Database of Games

Skin The Snake

gamepac — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 20:30:01 +0000

This is a feat for several performers–from five to fifty or more and is suitable for the gymnasium. The players stand in a line one behind another with a short distance between. Each player bends forward and stretches one hand backward between his legs while with the other hand he grasps that of the player in front who has assumed the same position. When all are in position the line begins backing the player at the rear end of the line lying down on his back and the next player walking backward astride over him until he can go no farther when he also lies down with the first players head between his legs. This backing and lying-down movement continues until all the players are lying in a straight line on the floor. Then the last one to lie down gets up and walks astride the line toward the front raising the man next behind him to his feet and so on until all again are standing in the original position. The grasp of hands is retained throughout.

Poison Snake

gamepac — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 15:30:01 +0000

The players join hands to form a circle. About fifteen Indian clubs or tenpins are placed in the center of the circle with spaces between them in which a player might step. The players then try by pushing or pulling their comrades by means of the clasped hands to make them knock over the clubs. Any player who overturns a club or who unclasps hands must at once leave the circle the club being replaced. The first players so leaving start a “scrub” circle players disqualified in the scrub circle start another in their turn etc. The player wins who is left in the original circle. Where several circles have been formed the several winners may form a circle at the close and play to determine the final winner.

This game has possibilities for much sport and skill. The agility with which players leap over or pass between the clubs is as important a part of the game as the pulling and pushing. The clubs should be sufficiently scattered to make it possible for a player to save himself in this way. Children may need to have this feature of the game pointed out to them.

Ball Tag

gamepac — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 10:30:01 +0000

This is a form of ball tag. In it each player chooses a home or corner as in Puss in the Corner or Home Tag. When played out of doors trees may be used for this purpose in a gymnasium pillars or different pieces of apparatus in the schoolroom the corners of the room the front and rear corner desks the teachers desk the radiator or any other objective points. The players who are so stationed beckon to each other to exchange places and as they run from one place to another the one who is It tries to hit them with the ball. Any one so hit changes places with the one who is It.

As in all ball-tag games either a ball or bean bag may be used. If played in the schoolroom a light gas ball should be used elsewhere anything from a light-weight hand ball to a basket ball would be suitable. Hard balls should be avoided.

Where there are many playing it is advisable to have two or three who take the part of thrower or TAGR (It) in which case there will be two or three balls or bean bags in play at the same time and the game is made more rapid.

Numbers Change

gamepac — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 20:30:01 +0000

The players stand in a large circle and are numbered consecutively. One player takes his place in the center. He calls two numbers and the players whose numbers are called must change places while the center player tries to secure one of their places. The one who is left without a place changes places with the center player.

FOR THE SCHOOLROOM.–This game may be adapted by selecting two players as chasers who take their places in the front of the room. These players are not blindfolded as in the parlor form of the game. All of the other players are seated having been numbered. The teacher calls two numbers when the players bearing those numbers must rise at once and exchange seats the two chasers trying to catch them before they can get to their seats.

When a game is played under these circumstances it is not permissible for the chaser to take a vacant seat he must catch the player who is running for it. No player having once left his own seat may return to it but must keep up the chase until he is caught or reaches the seat for which he is running.

This game gives opportunity for some very lively chasing with good running and dodging up and down the aisles. As in all running games in the class room the seated players should keep their feet out of the aisles.

For young children it may be found desirable to have only one chaser. It generally adds to the interest of the game to have a general exchange of seats at the opening of the game immediately after the numbers have been assigned and before the chasing is commenced as then the person who calls the numbers is at a loss to know how near or distant those called may be in relation to each other and this element adds much to the sport of the game.