4 Square Rules
One player is in each square and the other players wait in line.
The player in square D or 4 is the server. That player begins the play of the game.
A standard foursquare area is one large square, 10’ x 10’ divided into four smaller squares (5’ x 5’), and each box is labeled A, B, C, D or 1, 2, 3, 4. The box labeled A or 1 contains a smaller service box (1.5’ x 1.5’) located in the far outside corner of the square.
Play begins when the server drops the ball once into her/his square and then hits it into a different square (serves the ball). The server must keep both feet in the service box until the service is completed.
The ball can only bounce once in any square.
Each player needs to hit the ball with any part of their hand into an opposing player’s square after it has bounced only once in their square.
If the ball lands on a line or goes out of bounds before it bounces, the player who hit the ball needs to return to the waiting/cheering line for another try. If a player hits the ball and it bounces again in their square, the player also needs to return to the waiting line.
If a player catches or holds the ball, that player needs to return to the waiting line.
If the ball bounces more than one time before it is hit into another square, the player who lets the ball bounce needs to return to the waiting line for another try.
If the ball is returned before it is allowed to bounce, the player who returned the ball early needs to return to the waiting line.
Anytime a player moves out of the game into the waiting line, a square is left open. The person in front of the line advances to square D or 4, and the remaining players advance to close the gaps between A or 1 and D or 4.