Footsie with 4 tennis balls...

Footsie rules when playing with 4 tennis balls:

• Take 4 tennis ball and use permanent markers (blue/ red/ black/ yellow) to mark the rubber seem of each ball with a different colour (blue/ red/ black/ yellow).

• Place 2 unopened food tins about 10m apart (about 12 paces) on the space selected to play (4 coloured tennis balls are kicked backwards and forwards between these 2 target tins and the object is to strike a target tin before your opponent/s). Remove the label from a third tin and place midway between the 2 target tins (stick 4 rings of blue/ red/ black/ yellow insulation tape around the outside of this centre tin to remind players of the colour sequence that balls are kicked). The centre tin (called the sequence tin) also makes it more challenging for players to strike target tins with their first kick (first kicks are taken from beside the target tin not being targeted and tennis balls should be placed no more than one foot length away from the tin). The game can be played on any indoor or outdoor space suitable for tennis balls rolling across the surface, including the option of playing on one side of a tennis court.

• Toss a coin to divide the coloured balls between two sides (the toss winners receive blue and black balls who play against the side with red and yellow balls) and the balls are always played in the sequence blue/ red/ black/ yellow. The game can either be played by 2 players playing singles (with one person playing blue and black balls and one player playing red and yellow balls) or 4 players playing doubles (where each side shares its two balls between 2 people) or the 4 players can each play as an individual (rather than part of a doubles side). In doubles players decide amongst themselves who plays what ball and that selection is fixed for the game.

• The object of the game is for players to kick the coloured tennis balls backwards and forwards between the two target tins. The game always starts with the blue ball playing first followed by the other balls in sequence (blue/ red/ black/ yellow). Each round is won by the first ball to strike the target tin. At the start of each round the balls are placed and played from either side of the tin just targeted ready to target the other tin. The play sequence (blue/ red/ black/ yellow) continues so the ball having the first shot at the next tin depends on the colour that won the last tin. The first time balls are kicked each round, each ball can be placed either side of the tin but no further away than the length of the players foot.

• Play continues backwards and forwards between the two target tins until one side has won 7 tin strikes (or in the winner is declared as the team that has won most tin strikes after a fixed period of play).

• Tin strikes only count if balls are hit from the space between the two target tins (you cannot score from behind the tin but must first kick back into the play area between the two tins).

• Balls can only be hit by the front of a players foot moving forward from a vertical position (the action is more like a forward scoop rather than a swinging kick). Each turn you can only have one hit of your ball and it is a foul if your foot touches any other ball (in which case your ball must be returned to beside the distant tin).

• As a bit of fun, players are invited to slap their thighs if they strike the sequence tin (the tin between to the two target tins).

• At the beginning of each round, first kicks cannot be directed at the balls of other players waiting to take their first kicks (thereafter you can strike balls of other players).

• The game is designed to be played with flat shoes. The game is suitable for a wide range of abilities and ages including seniors.

• Game organisers also have the option of inviting participants to arrive with a food tin for donation to a local food bank (organisers can store collected tins until they have sufficient to warrant a food bank drop off).