A series of holes is made in the ground sand or snow large enough to contain the ball. These holes are placed in a straight line one beyond the other about three feet apart there being as many holes as there are players. All holes are numbered corresponding to the numbers of the players from one to ten or whatever the maximum may be. About ten feet from the first hole and at right angles to the row a straight line is drawn on the ground behind which the players stand to throw. The first player stands directly in line with the row of holes and throws for one of them. This is a toss of the ball. The ball scores for the player according to the number of the hole in which it falls and this number also designates the next player. For instance if the ball falls in the third hole it scores three for the first player who at once gives place to Number Three who in turn has one throw. Should this ball fall in hole number five it scores five for this player and the fifth player will have the next turn. The game may be played according to score the one first scoring twenty-five or fifty winning or it may be played according to time the one having the highest score at the end of fifteen or twenty minutes being the winner.

This is one of the few games that may be adapted to the snow or to the damp sand of the seashore though it may be played anywhere out of doors where holes can be dug.

1. The player stands in and jumps five times both the large and small ropes starting together. He then runs out forward.

2. While turning and skipping his own individual rope the player runs under the large rope.

3. The player runs in while his own rope is turning jumps five times and runs out on the opposite side.

4. The player stands in jumps five times and runs out backward.

5. The player runs in while turning his individual rope backward jumps three times and runs out.

6. A player jumps in the large rope at the same time turning and jumping in his own individual rope. Another player runs in facing him in the small rope jumps with him and then runs out again without stopping either rope.

The different series are generally

I. Small single rope.
II. One large rope.
III. Two large ropes.
IV. Large single rope and small individual rope.

The small single rope or individual rope should be about six feet long for the average player. A good general rule is to have it just long enough to reach to the shoulders on each side while the player is standing on it.

A rope not made with handles at the ends should have a knot tied at either end to prevent untwisting and to give a firm hold. Every jumper knows how to twist the ends around the hands to make shorter a rope that is too long.

A long rope should be heavy and from ten to twenty feet in length. It should be turned by two players while one or more jump as indicated. When not used for athletic competition any player failing in the jumping should change places with one of the turners that is should “take an end.”

The players scatter promiscuously. One player who is It tries to hit one of the other players with a ball or bean bag. Any player thus hit becomes It and must try to tag others in the same way. When a player fails to hit one for whom he aims the thrower must pick up his own ball or bag except in the schoolroom where the seats and desks interfere with this. There any adjacent player may pick up the ball and throw it back to the one who is It. Players may dodge in any way as by stooping jumping or the usual sideways movements.

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