Games for the Playground, Home, School and Gymnasium Part 72

_Playground; gymnasium._

_Hand ball; basket ball._

All of the players but one form a circle, with considerable s.p.a.ce between each two. The odd player stands in the center, holding the ball. He tosses it to any player in the circle, and immediately runs away outside the circle. The player to whom the ball is thrown must catch it, place it on the ground in the center of the circle, and at once chase the one who threw it. The one who threw the ball tries to get back to the center of the circle and touch the ball before he can be tagged. Should he succeed in this, he joins the circle, and the other player throws the ball. If the first center player is tagged before returning to the ball, he throws again, and the one who chased him returns to the circle.

This game is very popular with children.

CENTER CATCH BALL

_10 to 30 or more players._

_Playground; gymnasium._

_Hand ball; basket ball; bean bag._

I. Simple form for little children.

All of the players but one stand in a circle, with two or three feet distance between players. The odd player stands in the center of the circle and tries to catch the ball, which is tossed rapidly from one circle player to another. Should he be successful, the one who last touched the ball changes places with him.

II. Advanced form for skillful players.

This differs from the preceding in the greater distance between players and also in the much greater range and resourcefulness of play.

The players stand in a circle with from six to eight feet between each two, and with one player in the center. The circle players throw a ball from one to another, the object of the game being for the center player to catch the ball or knock it to the floor. The circle players may throw the ball over the heads of one another or across the circle, or make sudden feints of throwing it in one direction, turn suddenly and throw it in another, etc., to deceive the center player.

Any player in the circle who last touched the ball, changes places with the center player whenever the latter touches or catches the ball.

CENTER CLUB BOWLS

(See also _Line Club Bowls (Single)_; _Line Club Bowls (Double)_; _Circle Club Bowls_.)

_10 to 30 or more players._

_Playground; gymnasium._

_Hand ball; bean bag._

The players join in a large circle and number by twos or consecutively. The odd numbers form one team and the even numbers (alternate players) another. Three Indian clubs are placed at the points of a small triangle, measuring about twelve inches in the center of the circle. Each player, in turn, bowls at the clubs with a hand ball or bean bag. Each club bowled over scores one for the bowler's team. The team wins which has the highest score when each player has bowled twice, or more times, as may be agreed on at the opening of the game. Each player must secure his ball or bag after bowling and replace the overturned clubs. One ball or bag may be used and pa.s.sed around the circle, but the play is quicker if each player has his own.

[Ill.u.s.tration diagram: CENTER CLUB BOWLS]

CIRCLE BALL

_10 to 60 or more players._

_Playground; gymnasium; schoolroom._

_Hand ball; basket ball; bean bag._

The players stand in a circle with from three to five feet between each two. The game consists of merely tossing the ball rapidly from one player to another, but not in regular order. The sport comes from the unexpectedness with which the ball may be thrown across the ring, or reverse the direction in which it is circling the ring, or in any other way taking the players unaware. A leader or teacher should see that this element of sport is put into the game, or else it may be very dull and useless.

Any player failing to catch the ball should sit down, the player winning who remains standing the longest.

When all are seated, the same game may be played in a sitting position.

For a more advanced form of this game, see Round Ball.

For very little children, the s.p.a.ces between players should be less and the tossing done in regular order from one player to the next, working up gradually to the more varied modes of play suggested above. Several b.a.l.l.s or bags may be used, following each other in quick succession. The number of these may be increased until there is but one (or two) b.a.l.l.s or bean bags less than the number of players.

CIRCLE CLUB BOWLS

(See also _Line Club Bowls (Single)_; _Line Club Bowls (Double)_; _Center Club Bowls_.)

_6 to 60 or more players._

_Playground; gymnasium._

_Basket ball; football; Indian clubs._

The players divide into two parties and take their places in one large circle, the players of one party alternating with those of the other.

There should be five or six feet of s.p.a.ce between each two players.

Each player is provided with an Indian club.

[Ill.u.s.tration diagram: CIRCLE CLUB BOWLS]

The players of one party distinguish themselves and their clubs in some way, as by tying a handkerchief around the arm and club.

The players, having taken their places in the circle, place each his own club on the floor behind him at a distance of two or three feet.

The object of the game is to knock over the opponents' clubs by rolling the ball on the floor, and naturally to protect one's own clubs. Any player may start the game.

While the main form of play for the ball is to roll it, it is permissible to bound the ball from one player to another, and also permissible to knock over a club with a ball that bounds instead of rolling. It is not permissible to toss a ball from one player to another, or to dislodge a club by a toss unless the ball should hit the floor and bound before it hits the club.

Whenever a club is dislodged, the owner of the club must set it up again at once; if he also has the ball, he must set up the club before putting the ball again into play.

A point is scored by one party whenever one of the opponents' clubs is dislodged, whether it be knocked over by a ball or by its owner. The side wins which first makes a score of forty-nine points.

The game may also be played with two b.a.l.l.s at once, and this is always desirable for as many as twenty players.