Games for the Playground, Home, School and Gymnasium - Jessie Hubbell Bancroft

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SIDES.—For many games the players are divided into two opposing groups or teams. When there is no special leader or captain for each group, some of the above methods of counting-out or choosing are used for assigning players to one side or the other. In most games, however, where there are opposing groups, a captain or leader is first selected. This part sometimes goes to the person who first shouts for it, but it is more usual for the players to choose captains, as special qualities are generally needed in persons in that position, and even young children are glad to place themselves under strong leadership. Captains or leaders, however, may be chosen by any of the previously mentioned methods, or they may be selected by a teacher or leader.

      Two captains or leaders having been chosen, each chooses his own players, the choice being made alternately one at a time, the first captain selected generally having first choice. A good captain will select his players for the playing qualities needed in the particular game to be played. These qualities will vary in different games, and different players may be chosen for excellence in one particular direction, such as swift running, agile dodging, boldness in giving dares and taking risks; in ball games, skill in catching or throwing, or other forms of play; and in all games, the ability to "play fair," and to coöperate generously and with good temper. A player may be unskillful, and yet very valuable as a general helper if he possesses the qualities for coöperation. The unpopular player is nearly always a selfish person, one who disregards rules or tries to win unfairly. Aside from the general contempt engendered by such qualities, a player having them is undesirable because he gets his side into disputes or runs a greater risk of increasing the opponent's score with fouls.

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      plate: Children in gymnasium doing a relay race ALL-UP RELAY RACE

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      10 to 60 or more players.

      Playground; gymnasium; schoolroom.

      The players are divided into two or more groups of like numbers which compete against each other. The different groups line up in single file behind a starting line drawn on the ground. Directly in front of each team, at the opposite end of the running space (which should be from twenty to fifty feet long), are drawn two circles, each three feet in diameter, and placed side by side, with rims touching. In one of the circles of each pair three Indian clubs are placed.

      On a signal, number one of each file runs forward and with one hand only, changes the clubs from one circle to the other. Each club must be made to stand, and none must touch the outline of the circle. As soon as each player finishes this, he runs back to his file, touches the next player on the hand, and passes off, back of the line. The second player should be waiting for this "touch-off" with toe on the starting line and hand outstretched.

      This second player, on receiving the touch-off, runs forward to the circles and changes the clubs from the second ring back to the first, observing the same rules of procedure. Each player, in turn does this, the file winning whose last player is first to dash over the starting line on his return.

      This is a very popular game for athletic contests, especially for younger girls. When used in this way, an especially careful observation should be kept for fouls by official judges. One foul is scored against a team for (a) each time a runner starts over the line without the "touch-off"; (b) each time both hands are in play at once in changing the clubs; (c) each club that is not replaced after falling; (d) each club that is left standing anywhere but within the circle for which it was intended. When played thus, according to strict athletic rules, the teams win in the order of finishing plus the smallest score on fouls. Thus, if team A finishes first with six fouls, team B finishes second with four fouls, and team C finishes third with no fouls, team C wins, being given first place, team B second place, and team A third place.

Teams Order of Finishing Number of Fouls Order of Winning
A 1 6 3
B 2 4 2
C 3 0 1

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      10 to 30 or more players.

      Parlor; gymnasium; playground.

      One player is blindfolded and stands in the center of a circle with a wand, stick, or cane in his hand. The other players dance around him in circle until he taps three times on the floor with his cane, when they must stand still. The blind man thereupon points his cane at some player, who must take the opposite end of the cane in his hand. The blind man then commands him to make a noise like some animal, such as a cat, dog, cow, sheep, lion, donkey, duck, parrot. From this the blind man tries to guess the name of the player. If the guess be correct, they change places. If wrong, the game is repeated with the same blind man.

      The players should try to disguise their natural tones as much as possible when imitating the animals, and much sport may be had through the imitation. Players may also disguise their height, to deceive the blind man, by bending their knees to seem shorter or rising on toes to seem taller.

      Where there are thirty or more players, two blind men should be placed in the center.

      There is much sport in this game for either children or adults or both together. The author has known it to be the occasion for great merriment under all three circumstances.

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      10 to 30 or more players.

      Playground; gymnasium.

      Two pens are marked off in distant corners of the playground. One player, called the chaser, stands at one side of one of these pens. The other players stand within the pen that is nearest the chaser. All of the players in the pen are named for different animals, there being several players of each kind. Thus there may be a considerable number each of bears, deer, foxes, etc. The chaser calls the name of any animal he chooses as a signal for the players to run. For instance, he may call "Bears!" whereupon all of the players who represent bears must run across to the other pen, the chaser trying to catch them.

      Any player caught before reaching the opposite pen changes places with the chaser.

      The particular point of difference between this and some other similar chasing games is that the chaser may not know just which of the players in the pen will start

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