Four square
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 The layout of a four square court. |
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| Players | 4 minimum |
|---|---|
| Setup time | < 5 minutes |
| Skills required | Manual dexterity Strategy Social skills |
Four square is a ball game played among four individuals on a square court divided into quadrants. With such little required equipment, almost no setup, and short rounds of play that can be ended at any time, it is a popular playground game.
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[edit] Gameplay
[edit] Objective
Four square is played with a rubber ball on a court made of four adjacent squares. Each square contains a single player and has a number or rank. The objective is to eliminate other players of higher ranks and advance oneself to the highest ranking square and remain there for as long as possible.[1]
[edit] Boundaries
Four square is played on a wood, concrete, or asphalt court. The court is divided into four smaller squares of equal size. Each of the four squares has a rank and is inhabited by one player. The ranks are arranged so that the highest ranking square is positioned diagonally across the court from the lowest ranking square.
The lines on the court are boundaries. The interior lines separating player squares are out of bounds. The ball may not touch any portion of an inside line or the player who hit the ball is in error. The lines marking the outermost edges of the court are considered in-bounds. If a ball lands on or touches the outside lines then play continues as normal.[2]
[edit] Court Dimensions
There is no regulation court size, and the preferred size varies by age and skill level. A common dimension is 16' x 16' (8' squares), but children often find this to be too big.
[edit] Ball handling
Four square is played with an 8.5-inch rubber playground ball. During regular play, the ball may be legally hit with any part of a player's hands from wrist to fingertip. The hit may be made with an open hand or closed fist, and may be forehand or backhand in motion. The ball may also be hit with one hand, or two hands at the same time, much like the rules of volleyball.
The ball must be struck once and for a single instant only. Carrying, catching, or holding the ball during play is illegal. Prolonged contact with the ball can give players unfair control over the play. Hitting the ball must create a perceptible change in the ball's velocity (speed or direction) to be legal.[3]
[edit] Regular gameplay
The player in the highest square begins the game by serving the ball. The server must serve the ball from the outside corner of his or her square. The ball is bounced in the server's own square and then hit into another player's square. Players let the ball bounce in their square once and the occupant of that square must then return the ball to any other player's square by hitting or striking the ball with the hands. Once the ball touches the court surface in a new player's square that player must return it. Play continues this way until a player makes an error and is eliminated.
[edit] Errors and elimination
Players may be eliminated for the following errors:
- A player fails to hit the ball after it has bounced in that player's square.
- A player fails to strike the ball correctly, as if carrying or holding.
- A player hits the ball out of bounds.
- A player hits the ball more than once before returning it to another square.
- A player hits the ball into his/her own square
The eliminated player leaves the court and the remaining players move up to the next highest square until the lowest square is empty. A new player may join the court in the lowest square. Eliminated players wait in line for their next turn. Play continues until time runs out or a winner is determined.
[edit] Game Scalability
[edit] Four Square for Children
Four square is a popular game for children and school playgrounds. It is important to scale the game's difficulty and supervision appropriately for different age groups and ability levels. Players can change the size of the court, the type of ball, or any aspect of the rules to suit the players best. At a few schools, new rules have been created.
[edit] Tournaments and competitions
As players rise in skill level or athletic ability it is important to appropriately raise the challenge of the game. Some communities or groups have developed rules for tournament-style play. Squarefour and The International 4-Square League both use systems of scoring that give numbers or averages to players over time, while other groups use an elimination or double elimination system.
[edit] World Championships
The Four Square World Championships, a competitive adult four square tournament, take place in Bridgton, Maine, USA, each winter season. Peter Lowell of the Lakes Environmental Association hosts this annual fundraiser each winter to support the environmental work done in the lakes region of Maine, USA. This competition draws athletes from the USA and Canada, and has registered competitors from Israel to Bermuda. Prior world championships have been held on Jan 29, 2005, Jan 28, 2006, Feb 3, 2007, Feb 16, 2008, and Feb 28, 2009.
- Four Square World Championships February 27, 2010
- Men's World Champion, Chris Glasser, Somerville, Massachusetts, USA
- Women's World Champion, Justine Petrillo, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- Senior Men's World Champion, Tom Stockwell, Bridgton, Maine, USA
- Senior Women's World Champion, Audrey Castro, Portland, Maine, USA
- Team Champions, The Mauve Avengers, Foxboro, Massachusetts, USA
- Audience Choice Award, Matthew Fishbein, Cape Elizabeth, Maine, USA
- Player's Choice Award, Melissa Woodman, Foxboro, Massachusetts, USA
[edit] World Records
The longest continuous game of four square was recorded on August 12-13, 2008, which lasted for 28 hours.[4] It took place in Youngstown, Ohio, by a group of graduating high school Seniors and one other individual. Benjamin "The Yak" Stoyak held the highest position for the majority of the contest.
[edit] Australian\New Zealand variation
A similar game played in Australia and New Zealand with a tennis ball is called handball.[5][6] The Department of Education and Children's Services has cited the game as a method of fostering social competencies in young children.[7] The game is a schoolyard craze that predates 1990, with its popularity at peak during fine weather conditions.[7][8] Several schools have constructed courts for the purpose of allowing students to play Australian four square.[9][10] The game has recently been played on a rubber surface.[11]
[edit] References
- ^ Rules Even considering local names and varieties, getting to the highest square is the objective.
- ^ The "inside out, outside in" rule.
- ^ Rule addition as of July 2009, inline with many other established sporting rules.
- ^ http://www.wcsh6.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=111153
- ^ Hill Associates (2008-07-07) (PDF), Play & Folklore, Museum of Victoria, p. 3
- ^ "Top 5 School Yard Games". Diabetes SA. 2008-09-26. http://www.diabetessa.com.au/aspx/news_article.aspx?id=148. Retrieved 2009-03-07.
- ^ a b Wilson, Anne; Edge, Liz (1999) (PDF), Strategies for Enhancing Students' Social Development, Department of Education and Children's Services, p. 3
- ^ Cameron, Deborah (2003-02-15). "Top of the class". The Sydney Morning Herald. http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/02/14/1044927805621.html. Retrieved 2009-03-07.
- ^ "Frequently Asked Questions". Ocean View College. http://www.oceanview.sa.edu.au/AboutUs/faq.html. Retrieved 2009-03-08.
- ^ (PDF) Jindalee SS Wish List, Jindalee State School, 2008-05-09, p. 1
- ^ "Clifton Hill Primary School Yard Redevelopment". Ande Bunbury Architects. http://www.abarchitects.com.au/projects/edu_playground.htm. Retrieved 2009-03-08.
