Four square

From Free net encyclopedia

For other uses, see Four square (disambiguation).

Template:Wikify-date Note that there are many, many variants of Four Square, and, while this article attempts to cover all variants, there are far too many for this to be possible.

Image:4 square gameplay diagram.gif

Four square is a sport usually played by children, but is sometimes played by youth and college students. It is popular in many countries including Australia, Bahrain, Britain, Canada, Kuwait, New Zealand, United Kingdom and the United States. It also widely known as Box Ball.

Apart from the players, the game only requires a ball and a set of four squares. 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.

Equipment

The game of four square requires a ball. The ball may be a rubber or "bouncy" playground ball, such as is used in the game of kickball, a tennis ball (most common in the United Kingdom), or a basketball. In the United States, especially on the East Coast, the preferred ball of play is a Red Voit 8.5" Playground Ball. A volleyball generally makes for very poor gameplay, and its use is not recommended. In United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand a tennis ball is virtually always used, as this enables faster play.

Many playgrounds have four square courts painted on the pavement, but if no such pre-fabricated court exists, large cement tiles that are of the same size and have clearly defined edges make excellent substitutions. Also, sidewalk chalk may be used on a driveway or road to make a court from scratch.

Boundaries

Four square is most commonly played on a square court divided into four smaller squares of equal size. Different communities use different size courts, and often different rules, but there is no regulation size court. For example, Boston based Squarefour uses a 16 foot square court while the BCC YMCA uses a smaller 10 foot court. The latter is also known for inventing many variants of gameplay, see Variants section.

Most commonly, the outside lines of the court are considered 'inbounds' meaning a ball may land on any portion of an outside line and still be in play. Often, the inside lines are considered 'out of bounds' and balls landing on any portion of an inside line are considered faults. A popular abbreviation of these rules is known as 'inside-out, outside-in'. Of course, balls landing outside the court are considered faults as well.

Gameplay

A round of four square is started by the server in square 4. The server then announces any rule variations. In one variant of the game, the server drops the ball into his or her own square and then hits it into another square after it bounces. In another variation, the ball is immediately bounced into one of the other three squares. The receiving player returns the ball into any other square. Play continues in this fashion until a player makes a mistake or error and gets "out."

The 'out' player moves to the end of a line of any people waiting to play. Players in lower numbered squares player progress to higher squares and leave the lowest square open for a new player to join. For example, when player 3 is out, players 2 and 1 move the next highest open square. The next person waiting enters the game in square 1.

Basic gameplay continues like this until time is over for the activity or players reach a specified number of points or the players lose interest.

Getting Out

"Out' is when you make an error or break a rule in the game and usually means you must give up your space on the court. There are many ways to get out. These rules only make up the default set, and some portions are modified or ignored by a multitude of variants. The rules which are very commonly changed are denoted by asterisks.

A player is out if:

The ball bounces from the Player's square to outside the bounds of the court.
The ball bounces from the Player's square to another player's square without interaction it is considered still a live ball.
The ball bounces in their square a predefined number of times.
The Server fails to keep their feet outside the box until they have served the ball. This is called a step-in.*
The Player hits the ball and it goes outside the bounds of the court.
The Player hits the ball in such a way that his fingers are pointed upwards. This is called a downhit.
The Player hits the ball before it bounces once in their square. This is called an airhit.
The Player hits the ball after it has bounced in another player's square.* This is called a wrong ball, or RB.
The Player hits the ball and it bounces before entering another player's square. (Less common when playing with a tennis ball)
The Player touches the ball twice in a row (this may include the server).*
The Player fails to hit the ball using a singular, distinctive hit. These are referred to as double-hits, carries, or holds.*
The Player hits the ball and it is caught by a Player who is completely outside the bounds of the court.*
Players are not allowed to catch the ball at any time.

In the Australian rules a player is required to hit the ball into their own square and have it bounce into other courts from there, and hitting it directly into the other persons court is called "out on the full".

