Games for the Playground, Home, School and Gymnasium Part 19

_Gymnasium; playground._

This game is an adaptation of the Potato Race. See also the related game _All Up Relay_.

[Ill.u.s.tration diagram: INDIAN CLUB RACE]

The players are lined up in two or more single files, the first players standing with toes on a starting line. A small circle is marked on the ground to the right of the first player in each file, and just within the starting line. A series of six small crosses is also marked on the ground in front of each line, at intervals of six feet apart, continuing in the same direction as the file, the first one being ten or fifteen feet from the starting line. An Indian club is placed on each cross. At a signal, the first runners rush forward, each picks up a club, returns, and places it (standing upright) within the small circle, beside his starting place, returns for another, and so on until all six clubs are within the circle. The first players, having finished, pa.s.s to the rear of their respective lines, which move up to the starting line.

At a signal the next row of players take each a club and return it to one of the crosses, returning for another, etc., until all are placed.

The next runners return the clubs to the circle, and so on until each player in the files has taken part. The file wins whose last player is first to get back to the starting line after placing the last club.

In case of a tie, the last three players from the tied files may be required to repeat the play.

This is one of the best games for training in self-control, and a teacher should strictly enforce the rules. Any player starting over the line before the signal, or standing with the foot beyond it before starting, should go back and start over again. Whenever a club falls down, or is not placed on the cross or in the circle, the player who placed it must go back and stand it upright or it counts as a foul.

I SAY, "STOOP!"

_5 to 60 or more players._

_Playground; gymnasium; schoolroom._

This game is a variation of the old familiar game "Simon says," but calls for much more activity than the latter game.

The players stand in a circle, and in front of them the leader or teacher. The teacher says quickly, "I say, stoop!" and immediately stoops himself and rises again, somewhat as in a courtesy. The players all imitate the action; but when the leader says, "I say, stand!" at the same time stooping himself, the players should remain standing.

Any who make a mistake and stoop when the leader says, "I say, stand!"

are out of the game.

This may be made a very amusing little game to fill in a few dull moments, and when used in the schoolroom, it serves to refresh tired minds very quickly. The leader should speak and move very rapidly and make unexpected variations in the order in which the two commands are given.

I SPY

(See _Hide and Seek_ for list of other games of this type.)

_3 to 30 or more players._

_Out of doors; indoors._

One player is chosen to be the spy, who blinds his eyes at a central goal while the other players scatter and hide. The spy counts one hundred, upon the completion of which he announces his readiness to take up the hunt by shouting aloud:--

"One, two, three!

Look out for me, For I am coming and I can see!"

Or he may shout only the word "Coming!" as he leaves the goal, or merely the last count, "One hundred!" The spy endeavors to detect as many hidden players as possible, and for each player must dash back to the goal, hit it three times, and call out, "One, two, three for ----," naming the player. Should he make a mistake in ident.i.ty, the player really seen and the one named by mistake are both free and may return to the goal without further danger. As soon, however, as a player knows he has been detected by the spy, he should race with the latter for the goal, and should he reach it first, should hit it three times and call out, "One, two, three for me!" Any player who can thus make the goal after the spy has started on his hunt may save himself in this way, whether he has been detected or not. Should all of the players save themselves in this way, the same spy must blind for the next game. This, however, seldom happens. The first one caught by the spy, that is, the first one for whom he touches the goal, becomes spy for the next game.

JACK BE NIMBLE

_10 to 60 players._

_Indoors; out of doors; schoolroom._

This game is suitable for very little children. Some small object about six or eight inches high is placed upright on the floor to represent a candlestick. This may be a small box, a book, bottle, or anything that will stand upright; or a cornucopia of paper may be made to answer the purpose. The players run in single file and jump with both feet at once over the candlestick, while all repeat the old rhyme:--

"Jack be nimble, Jack be quick, And Jack jump over the candlestick."

When there are more than ten players, it is advisable to have several candlesticks and several files running at once. In the schoolroom there should be a candlestick for each two rows of players, and these should encircle one row of seats as they run.

JACOB AND RACHEL

_10 to 30 or more players._

_Playground; gymnasium; parlor._

All of the players but two form a circle with clasped hands. The two odd players are placed in the center, one of them, "Jacob," being blindfolded. The object of the game is for Jacob to catch the other player, "Rachel," by the sound of her voice; but Rachel is supposed to be rather coy, and to do all in her power to avoid being caught by Jacob, even though she answer his questions.

Jacob begins the game by asking, "Rachel, where art thou?" Rachel replies, "Here am I, Jacob," and immediately tiptoes to some other point in the ring, trying to evade Jacob's outstretched hands as he gropes for her. Rachel may stoop to evade being caught, or may dash from one side of the ring to the other, or resort to any tactics except leaving the ring. Jacob may repeat his question whenever he wishes, and Rachel must answer each time.

When Rachel is caught, Jacob returns to the ring, Rachel is blindfolded and chooses a new Jacob, this time taking the aggressive part and seeking him with the question, "Where art thou, Jacob?" etc.

When the game is played by both boys and girls, the names are used properly, but where all boys or all girls are playing, the same names are used, but one of the party is personated by a player of the opposite s.e.x.

j.a.pANESE CRAB RACE

_2 to 60 or more players._

_Gymnasium; playground._

If there be but few players for this game, it may be played as a simple race, without the relay feature, as here described. For large numbers the relay idea will be advisable.

The players are lined up behind a starting line, in from two to five single files, each containing the same number. Opposite each file, at a distance of from twenty-five to forty feet, there should be drawn a circle about three feet in diameter. The game consists in a race run backward on feet and hands (or "all fours") to the circles. To start, the first player in each file gets in position, with his heels on the starting line and his back to the circle for which he is to run; and all start together at a signal, the player who first reaches his circle scoring one point for his team. Others follow in turn.

Until one has tried this, it would be difficult to realize how thoroughly the sense of direction and the power to guide one's movements are lost while running in such a position. It is one of the jolliest possible games for the gymnasium.

j.a.pANESE TAG