School, Church, and Home Games

by George Orrin Draper

This game must be played in groups, not larger than 12. Holes are dug in the ground with the heels of the shoe. These holes are placed about 6 inches apart in a line. They should be about 3 inches in diameter and at least one inch deep. A line is drawn 6 feet from the first hole. The one who is "It" must stand behind this line and roll a soft ball so that it will drop into one of the holes. If he misses, he continues to roll until he succeeds. If he succeeds, the one, into whose hole the ball rolls, runs forward, picks it up and endeavors to hit any other player from the position in which he picked up the ball. The rest may run in their effort to get away. Should he miss, a goose egg—(a small stone)—is placed in his hole. Should he succeed in hitting a player, a goose egg is placed in the hole of that player. The one to whom is awarded the goose egg is the next to roll the ball from the dead line in the endeavor to get it into a hole. Any player getting three goose eggs has to run the gauntlet, which is the name given to running between two lines of players while they slap at his back. The faster he runs the lighter the slaps. No player is allowed to hit from the front.

Antony Over

A group is divided into two teams, A and B. The game is played around a small building, such as a small school house or wood shed, around which there is free running space. To team A is given a soft ball, such as a tennis or yarn ball. The ball is thrown over the building to team B. If it is caught by one of the players of team B, the whole team slips around the building, all going in the same direction, and trying to hit with the ball some one on team A before they can get around to the opposite side of the building. Team A tries to escape being hit by dodging and running around the building to the opposite side. If a player is hit, he goes to B side. The teams keep their new places and B throws the ball over to A. If the ball is not caught, it is thrown back and forth over the building until caught. The team which first hits all of its opponents wins, or a time limit may be agreed upon and the team having the greatest number of players at the end of that time, wins.

Snake and Bird

Two lines are drawn in the schoolyard about fifty feet apart. The group is divided into two teams. The one team links hands and takes a position between the two lines, and the leader calls, "Birds run". The other team, which is lined up behind one of the lines, endeavors to run across the space between the two lines without being caught by the snake, which endeavors to circle around as many of the second team as it can. A record is kept of the number of boys caught. Then the other team becomes snake and endeavors to coil around as many of the opponents, when they attempt to cross the space between the lines, as possible.

In and Out

The group grasp hands, forming a circle. Two individuals are selected, one to be "It", and the other to be chased. These two are placed on opposite sides of the circle. Then "It" endeavors to tag the other. The one chased may go in and out under the hands of those forming the circle, cut through or run around the circle and "It" has to follow the same course in the pursuit. When "It" succeeds in tagging his partner, two other players take their places.

Fox and Rabbit

The group link hands and form a circle. Two players are selected, one to be "It" and the other to be chased, as in the preceding game. In this game, however, it is not necessary that the fox follow the same course the rabbit pursues, in his endeavor to tag him, but both can go in and out of the circle at will. The players in the circle endeavor to assist the rabbit and impede the fox in his chase, as much as possible. When the fox has caught the rabbit, two other players are selected to take their places.

Chicken Market