Disputes

The game can be quite fast and often disputes arise between players as to who broke the rules or caused an error. A popular way to resolve conflicts is to have a 'death rally,' 'show down,' 'duel,' or a 'tea party.' This is simply a 2-person game in which the highest player serves and the loser of the round is out of the game. This method can relieve much of the sometimes catty fighting that younger children often experience during this game. Another such method is a simple "rock-paper-scissors" game in which the loser is ultimately out on the round.

Variants

There are as many variants as there are playgrounds. The variants often have cool-sounding names such as streetball, black magic, white magic, bus stops, cherry bombs, and voodoo squares. A variant may be invented at any time. The player of highest rank, the one who serves the ball to begin play, is responsible for declaring any and all variants. The declaration "regular" is understood to mean the standard rules, listed above.

Specific Variants

one varition known to be played in the US is where 1 is the best square, then 2, 3, and finally 4 each given names (King, queen, jack, popular insult)

Category Four Square

In this version, the server names a category (e.g. types of drinks or girls' names) before play starts, and each player must name something in that category (that nobody has named yet in the round) when they hit the ball. If a player fails to come up with an accurate item in the category, they are out. Some categories can be particularly nasty - such as letters in the alphabet or numbers less than 10 since they have a limited number of possible answers.

Sentence Four Square

In this version, the server begins a sentence by saying one word, and each play must continue the sentence or end it by saying period. If they fail to continue the sentence logically, they are out. (An example: "I love playing four square period").

Handball

Handball is a two-player game similar to "Two square". (This is unrelated to other sports named Handball.) In this variant square changing is optional, though only the highest rank and lowest rank are required.

Kingpin

In this version the squares are ranked King, Queen, Jack (or 'Prince') and Dunce (in some variants Dunce is replaced with 'baby', 'peasant', 'shortstop', 'Lord' or even 'dunny'). Whenever a player in square 3 (Queen), or 2 (Jack) is out, they move to square 1 (Dunce), and all players in lower-numbered squares progress to the next higher-numbered square. If the player in square 4 (King) is out they move to square 2 (Jack) with players in squares 3 (Queen) and 2 (Dunce) progressing to the higher-numbered squares. Only when the player in square 1 is out does another player enter the game.

Elimination

In elimination there are no ranks of any kind. When any player gets out another player comes in and they leave the square. There are no changes in the square that each player is in. There are also no "lines." If the ball bounces on the line on the first bounce it is a foul and that player is out. If the ball bounces on the line on the second bounces it counts as doubles and the player is out. If the ball bounces on outlines it is in, and if it bounces on the line between two other players' courts then the closest player must hit the ball. If a player makes the ball roll than that player is out.

Pantheon

This is a Clairvaux Mackillop variant of four square. At the beginning of the game of Pantheon, four players are chosen to be part of the "Pantheon." One Pantheon player starts in, and the others are positioned randomly in the reserves line. The idea of the game is for all the Pantheon members to get into the square. It is the other players job to prevent the Pantheon members from getting in. If a Pantheon members gets another Pantheon member out, then that Pantheon member is also out. When all the Pantheon members are in then they win the round. If at any time there are no Pantheon members in then the Pantheon loses the round. After three rounds the Pantheon is changed and the game starts again. All normal "Elimination" rules apply.

More Squares

In Australian and New Zealand schools it is common to play with 6, 8 or more squares. The court is usually two squares wide, the additional squares adding length. The game retains it's original name however. When the "King, Queen, Jack" naming system is used, the additional squares continue to be named for playing cards ie 10, 9, 8 etc. The lowest square is always Dunce.

64 Square

Developed by the BCC YMCA, and just like the name suggests, this is a game played with a court made of 64 squares (8 squares by 8 squares) and played with 8 simultaneous balls. Each round is finished only when each ball has stopped bouncing. Please note, this game was usually played with about eighty school children and required significant supervision!

