Playground Games Rules

2006 - 2007 Monarch Grove Playground Rules

Players waiting to enter a game must stand in a line outside of the area of play.

The players in the game should officiate the game. In the event that there is a disagreement the 'judge' may make a ruling. The judge is the player who is first in line and rules in cases where there is disagreement. The judge should be able to support his/her decision by clearly stating the rule that supports their decision. "What the judge says goes" (no complaining). If the judge is unable to make a call, the person second in line can rule. A player must take their outs or leave the court.

Students waiting at the front of the line must enter the game. There are no "pickies" or "teams" that may re-enter a completed game.

Handball Rules Two people play against each other or teams of two or three players, each may play. No more than six players at a time may be on the court at any one time.

All new players must come from the front of the line. If a player waiting in line chooses not to enter the game, he/she must go to the end of the line. The first person in line will act as a judge on questionable calls. The next person in line will help if the first person missed the call. All people in line will remain behind the "in bounds" lines.

The server serves the ball by bouncing it against the ground and then the backboard. The served ball must land in play. The opposing player then hits the returning ball, bouncing it on the ground then the backboard. This continues until a foul is committed. The player committing the foul leaves the game. The first player in the waiting lines comes into the game and the player who just won must serve.

When any of the following occurs, the player has committed a foul and is "out":

1. Ball hits the backboard before hitting the ground first.
2. When players let the ball bounce more than once after it has hit the backboard.
3. When player hits the ball with other than the hands and arms.
4. When player interferes with another player getting to the ball to hit it.
5. When player hits the ball and, after hitting the backboard, it goes out of the court bounds before it hits the ground.
6. When player hits the ball and it bounces more than once before hitting the backboard.
7. When ball hits the ground and the backboard at the same time it is not a foul but a “takeover.”
8. When player catches or holds the ball (other than prior to the serve).
9. All serves must be DECENT (the player receiving the serve must call out “no take” BEFORE the serve arrives).
10. All lines are IN.

Foursquare Rules Player in square "A" places one foot on the line in back corner of square and serves the ball by bouncing it once and then hitting it to another player. Server must hit the ball with both hands, having palms up. Players continue hitting the ball until a foul is committed. Player committing a foul leaves the square and other players move up. The new player enters square "D." The first person in line waiting to play is the judge and rules on who is to go out when there is a disagreement.

When any of the following have occurred it is a "Foul." The player must take his/her "outs." The Fouls are:

1. Hitting the ball with any part of the body except the hands.
2. Hitting the ball before it bounces in your square.
3. Hitting the ball so it misses a square or hits the line. Lines are always OUT
4. Serving without having your foot in the "server's box."
5. Not hitting a ball that bounces in your square.
6. Hitting the ball more than once before it goes to another square.
7. Holding/catching the ball.
8. Stepping into another player's square.
9. If a player is standing OUTSIDE his/her square and the ball hits them BEFORE bounding in the square, the player who hit the ball is OUT.
10. Not hitting the ball with two hands palms up.

Nine Square Rules Same rules apply for Nine Square as for Four Square except:

1. Nine squares, instead of four, are used.
2. Server is in the Center Square and must stand near the center of his square when serving the ball.

Tetherball Rules Two players at a time may play.

Two students stand opposite each other in the tetherball circle. All others stand outside the circle. The server puts the ball in play by hitting the ball in one direction around the pole. The other player hits the ball the other direction around the pole. The first player to wrap the rope completely around the pole is the winner.

If a player commits a foul during the play, then all play stops and the player making the foul goes to the end of the waiting line. The first player in line then comes inside the circle to be the new player. The new player serves, chooses side and direction to hit the ball.

Fouls are:

1. Server hitting the ball twice at the beginning before the opponent hits it once.
2. Hitting the ball with any part of the body other than the hand or forearm.
3. Catching or holding the ball during play.
4. Throwing the ball.
5. Touching the pole.
6. Stepping across the centerline.
7. Hitting the ball twice while it is still on your side of the circle.
8. Reaching around the pole and hitting the ball.
9. Hitting the rope with any part of the body.

Signout From three to ten players may play signout. The First Player (person who gets the ball at the start of recess) shoots from half court. If shot is "good" the shooter may call somebody "out" and that player must leave the court.

If shot is no good, then other players try to rebound. The player who recovers rebound then attempts to make a shot from anywhere on the court. Everybody that attempted to recover the rebound has to guard the "successful" rebounded and try to reject the shot. Other players on the court have the "option" of attempting to guard player with the ball. If the shot is rejected, the person who shot the ball is "out" and must leave the court. If the shot is made then everybody guarding that player is "out" and must leave the court.

If the player with the ball is fouled, play stops and he gets the ball on the free throw line and passes to somebody. The ball is passed back to the player on the foul line and the person that passed back must now guard the player with the ball and regular rules apply.

When a player is "out" the game begins again with the player who "rejected" a short or who "made" a shot shooting from half court.

No one may join a game already in progress AFTER one of the original players is "out."

The regular "foul" rules of basketball apply (charging, personal foul on shooters, blocking, tripping, traveling, etc.) Players who commit fouls leave the game and go to the "end of the line;" "blatant fouls and unsafe behavior will result in the player being forced to leave the court.

When the ball or player crosses the out of bounds line on the court the ball changes "possession" as in "real basketball."

One player must remain out of the game and act as "judge" (similar to all playground games). All players waiting must stand off the court and also must not interfere with any other games in progress.

Basketball No more than 12 players may participate in a full court basketball game. No more than ten players may play in the half court game.

Unless a referee is present, players must call their own fouls. When a foul is called, the game stops and the ball is passed in from out of bounds or if it is a "shooting" foul, free throws will be shot. Anytime a player who is in the act of shooting is touched; a foul has been committed. Any player who commits flagrant or excessive fouls will be asked to leave the court.

A player who is dribbling cannot be blocked from forward progress. Setting "picks" on players without the ball is not permitted. All other standard rules of basketball apply.

MG KICKBALL RULES

Teams must be evenly made (equal girls and boys and or equal grade numbers of students from different grade levels) for example, there will not be GIRL v. BOY teams or 6th grade v. 4th grade games).

Teams must have BATTING ORDERS-players number off and stay in that order-the player that was 'kicking' when the last out was made is at the end of the line for the next 'at bat'-all other players stay in numerical order.

To get a 'Kicker' (batter) out---defensive (field) players must 1) catch the ball in the air before it bounces on the ground OR 2) Tag the runner with the ball (even if the ball is dropped after the 'tag' the runner is still out) or 3) Throw the ball to the pitcher's mound and the pitcher catches while standing on the pitching rubber BEFORE the kicker reaches first base.

Base Runners MUST not leave the base before the ball is kicked -runners who try to 'steal' will be OUT.

FORCE OUTS. In order to get a runner out they must either be tagged or IN THE CASE OF FORCE OUTS (when the runner must try to advance because a runner is on the base fore them and MUST also advance)-fielders can throw to the next base. Defensive players must catch the ball and step on the base BEFORE the advancing runner arrives.

Players waiting to 'kick' should stand along the dugout fence so as not to interfere with play on the field.