Elementary Newsletter

We will be starting Four Square in the coming weeks and adding painted Four Square courts to our school yard. Below are rules on how to play.

Four Square

Game Objective: To become the King Royalty (and have fun with your friends)

Court and Boundaries: Overview of different square names/numbers and how the rotation works (see diagram below)

GAME RULES:

• The Server must put one foot behind the service line

• Everyone must Hit UNDERHAND

• Ball must bounce ONCE and only ONCE in your square before your strike it (including on the serve)

• If someone makes a mistake you rotate up and that person goes to the back of the line (outside the #1 square)

• Server takes care of any arguments (unless it involves the server – then vote as a group, or play rock paper scissors)

• Inside lines are out, Outside lines are in

  • Why?  Because inside lines are shared, while outside lines are not shared so you know who’s square it bounced in

• You can move anywhere outside the square or in your section of the square

• If it bounces in your square you MUST strike it

• Server Must Ask “Are you Ready” before serving

• No Carrying, Stalling or Holding – you must Strike or Hit the ball

Just to Clarify… You are out if… 

• The ball in your square bounces 2 times or you hit it before it bounces

• You hit the ball out of bounds

• You hit the ball to an inside line

• You hit the ball Overhand

• You hit a ball that was another players ball (it bounced in their square and you hit it before it bounced a 2nd time)

• A ball bounces in your square an you are unable to get to it before it bounces a second time (if it bounces in your square, you have to hit it)

Variations

Around the World

1. Server must call “Around the World”

2. You can go to the right or the left, they must go around the square in a circular rotation

3. Anyone can say “reverse” BEFORE you strike and go the opposite direction, if you don’t say it before the strike the server can call you out (ie. If you call it while you are hitting the ball)

4. If Server calls “Around the World No Reverse” you can’t reverse it

War or Battle

1. Server must call “War” or “Battle” and declare their opponent

2. War – Server wars with one person (2 square) until someone misses

3. Battle – Starts just like war, but someone can call “BREAK” before they strike the ball and then switch to battling with a different player in another square.

Cherry Bomb

1. You are allowed to use overhand hits (except on the serve) Underhand hits are also still allowed.