Allowed and Banned Moves

Players may make certain hits that are considered cheap, unfair, or bad sportsmanship because of the difficulty of receiving the ball. Games with beginners generally choose to ban difficult moves. Some advanced variations will only allow the servers to hit the ball a certain way, such as high bounces. Servers usually specify if they allow or disallow the following:

"Around The World": Any player in possession of the ball may call Around The World regardless of rank at any moment. If it is called, the calling player can hit it to an adjacent square, and that person must hit it to the remaining adjacent square until it reaches the player who called it, at which point the game returns to normal.
"Around The World Permanent": The same as Around The World, but it must continue until a player gets out, even if it reaches the caller. Also known as "Around The Toilet".
"Babies": (Variant Name: Tiny Tims, Minies, Lemon Drops, Dribbles, Oompa Loompas) A name for a hit that bounces less than 10 cm off the ground and goes across a very small horizontal distance.
"Baggage Claim": (Also known as Home Equity Loan, or Home Equity or Home Ec. for short, as well as Re-Nig, and Rebate) Term used in when line judge determines that the previous play was too close to call, or invalidated by an outside interruption.
"Black Jack": (Also known as Black Magic) When the person catches the ball before it bounces in their square, dubbing the passer out.(e.g. king serves to jack, jack catches it before bounces in Jack's square. King is now out)
"Bobbling": (Also known as Bubbles) A way to get around holding the ball, one bounces it lightly between their hands before serving the next ball.
"Bods": The player is allowed to use a specified part of their body to hit the ball, their head or foot for example. In some countries, this rule is called "Soccer Rules" and the ball may only be hit by the head or foot. Soccer Rules can be a surprise attack that often eliminates players quickly.
"The Bradley Good": A player barely makes contact with a ball and yet places it with such skill and technical mastery in an opponents corner as to cause the ball to lightly bounce out of the court.
"Buddha's Palm": When a player strikes the ball with an open palm in great foward arm movement. The hit is usually accompanied by a full body movement into the direction of the hit. The name has nothing associated with Buddhism, but is rather in reference to a stereotypical name for a "super attack" in martial arts.
"Bus Stop": A rule in which the server must call legal before the game starts. During game play and when the server has the ball he/she must yell out "bus stop". When the server does they grap the ball and run to the center of the four square. The other players must rush to the center also and touch the ball. The last player to touch the ball is out.
"Cherry Bomb" (aka Grand Slam): When a player uses a powerful downward thrust to slam the ball into another player's court. Must yell "cherry bomb" as loud as possible immediately before the move, and may only perform the move when the ball bounces at or above player's chest level.
"Chicken Drops" (aka Oompa Loompas): A move, generally accepted as incredibly "cheap" or "low" by players, in which the ball is placed by the server onto an opponent's square, immediately placing him "out"
"Chicken _____" or "Duck _____": When the ball hits any part of the body other than the hands or chest: a "Chicken Foot" is when the ball hits a player's foot, etc.
"Counting It": When a player kicks the ball really far and high. The player usually declares that he/she will count (kick) the ball by shouting "Count it!". This usually occurs as interference when the game starts as well as sometimes out of anger when a player gets out. Other players usually respond by verbally/physically abusing the player who counted it.
"Don't Accept": Also known as a "Better" or "No Return" or "First Serve". If there are Outs on Serves, the first receiver still may choose to "not accept" a serve if they made no attempt to hit it. This is also called "One Bad" and sometimes considered a fault on the serve. Of course, a second fault would be "Two Bad" means the server is out.
"Double Bouncies": The ball MUST bounce twice in a player's square before he hits it. If it hits only once before the player plays it, he is out. If it bounces once in and then once out, the hitter is out. If the ball bounces more than twice, the person whose square it bounced in is out. This game is never played with catches. It may also be played with higher amounts than double bounces, but triple is almost impossible for all but the server and quadruple is.
