School, Church, and Home Games

Potato Race

Two peach baskets and two potatoes, stones or blocks of wood for each contestant are needed for each team. One basket is placed before each team on the base line and one directly opposite on the distance line. The potatoes are placed in the basket on the base line. The first player takes a position on the right hand side of the basket behind the base line, with a potato in his hand. At the signal to start, he runs around the basket on the distance line, dropping his potato therein. He returns, running around the basket on the base line, picks up the second potato, which he carries and drops into the far basket, as he circles it. He then returns and tags off the next player on the team, who, after being tagged, picks up the first potato and carries it to the far basket, returning for his second. Each player in turn carries two potatoes, one at a time. Both baskets must be circled in carrying the potatoes forward. The player is not allowed to touch the basket in running around it. If his potato fails to go into the basket, he must pick it up and put it in before he goes for his second potato or touches off the next runner. The last player on each team ends the race by crossing the base line after having properly deposited his two potatoes in the far basket.

Apple Race*

Apple Race No. 2*

A basket full of apples and an empty basket are placed upon the distance line opposite each team. At the signal to go the first man on the team runs forward, empties the apples from the full basket into the empty basket. Should he spill any, he must pick them up. All of the apples must be in the basket before he leaves them. He leaves the empty and full baskets on the distance line and returns, tags off the next member on his team and takes his place at the rear of the line. When all members of the team have done this and the last member crosses the base line, the race ends.

Apple Race No. 3*

When the last apple has been passed back, the man in front of the column passes back the empty basket. When the empty basket reaches the last man in the column, he picks up the full basket, places the empty one in its place and runs to the front of the column with the full basket, places it in front of him on the ground and starts passing the apples back, one at a time, as before. The race continues until the last man on the team runs forward and places his full basket of apples on the distance line in front of his team.

Judges should count the apples to see that there are as many in the basket as the team started with, before rendering a decision as to the winner of the race.

Apple Race No. 4*

A peach basket is placed opposite each team and ten feet beyond the distance line. The first member of each team is handed a good sized apple. At the signal to go he runs forward to the distance line, and standing behind the same, endeavors to toss the apple into the basket. Failing to do this, he may run forward and recover the apple, but must return to the distance line in his endeavor to toss the apple into the basket. When he has succeeded in tossing the apple into the basket, he picks the apple out of the basket and runs back, handing it to the next member on the team, who does the same as he did. The race continues until the last member of the team has properly tossed the apple into the basket, recovered it and has run across the base line.

* Stones may be used in place of apples in these races.

Apple Toss

The race continues in this way until it becomes the turn of the first player to toss the apples forward. After having tossed the four apples, he picks up his empty basket and runs with it across the distance line, ending the race.

No player can have more than one apple in his hand at a time and the player tossing the apples forward must stand behind the base line and cannot pick up the basket to run forward with it until he has gotten rid of the fourth apple.

Roll Over Relay

At the signal to go, the first player on each team runs towards the distance line. Somewhere between the base line and the distance line, he must take a forward roll upon the ground. He then runs across the distance line and back, tagging off the next player, who repeats his performance.

Spin Around Relay

This race can be modified by having two or even three individuals distributed at equal distances between the base and the distance line to spin around, instead of one.

Chair Relay

A chair is placed on the distance line opposite each team, with the back of the chair towards the team. Boxes may be used instead of chairs in this race. At the signal to go the first player on each team runs forward, sits in the chair, lifting both feet clear of the ground, then running around the chair, returns and tags off the next player, who does the same.

Where folding chairs are available, the chair can be folded and left upon the ground on the distance line. Then each contestant is required to open the chair, sit upon it, then fold it, lay it upon the ground and return to tag off the next player.

Chair Passing Race

Chair Sitting Race

A box can be used for this event instead of a chair. If a chair is used, it is well to have a very sturdy one. This race starts with the players in the same position as in the preceding race, the player on the right hand end of the line sitting upon the chair. At the signal to go, he picks up the chair, passing it in front of him to the neighbor on his left, who, after sitting upon the chair and lifting both feet from the ground, passes it in front of him to the next player to the left and so the chair is passed towards the left hand end of the line, each player in turn sitting upon it and then passing it in front of him to the next player on the left. The race ends when the man on the far left end of the line sits upon the chair with his feet off the ground.

Squash Race

Poison Club

Small logs of stove length, flat on one end, are lined up between the base and distance lines in front of each team. There should be at least five of these for each team and they should not be placed more than three feet apart, set on their flat end in a straight line.

At the signal to go the first member of each team hops forward across the distance line, hopping to the right of the first club, to the left of the second, to the right of the third and so on in and out until he has cleared all the clubs. He then completes the distance, hopping to the distance line. From there he may run back and tag off the next member on his team. Should he knock over any of the clubs, he must stop and set it up without touching more than one foot to the ground, before he can proceed to the next club. The race ends when the last individual runs across the base line.

Club Change

Two small circles are drawn on the base line opposite each team. Three short logs similar to those in the preceding game are balanced on end in the right hand circle opposite each team. At the signal to go the first player runs forward, picks up the logs, one at a time, and changes them to the empty circle. When he has changed all three logs, he can then return and tag off the next player on his team. The second player runs forward and proceeds to change the three logs back to their original circle. So each player changes the three logs from the full to the empty circle. When the last player, after having accomplished this, crosses the base line, the race ends.

A small paper bag well inflated with air, and a palm leaf fan are given to the first player on each team. The bag is placed on the base line in front of the team. At the signal to go, the first player proceeds to blow the bag forward by means of the fan, until it has crossed the distance line. He then picks up the bag, returns, places it on the base line in front of the next player to whom he hands the fan. The second player repeats the performance. The race ends when the last player blows the bag across the distance line.

Quadruped Race

The first two players on each team stand back to back behind the base line, with the first player facing the distance line. The two lock arms behind them. At the signal to go the first player bends forward, lifting the second player so that his feet are clear of the ground and carries him forward on his back in this position. When he has crossed the distance line, he lowers the player upon his back, without changing their relative position and that player, upon getting his feet upon the ground, bends forward, lifting the first player upon his back, and runs back with him in this position across the base line.

When the first couple has crossed the base line, the second couple on each team proceeds with the race, copying the first.

Centipede Race

The players of each team lock their arms around the waist of the player next in front of them and race in this compact position across the distance line, turning around without breaking their formation, and end the race when the last man on the team crosses the base line.

Blind Chariot Race

Hoop Race

A wooden hoop is placed on the distance line opposite each team. At the signal to go the first player rushes forward and picks up the hoop and passes it down over his head, body, and legs, steps out of it, while it is lying on the ground. He then steps back into it, and lifts it up, passing it over his entire body, legs, trunk and head. When he has lifted it over his head, he places it on the distance line and runs back to tag off the next player, who repeats the performance of the first as do all the others in turn.

Rainy Day Race

The players on the team are grouped in pairs. Each team is given an umbrella, two raincoats, one pair of gloves and one pair of rubbers. This equipment is placed in a pile upon the ground in front of each team. At the signal to go the first couple on each team go to the pile of clothes; one puts on one glove, one the other; they do the same with the rubbers; each puts on a raincoat and opening the umbrella link arms and run to the distance line and back removing the rubbers, gloves, coat and closing the umbrella. They then tag off the next couple who repeat the performance of the first. This continues until the last couple crosses the base line ending the race.

INDEX

GAMES FOR SCHOOLS

Schoolroom Games

For Primary Pupils