Games for the Playground, Home, School and Gymnasium Part 77

[Ill.u.s.tration diagram: DRIVE BALL]

PLAYERS.--The players, of no stipulated number, are divided into two equal teams. Each team appoints a captain, who stands at the middle of the dividing line and is responsible for the discipline of his team; a goal guard, whose duty it is to keep the ball from the goal and who stands in the goal; and from six to twelve players, each a.s.signed a certain spot marked as his territory and from which he may not move more than two feet.

OBJECT OF GAME.--The object of the game is to throw the ball into the opponents' goal.

START.--The ball is put in play by being placed on the ground at the center of the dividing line between the two captains. At a signal from an umpire, each captain hits the ball with his fist. The ball is thereafter kept moving rapidly back and forth from one court to the other, hit always with the fist. After being caught or otherwise stopped, it should be bounced or thrown from one hand and hit with the fist.

RULES.--No player may move more than two feet from the base a.s.signed him. At no time may players do ma.s.s work. Whenever a goal is made, the ball is again started from the center by the two captains. The goal guard may not step out of the goal, even with one foot. The ball must always be hit with the closed fist.

FOULS.--It is a foul to kick the ball; to hold it; to throw it with both hands or in any way except by batting with the closed fist; it is a foul to cross the dividing line. Each foul scores one point for the opposing team.

SCORE.--Whenever a ball touches the ground inside of a goal, it scores two for the batting side. Fouls count for the opposing side, as above stated. The game is played in three rounds of fifteen minutes each, with a rest of five minutes between. The teams change courts for successive rounds. The team wins which has the highest score at the end of the third round.

EMPEROR BALL (See _Captain Ball_--IV)

END BALL (See _Appendix_)

FIST BALL

_6 to 30 or more players._

_Playground; gymnasium; parlor._

_Volley ball; basket ball; gas ball._

This game is very similar to Volley Ball, but differs from that game in the fact that the ball is. .h.i.t with the fist instead of the open hand; that the ball may bound on the ground; and that the general rules are simpler. For large numbers two b.a.l.l.s may be used, as described at the end.

GROUND.--The ground should be, if possible, one hundred feet long and sixty feet wide, with clearly defined boundaries. Across the center of the ground a rope or cord is stretched, head high, which divides the ground into two equal courts. If desired, each court may be divided into small squares, one for each player, to prevent ma.s.s play.

PLAYERS.--The players are divided into two equal teams, each of which scatters promiscuously over the court unless a.s.signed to squares as described above. The players in each team should be numbered consecutively to facilitate rotation in serving. One officer will be needed to act as umpire and scorer.

OBJECT OF GAME.--The object of the game is to send the ball back and forth across the stretched cord, striking it only with the fist. The game is defensive; that is, the scoring is done by one party when the opponents fail to return the ball or to keep it properly in play.

START.--The ball is put in play by a regular serve at the opening of the game, after each point scored, and after going out of play. The players take turns in serving for their team, being numbered before the game opens. The sides alternate in serving after a score.

The player who serves the ball should stand at a central point ten feet from the dividing line, and may serve the ball in two ways. He may bound it and bat it with the fist over into the opponents' court, or he may hold it above his head, let go of it, and as it falls serve it with his fist. The ball must go over the line to be in play. Should a server fail in this, the ball must be handed to the opposite side, which then has a trial. After a ball has otherwise gone out of play, it is served anew by the side responsible for the failure.

RULES AND POINTS OF PLAY.--The ball must cross into the opponents'

court above the cord to score or be properly in play.

A ball to score its highest (two points) must be returned after a serve without bounding, although any number of players may hit it or keep it in the air before sending it back over the line. A ball may bound once before being returned and score less (one point). It is out of play if it bounds twice without being hit between the bounds.

Several methods of play are permissible, but the rule is invariable that the ball must always be hit with the closed fist, and always from underneath, except for sending it across the line. It must reach the opponents' court from a blow and not from a bound. Either fist may be used in striking a ball, but never both at once. A player may "dribble" the ball in the air before batting it over the line to the opponents; that is, he may keep it in the air by hitting it from underneath with his closed fist ("nursing" it) until he is prepared to bat it with his fist. A ball hit with the forearm is considered properly in play except for a service. Several players on one side may play on the ball before sending it into the opponents' court. In doing this the ball may bounce once after every time it is. .h.i.t with the fist.

A ball is out of play (1) when it pa.s.ses under the line or touches the line; (2) when it touches the ground twice in succession without being hit between the bounds; (3) when it touches the ground outside the boundaries from a blow; (4) when it bounds out of boundaries. Whenever a ball is put out of play in these ways, it is sent back to the side responsible for the failure, and they must put it in play again.

Whenever a side scores a point, the ball must again be put into play with a regular serve, the sides taking turns in this, and each player on a side serving in turn.

SCORE.--The score is made by both sides and is for returning the ball.

If returned to the opponents without touching the ground, it counts two points for those returning it. A ball which touches the ground once before being hit back over the line scores one point. The game consists of twenty-five points.

After each game the two sides exchange courts.

FOR LARGE NUMBERS it is very desirable to have two or more b.a.l.l.s in play at once. They are served simultaneously from opposite sides of the ground, at the opening of the game. There should be one score keeper for each ball.

FOR THE PARLOR.--This game may be played in the parlor with a light gas ball measuring four or five inches in diameter, or with a child's gas balloon. The same rules apply as in other forms of the game.

FOOTBALL TAG

_5 to 30 or more players._

_Playground; gymnasium._

_Football._

Each of the players has three points at the beginning of the game. The players are scattered promiscuously over the ground or gymnasium. One player, who is It, has a football which he kicks lightly toward any other player, the idea being to tag some other by mere touch of the ball. Any one so touched or tagged by the ball loses one of the three points with which he started, and also becomes It, trying in turn to kick the ball so it will tag one of his fellows. There are no restrictions as to the moving about of players to evade the ball. The latter must not be touched with the hands, nor may it be kicked higher than the chests of the players. Any one infringing these rules loses one point for each offense, and remains It until he successfully tags some one according to rules. Any player who loses his three points is out of the game, and the player wins who remains longest in the field.

HAND BALL DRILL

(Preliminary Ball)

_1 to 100 players._

_Playground; gymnasium._

_Hand ball; bean bags._

When little children first begin to handle a ball the size of an ordinary hand ball, the acquirement of skill in tossing and catching is not altogether easy. Experience with such children has shown that some preliminary drill is very desirable as a preparation for the ball games. This drill may itself be done in the play spirit and made very interesting.

The various movements described may be general (by the cla.s.s in unison) in time to music or counting; or they may be done individually or with partners as indicated, irrespective of the time in which other individuals or partners are working.

In the latter method the play may be compet.i.tive, the pupils counting the number of times in which they bound or toss or catch without missing, the one reaching the highest number winning.

It will be noted that the drill seeks to cultivate equal skill of both hands. This is very desirable in many games and should be done aside from any theories as to the value of ambidexterity.