"Footsies": A term for when the ball is hit by the leg or foot rather than the hand. It can be harder to hit the ball in a player's own square with the foot, though the hit can be much more powerful than a hit with the hand. Some players play that when this happens, all players put their feet where all lines meet. The person who 'calls' footsies counts to 3, when he throws the ball at the feet. At 3 the players may move their feet. If it hits a players foot they are out.
"Good Rogers": When a player launches the ball in the air allowing the other players to get ready. The player shouts "good rogers!" with a british accent.
"High Bounces": Also known as "Slammies", "Volcanoes", "Bombers", "Cherry Bombs", "High Towers", "Spikes", "Smashes", "Megas" or "Treetops"; a high bounce is when a ball goes higher than a height of about 1 meter above the receiver's head. More than for being hard to receive, this move is often discouraged for risk of the ball getting on a roof, and for taking much more time than a normal hit.
"Hold": Also known as "Grabs" or "Holdies"; The name for when a player holds the ball for longer than they are supposed to set by the server. Usually a player can only hit the ball and not hold it, but some rules allow holding the ball for half a second or less if using a special move.
"Interceptions": After the ball hits the server's square and before the ball lands in the receiver's square, any player besides the server or receiver may grab the ball and hit it normally as if they received it. This often happens if the ball passes through one players' square but does not bounce in it.
"Kamikaze"*: Also known as "suicides". This is a serve in which the server serves the ball near the line usually allowing the hitter to hit it hard and having almost no space for the server to hit the ball.
"Lobs": Also knows as; "Straights", "Fools" or "Upball". A player, upon receiving the ball, hits the ball straight into another's square, rather than hitting it into his own and then theirs. This rule is often turned on at the beginning of the game to make it interesting, and/or easier.
"Liner": When the ball hits a line, the game will usually stop, and square 3 will bounce the ball in the cross in the middle of the squares. Square 4 may choose to overrule square 3 by taking the liner instead. On a liner, the square holding the ball may choose to either bring a player to the front, right next to the ball, or send the player to the far corner of their square. Furthermore, they can choose to order the players to turn around and/or sit down when at the far corner. Some servers choose for there to be "play-ons" if the ball hits a line: the players continue play as if the ball was in one of the players' squares, and if no player continues, it is a redo. Some servers choose for lines to be automatic outs, or even say multiple players can get out if the line between them is hit by the ball. Some servers will just declare a re-do. Liners are the most controversial rule, as there can be arguments as to whether the ball landed on a liner or not. No square may demand they are right, there must be negotiations. This is often why re-does are called. Some times even, special variation moves are played like "Bubbles", "Rocks" or "Shark Attack".
"Mecca": When a player hits the ball with two arms in a downward parallel swinging motion, similar to that of the Islamic prayer to Mecca. In the event that a player does this kneeling or prone, style points are often awarded.
"Ninja Turtle": A hit in which the player swings his leg upwards and towards the opposite arm and then returns the ball from underneath his leg. Such moves are often succeeded by a round of "oohs" and "ahhs".
"Psyche Out": A hit where a player makes like they are going to hit the ball very hard (such as a "High Bounce") but instead barely taps it so the other player will miss it. This is also known as a "Sicilian Castle Defense."
"Peppermint Sticks": A hit in which the ball comes at such an angle as to immediately bounce into another square, rather than towards the receiver.
"Play it!": Or "Play On"; Called by the king or group cooperation when an illegal/out of bounds action occurs, yet the players/king still want the current play to continue for reasons of a boring round, generosity, or desire for pure crazyness to continue.
