Games for the Playground, Home, School and Gymnasium

by Jessie H. Bancroft

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 hit 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 balls 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 mass play.

PLAYERS.—The players are divided into two equal teams, each of which scatters promiscuously over the court unless assigned 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.