Spud (game)

Spud is a popular children's game where players try to eliminate each other by catching and throwing a ball. It is related to "call ball" and "ball tag". As few as three may play, with no upper limit. A small soft ball and an open area to run in is required.

A player is chosen as "It" and the others stand in a circle around them. "It" throws the ball straight into the air (or alternatively drops it), calling out the name or number (alternatively, players may be assigned colors: red, yellow, etc.) of another player. That player must run and catch the ball, becoming "It", while the other players run away from them. As they catch the ball they shout "Spud", or "Halt", and the other players must stop running. "It" throws or rolls the ball at another player or at their feet, sometimes after taking three giant steps towards them. The target player may not dodge (alternatively, the player may dodge by ducking or swaying, but can not move his feet) and if it hits them, they get a letter (or a "spud") and become "It". If the ball misses the target, "It" gets a letter. A player who moves to dodge the ball will also get a letter. A player who gets four letters (spelling out "Spud") is out. In a variant, a player who is out stands a distance away from the other players with their back to them, and all the other players get to throw the ball at them. Another variant, the first person to get SPUD has to "go through the spanking machine;" he or she must crawl on hands and knees through a gauntlet of the other players, who paddle him/her .