"Poaching": This is named after the illegal hunting of animals when its not the right season. Similarly, poaching is the term for players hitting the ball when it is clearly not their turn. Poaching may be legal or illegal depending on who is in square four and who her enemies are.
"Pooter to Vage": One variety of rules says that a 'death rally' between squares 4 and 1 is called 'pooter to vage'. If the square 1 wins, that player becomes the server.
"Outs on Serves": Usually, the first person served to and the server are unable to get out on the first hit, but to make the game move faster sometimes players can get out even on the first hit.
"Re-Nig": See Baggage Claim.
"Roll": Also known as "Bowling"; A player hits the ball so low that the ball rolls. Usually the player who rolled it is out. In some games, if the player is accurate enough to make the ball roll in the other square but bounce in their own, the player whose square it rolled in is out. Sometimes also, a mini-game called "Rolly Polly" is played. The players have to sit down and roll it to each other. You stay in your own squares. If the ball rolls out, or bounces, you are out and normal play begins.
"Self-Serve": When the player in square 4 is about to serve, he may choose to invoke the Self-Serve. This is a semi-stealth attack where the player will choose to either throw the ball up in the air and hit it as a normal shot, or bounce it in his own square before making the shot. It can be used to trick players in certain circumstances. The general rule, however, is that once it has been executed, it is switched off again. If he performs the self-serve another time without declaring it, he is out for a double bounce in his square.
"Sharking": If sharking is allowed, a player may at any time play the ball directly onto any part of an opponent's body rather than playing it normally. If the sharker hits the opponent, the opponent is out. If the opponent dodges the ball, the sharker is usually out (because the ball did not bounce in his or her own square).
"Skimmies": Also known as "Slideys"; Similar to Babies in their low height, skimmies are hits that skim across the court quickly. They are initiated by a hit with a fist close to the ground or an underhand "bowling" motion.
"Skunk": Also known as a "Sting", "Torpedo", or "Bazooka". This is a ball that is intentionally hit at a player (instead of their square) to cause it to hit him/her without it hitting their square first. The method only works if players cannot hit the ball before it touches their square. (See rules above).
"Slicin' the Bread": When a player strikes the ball in such a way that a powerful backspin is put on the ball, resulting in a sudden and complete stop of forward movement upon impact with the ground.
"Slog": A low-boosted move of hit and timing when a player hits the while it is about to touch the ground, the player hits it low with hand straight out under-armed. If the hit does not bounce in the player's square, it is out.
"Spinners": Also known as "(Texas) Twisters" and "Screwballs". This is ball that has a spin imparted on it when hit, which causes it to bounce unusually.
"Style Points"(aka Jango points): A point awarded to a player who exhibits excellent or rare form during play. A style point must be nominated and then seconded. If a player amasses three style points one out is removed from his or her score.
"Teardrop": A move in which a player moves close to a ball as it is about to touch the ground, often telegraphing a slam, but then touches the ball lightly or slices the ball (to give it spin).
"Tiananmen Square": A defensive move in which, when presented with an oncoming slam by an opponent, a player bravely uses his whole body to stop the ball from flying out of bounds in an attempt to save himself.
"Twister": A rule in which upon getting the ball in or above your square you may call the word "Twister!" one square then moves to four square, four square moves to three square, and so on. (People in line may not call this while in line.)
"Typewriter": A rule in which a player can grap the ball and move close to an adjacent square to perform the move. When the player goes near an adjacent square they can bounce the ball in the adjacent square to spell out the oppenents name. Each bounce must spell one letter of his/hers oppenents name. If they player can successfully spell their oppenents name they are out. If the opponent can smack the ball to disrupt the spelling, the person who intiated the typewriter is out.
"Zach Gares Prayer Slap": When a player forms his hands into that of an upwards praying position and strikes the ball into another opponent's square. It is an inaccurate but divinely powerful hit.

