Games for the Playground, Home, School and Gymnasium Part 63

The row wins which has the highest score when each of its players has thrown.

CATCH BASKET

_10 to 60 players._

_Schoolroom._

_Bean bags; gas ball._

The cla.s.s stands in a circle around the room, each half const.i.tuting a team with a leader at one end. On a desk in the center of the room is placed a waste-paper basket. The game consists in throwing a bean bag or a ball (large, light gas ball preferable) into the basket, the teams alternating their turns. There is no interference, but an umpire stands in the center who returns the ball to the next player after each throw. The leaders throw first and each player in turn thereafter. Each time the ball lodges in the basket it scores one for the team throwing. A bean bag lodged on the edge of the basket scores as a goal. A player may throw but once at each turn. The game may be limited by time, the team winning which has the highest score at the end of ten or fifteen minutes; or it may end when each player has had a turn. The former method leads to quicker and more expert play, which should be encouraged.

CRISS-CROSS GOAL

_10 to 60 players._

_Schoolroom._

The cla.s.s is divided into two teams. Each team is divided into two lines, which stand facing each other, as shown in the diagram.

A waste basket is placed on the teacher's desk or hung higher if possible in the front of the room. Each team has one bean bag.

Player No. 1 holds the bean bag in each team.

At a signal each No. 1 tosses his bag to No. 2, No. 2 to No. 3, and so it continues to pa.s.s in a zigzag line till it reaches No. 14. No. 14, on receiving the bag, tries to throw it into the basket. If he misses, he runs forward, picks up the bag, runs back to his place, and tries again; he continues trying until he or his opponent gets a bag in, which event finishes the inning.

The team in which No. 14 first receives the bag, scores three points; and the team making the goal first scores one; so one team may score four, or one three, and the other one, point. The team wins which has the highest score at the end of the playing time.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Diagram: CRISS-CROSS GOAL]

If the distance from the basket seems too long, No. 14 may come forward a given distance to a chalk line and throw from that.

In order to pa.s.s around the privilege of throwing goal, the goal thrower in one game pa.s.ses down to the other end of the line, the line moves up one place, and the next player in order throws for the goal in the next game. When every one in one line has thrown for goal, the privilege pa.s.ses to the other line.

Sometimes it is necessary to have umpires to watch for fouls, such as skipping a player in pa.s.sing the bag.

This game was originated by Dr. J. Anna Norris and received honorable mention in a compet.i.tion for schoolroom games conducted by the Girls' Branch of the Public Schools Athletic League of New York City in 1906. It is here published by kind permission of the author, and of the Girls' Branch, and of Messrs. A. G. Spalding & Brothers, publishers of the handbook in which the game first appeared.

DESK RELAY

_20 to 60 players._

_Schoolroom._

_Bean bags._

The pupils sit on their desks facing the rear of the room and with the toes caught under the seats. The rear player on each line holds a bean bag. At a signal, the bag is pa.s.sed over the head backward to the next player, who in turn pa.s.ses it, and so on until it reaches the player at the front, who jumps down from the desk and hops on one foot to the rear of the room. As soon as this player has reached the rear seat, all the players in the line stand and move forward one desk. The rear player takes the desk thus vacated and starts the bean bag again.

The line wins whose bean bag first reaches the front of the room after the pupils have all changed seats until original places are resumed.

The teacher should indicate which foot is to be used in hopping, so that in successive playing of the game, each pupil will hop alternately on the right and left foot.

This game was originated by Mr. James J. Jardine of New York City, and received honorable mention in a compet.i.tion for schoolroom games conducted by the Girls' Branch of the Public Schools Athletic League of New York City in 1906. It is here published by kind permission of the author, and of the Girls'

Branch, and of Messrs. A. G. Spalding & Brothers, publishers of the handbook in which the game first appeared.

FETCH AND CARRY

_10 to 60 players._

_Schoolroom; playground._

_Bean bags._

Each pupil is provided with a bean bag. A circle about fifteen inches in diameter is drawn with chalk on the floor directly in front of each aisle and close up to the front blackboard. At a signal from the teacher the first pupil in each row of seats runs forward, places his bean bag in the circle in front of his aisle, and runs back to his seat. As soon as he is in his seat, the pupil back of him runs forward, places his bean bag in the circle, and returns to his seat.

This is continued until every pupil in the row has deposited his bean bag, the signal for each player to start being the seating of the player in front. The row which gets all of its bags first into the circle wins, and scores one.

[Ill.u.s.tration Diagram: FETCH AND CARRY RELAY]

The play is then reversed. The last player in each row runs forward, picks up a bean bag, and returns to his seat. As he sits, he touches the player in front on the shoulder, who then starts forward, but must wait for this signal. The row which first gets back to its seats, each player with a bean bag, wins and scores one.

As in all schoolroom games in which the players run through the aisles, those who are seated must be very careful to keep their feet under their desks, and never to start before the proper signal is given for their turn.

HAND OVER HEAD BEAN BAG

_10 to 60 players._

_Schoolroom._

This is a relay pa.s.sing race, the different rows of pupils competing with each other in pa.s.sing bean bags backward over the head.

The players should all be seated, there being the same number in each row of seats. On each front desk a bean bag should be laid. At a signal the first player in each row lifts the bean bag over his head and drops it (it should not be thrown) toward the desk behind him, immediately clasping his hands on his own desk. The next player catches or picks up the bean bag from his desk and pa.s.ses it backward in the same manner. It is thus pa.s.sed quickly to the rear of the line.

When the last pupil receives it, he runs forward at once to the front of the line. As soon as he reaches the front desk, the entire row of players move backward one seat, and the player who ran forward takes the front seat, immediately pa.s.sing the bag backward to the player next behind him.

The play thus continues until the original occupant of the front seat has again returned to it. Immediately that he is seated, he should hold the bean bag up with outstretched arm, as a signal that his row has finished. The row wins whose leader first does this.