_).)

_3 to 20 players._

_Out of doors; snow; seash.o.r.e; gymnasium._

This is one of the few distinctive snow games, but may be played anywhere that a large diagram may be outlined on the ground. It is very popular with children, and makes an admirable game for older players as well. See the more complicated form, with double-rim diagram, preceding this.

A large circle from fifteen to thirty feet in diameter should be marked on the ground and crossed with intersecting lines like the spokes of a wheel, there being about five such lines (ten spokes). The more players there are, the larger should be the circle and the greater the number of spokes; but there is no fixed relation between the number of spokes and players. If played in the snow, this diagram may be trampled down with the feet; if on the fresh earth or sand, it may be drawn with the heel or a stick; or if in a gymnasium or on a pavement, marked with chalk.

One player is chosen to be It or Hunter. He stands in the center, that is, on the hub of the wheel. The other players scatter around the rim and are foxes. They are not stationed at any one point as in the Double Rim game, but run or stand anywhere around the rim when not das.h.i.+ng across the spokes. The object of the game is for the foxes to cross the wheel to some opposite point without being tagged by the hunter. They may only run, however, on the prescribed trails,--that is, on the lines of the diagram. In this form of the game (the Single Rim diagram) they may run only straight across, and are not at liberty to turn an angle at the hub and seek refuge over any other trail than the direct continuation of the one on which they started. The hunter changes places with any one whom he tags.

FRENCH TAG

_4 to 60 or more players._

_Indoors; out of doors._

In this form of tag certain boundaries are agreed upon beyond which players may not run, though they may climb or jump over any obstacles within the boundaries.

Any player who goes outside of the bounds is at once declared to be It by the pursuer. Otherwise the game is like ordinary tag, any player who is tagged by the chaser becoming It. (See _Tag._)

FROG IN THE MIDDLE

_10 to 30 or more players._

_Parlor; gymnasium; playground._

One player is chosen for the frog, and sits in the center on the floor with his feet crossed in tailor fas.h.i.+on. Where there are more than twenty players, it is well to have at least two such frogs. The other players stand in a circle around the frog, repeating, "Frog in the sea, can't catch me!" They dance forward toward the frog and back, tantalizing him and taking risks in going near him, the object of the game being for the frog to tag any one of them, whereupon he changes places with such player. The frog may not at any time leave his sitting position until released by tagging another player.

GARDEN SCAMP

_10 to 30 or more players._

_Playground; gymnasium; schoolroom; parlor._

This game is a great favorite with children, and may be made an opportunity for much sport with youths and older players.

All but two of the players form a ring by clasping hands, the inclosure serving as the garden. Within this one of the odd players who is a.s.signed to be the scamp takes his place. The other odd player, the gardener, moves around on the outside of the circle.

The gardener calls to the scamp inside, "Who let you in my garden?"

and the scamp answers, "No one!" whereupon he starts to run away, the gardener chasing him. The gardener must take the same path followed by the scamp in and out under the arms of the players, who must lift their hands to let them pa.s.s. The gardener must also go through all of the movements performed by the scamp, who may jump "leapfrog" over any player in the circle, turn somersaults, crawl between the legs of a circle player, double unexpectedly on his path, circle around one of the players, or resort to any other device for making the chase difficult. If the scamp be caught, he becomes gardener, and the gardener joins the circle. The former scamp, now gardener, chooses a new scamp to go into the circle.

Should the gardener fail to follow in the exact path of the scamp, or to perform any of the feats or antics of the scamp, the gardener must at once join the ring, and the scamp then has the privilege of choosing a new gardener.

FOR THE SCHOOLROOM.--This game may be played by the entire cla.s.s forming a circle around the room as close to the seats as possible to leave room for the chase outside the circle. Where seats can be turned up, this should be done, to give the runners opportunity to cross and recross the center s.p.a.ce easily. The scamp, however, may vault over seats in his efforts to escape or delay the gardener.

GOING TO JERUSALEM

_10 to 60 or more players._

_Parlor; gymnasium; schoolroom._

A row of chairs is placed in the center of the room, so that they face alternately in opposite directions, one chair to one side, the next to the opposite side, etc. There should be one chair less than the number of players. The game is most interesting when played with musical accompaniment.

The game starts with all the players seated in the row of chairs except one. This odd one is the leader, and his first object is to recruit the players for his trip to "Jerusalem." He carries a cane and walks around the row repeating, "I'm going to Jerusalem! I'm going to Jerusalem!" in singsong. Every few moments he stops at his discretion and knocks with his cane on the floor behind the chair of some player.

Immediately the player thus summoned rises from his chair and follows the leader, sometimes having a lively scramble to encircle the row of chairs and catch up with him. The next player knocked for follows this one, and so on, until all are moving around in single file. The leader may reverse his direction at pleasure. This general hurry and confusion for the start may, with a resourceful leader, add much to the sport of the game.

When the players are all recruited, they continue to march around the row of chairs, the main object of the game being the scramble for seats when the music stops, or upon some other signal to sit if there be no music.

The musician will add to the interest of the game by varying the time of the march from slow and stately time to "double quick." At any moment, after all the players are marching, the music may stop suddenly. Whenever this happens, the players all scramble for seats.

There will be one odd player left without a seat. This player is thenceforth out of the game and retires to one end of the room, taking with him one of the chairs. This continues until there are only two players encircling one chair, and the one who secures it wins.

Where two players reach a chair at nearly the same time, the chair belongs to the one who first reached it, or who is sitting more fully on it. Sitting on the arm of a chair does not count, nor touching it with the hands or knees.

FOR THE GYMNASIUM.--When played in a gymnasium, a row of gymnasium stools may be used instead of chairs, and the gathering up of the players omitted, the game starting with the stools empty.

FOR THE SCHOOLROOM.--When played in the schoolroom, the game starts with all of the players ready to march, the first part of the game, in which they are recruited, being omitted. The cla.s.s should march in serpentine form up one aisle and down the next, etc., instead of encircling a row of seats. There should be for a large cla.s.s from one to six less seats than the number of players. For instance, one seat should be counted out in each row or each alternate row. The seat that is not in play may be designated by turning it up, if of that variety, and by placing a book on the desk belonging to it.

Wherever played, the game may be carried on without music, simply by the leader or teacher beating time and stopping when players are to sit; or he may give a signal or a command to "Sit!"

GOOD MORNING

_10 to 60 or more players._

_Schoolroom; parlor._

This is a very pretty sense-training game,--cultivating discrimination through the sense of hearing. Little children are very fond of it, and it is most interesting and surprising to note the development of perceptive power through the playing of the game.

One player blinds his eyes. He may do this by going to a corner of the room and facing the wall, with his hand over his eyes; or a very pretty method is to have him go to the teacher or leader, with his face hidden in her lap, and her hands on either side of his head, like the blinders of a horse.