Skittles: The player puts the ball in the middle and all players must touch the ball. The last one to touch it is out.

Sour Skittles: the person to touch the ball is out.

Baby Bottle: Every player has to bounce the ball low and very fast. If it touches your feet, it's still CHICKEN FEET. (see below)

Chicken Feet: When the ball hits straight at your feet. The person who did chicken feet is out. Not the person who got hit with Chicken Feet.

Popcorn: When you bounce it more than 3 times with your palm. or throwing it in the air(usually high for good reason) and clapping a certin number of times or be out, signifed by how it is called (Popcorn X2 would signify the next player would have to double the amount of clapping by previous player. usually done until someone is out)

Pop-pop-popcorn: When you are doing popcorn and someone bounces it out of your hand.

Death Rallies

If the server chooses to allow them, any player may call a "Death Rally" or "War" (or "Showdown" if you are playing with impressionable children) on another player after they receive the ball. Once a Death Rally is called, the two players may only hit the ball to each other, as the other squares are considered "out". Therefore, only one of these two players will get out, and gameplay resumes as normal afterward. A server may choose for wars to last until one of the players is out, or may allow one (Usually the player who called it) or both players to call "Death Rally off" and end the war before either player is out, resuming normal play. These are also referred to as a "tea party".

If a player calls a Death Rally off at the right moment and quickly puts the ball in another it is called a Sneak or Stealth Attack, and the player who was attacked will often not be able to react to the sudden attack, and the ball will often roll or bounce twice in their square. Advanced players often choose to use a Stealth Attack to eliminate other players by receiving the ball, quickly calling Death Rally off and hitting it through their legs into their own and then their opponents square or just their opponents, if Lobs are on.

Sudden Death

These two words are often called out by the spectators when a certain four players never get out. When this is yelled out players must play as usual but instead of just dunce getting out, the jack can also be out.

Duel aka "Square Dance"

Duel is another word yelled out by the spectators when it is undersided which player is out eg(disputed line call). In this process both players involved proceed in playing a mini-game between themselves. Who ever wins the battle stays in their square or moves up a sqaure and the loser can move down a square or be elimated.

Fancy Pants

This is another comment yelled out by the spectators whereby a player competing uses fancy skills and tricks to try and get opponents out.

Revenge

When the top square (Server) is out, he may choose to call Revenge, or King's Revenge. The player who is now server must Death Rally, no matter what. Revenge cannot be taken off by any player, nor taken away as a variable at any point. In most games, you may only call Revenge once in a row. For instance, if you call it, and then defeat the server, and the server calls it, and then the server defeats you, you cannot call it again. You can, however, simply Death Rally them normally shortly afterwards.

Services

When the ball is about to be served, any player may call "Service" and the server must automatically play the ball to them, unless they chose to overrule it, at which point no other player may call service on that serve. If multiple people attempt it, the first to call is given the honour. You may also call "Service no overrules" which will force the server to play the ball to you.

"Off-Serve", where the player who received service is then required to hit the ball to the caller, adds more variety. This is quite common in Australia.

Permission to Serve

Players may call permission to serve. In most variants, the person who called permission to serve will stay in the corner of his square. Permission to serve may be over ruled by the king, server e.c.t.

Liner Mini-Games

Shark Attack: The person who calls liner may choose Shark Attack. They must now run around on the lines and try to tag someone, and whoever they tag is out. Usually has a time limit of 10 seconds.

Bubble: The player who calls liner may choose Bubbles. They stand in the intersection, bounce a ball and say "Bubbles times n" The number they call is the amount they have to let the ball bounce for before normal game proceeds. If the ball is about to stop bouncing, a player may tap it up. After the number of bounces has been succeeded, then normal play continues, with the player whose court it lands on playing on.

Rocks: The player who calls may choose Rocks. If they choose this, they bounce the ball hard and slam it into an opponents court, usually a corner to make it harder. After the hit has been done normal play proceeds. This is also called Footy Rucks because it resembles a ruck contest in Australian Football.

Line Judge

Usually in a game of 4-square, there will be a "line", usually outside of the playing area, in which you will go to the back of when you are "out". The first person in line (meaning the next person to go "in" when another out occurs) is given the task of watching the game and looking for "outs". This individual is bestowed with the title of "Line Judge". Usually friends will feel relentless on another player, and as soon as they hit the ball they will declare an "out" on that person, in order to have people move up in rank. Oftentimes when the Line Judge is not looking and someone gets out, they will state that they were not looking, (usually because they do not want to wait in line all over again) and gets a do-over (rebate, re-nig, home-ec, baggage claim, double mortgage). (Meaning a restart of gameplay). The Line Judge is the supreme ruling authority in a four square game, but is usually overruled by mob rule in the event that he rules unjustly.

