Footsie with 4 tin lids...

Footsie rules when playing with 4 tin lids:

• Take 4 tin lids (85mm diameter works best used to seal glass jars) and use permanent markers (blue/ red/ black/ yellow) to mark the inside if each tin lid with a coloured circle (blue/ red/ black/ yellow).

• Place 2 unopened food tins about 5m apart (about 6 paces) on the space selected to play (4 coloured tin lids 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 coloured lids 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 tin lids 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 tin lids gliding across the surface.

• Toss a coin to divide the coloured lids between two sides (the toss winners receive blue and black lids who play against the side with red and yellow lids) and the lids 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 lids and one player playing red and yellow lids) or 4 players playing doubles (where each side shares its two lids 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 colour and that selection is fixed for the game.

• The object of the game is for players to kick the coloured tin lids backwards and forwards between the two target tins. The game always starts with the blue lid playing first followed by the other lids in sequence (blue/ red/ black/ yellow). Each round is won by the first lid to strike the target tin. At the start of each round the lids 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 lid having the first shot at the next tin depends on the colour that won the last tin. The first time lids are kicked each round, each lid 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 lids 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).

• Lids can only be hit by the front of a players foot. Each turn you can only have one hit of your lid and it is a foul if your foot touches any other lid (in which case your lid 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 lids of other players waiting to take their first kicks (thereafter you can strike lids of other players).

• For a bit of fun, 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).