Number of Squares

If there are only two players, a square court may be spilt up into two large rectangles, with the privilege of serving alternating. This is usually only entertaining if both players are very good.

Players may also choose to form a larger court of six (two by three) or nine (three by three) squares, to accommodate large amounts of players waiting in line. Players do not receive the ball as frequently, but the gameplay is enhanced as the ball can be hit more directions and further distances. In Six-square and Nine-square, one of the central squares is the server's square, and the other players rotate around it.

A fairly common variant in Australia and New Zealand is line square, in which the squares are arranged in a line rather than in a grid, thus allowing for any number of squares and participants.

Making the Game Harder

If the ball is replaced with a tennis ball, the game of four square becomes far more difficult. This is commonplace in England and Australia. New York City residents enjoy a variety played with a tradional raquetball on city sidewalk squares as a court.

It can also be varied to include hits from the head and foot, sometimes known as 'header's and 'footer's, where the player can use either the head or a foot to hit the ball directly into an opponent's square.

Another great way to make this simple game more difficult is to keep score. Keeping count of the number of times you reach square four will no doubt draw more fierce competition. Some communities have developed similar rules for competitive play, sometimes over a long period of time. Squarefour uses a system of scoring the number of rounds played by the number of times a player makes it to the top of the squares. Much like a batting average in Baseball, the resulting number reflects the skill of each player.

World Championships

The Four Square World Championships take place in Bridgton, Maine, USA, each year in January. Peter Lowell of the Lakes Environmental Association hosts this annual fundraiser each January to support the environmental work done in the lakes region. This hotly contested competition draws players from all over New England and has seen challengers arrive from countries including Canada, Israel and Bermuda.

The January 28, 2006, World Championships awarded top titles to Mens Champion Patrick Miller of Burlington, VT, and two-time Ladies Champion Dana Ostberg of Jamaica Plain, MA (both members of Squarefour). Awards were also given to two-time Senior Mens Champion Tom (Uncle Tommy) Stockwell, Senior Ladies Champ Eleanor Nicholson, Junior Champs Ben Stockwell and Erica Chute and the Audience Favorite Award was issued to the Boston College Four Square Team.

History / Origin

The origin of the game is in dispute, but this game was played in Urbana Illinois, USA, at the University of Illinois High School in the late 1960's, and at the geep time was rumored to have been invented there. If someone has an earlier location and reference to play, please post it to this article.

Naming Variants

The squares are sometimes called, from highest to lowest rank:

4, 3, 2, 1
A, B, C, D
Top [Square], Second [Square], Third [Square], Fourth (or Bottom [Square])
Gold, Silver, Bronze, Plastic
Server, Third, Second, First
Ace, King, Queen, Jack
Server, Second, Third, Last
King, Queen, Jack, Ace
King, Queen, Jack, Dunce
King, Queen, Jack, Fool
King, Third, Second, First
King, Second Square, Third Square, Trash Can
King, Queen, Jack, Port-O-Pot
King, Queen, Jack, Toilet Bowl
King, Queen, Jack, Baby
King, Queen, Jack, Squire (Serf is first person waiting in line)
King, Queen, Jack, Bitch or Bitch's Square
King, Knight, Peasant, Peasant's Bitch
Green (server), Red, Blue, Yellow
4, Tree, Grass, Dirt
King, Queen, Jack, Nick Hughes
King, Queen, Jack, Dunny
King, Queen, Jack, Cock
Judge Judy, Judge Alex, Judge Mathis, Judge Joe Doherty

External links

Retrieved from "http://www.netipedia.com/index.php/Four_square"

Categories: Children's games | Ball games

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