The foursquare player location in the highest numbered square begins the game by serving the ball from the outside corner of the square. The ball must bounce once in the servers own square before entering another players square. Players must let the ball bounce once in their own square, and then return the ball in the same method as the server. Balls are similar to kickballs and dodgeballs, being light rubber and with good bounce. The play must only use their hands to hit, serve, or return the ball. Carrying or holding or catching the ball are all penalties and forfeits.

Once the ball touches the play surface in another players square, that player must continue by hitting it into any other square. The ball continues to be hit back and forth between squares until a player makes a forfeit or penalty, and gets eliminated by leaving the square.

The rest of players move up to their next highest squares number, and another (or the recently eliminated) player joins the game in the lowest square (one). If there are more than four players foor a square, the eliminated players just wait in line for their turn to re-enter the game.

Location: In Basketball court, or something similar to it.
There are 2 teams with equal number of players. One of the players from both sides needs to be the TARGET. The target needs to stand on the far side line, he can’t move out of the line but he can move side to side, not stepping out of the free throw line.
The players are to run and try to hit the TARGET with a dodgeball or soft kickball to score 1 point, once 1 point is scored, they need to change their target.
At the start, players go to the middle of the court and do something, like flipping a coin, to choose the starting team. Once started, players need to pass the ball.
You can’t move with the ball in your hand, but you are allowed to make false steps or move one foot, but standing at the same spot. When have the ball, you can’t dribble or dodge around, so you need to pass the ball to someone.

When you have the ball, pass. When you don’t, look for pass.
Now the target rules and fouls:
The players can’t cross the freethrow line when they shoot. The players CAN stand inside the freethrow line, they can go anywhere. But if a player has the ball inside the freethrow line, or someone catches the pass INSIDE the freethrow line, it is a foul. When a player pushes, kicks, etc. are also all fouls.
Referees arent necessary in this game, unless the players wish.
When a player from team 1 commits a foul, then team 2 needs to go to their free throw line, stand in the line and shoot at the target. The target can move side to side, can jump dodge etc.

GROUND.–The playground or court should measure about forty by forty feet in outside dimensions the basket ball goals being placed at the usual height (ten feet) on opposite sides of the court. One basket belongs to each team. For instance the teams are designated as Red and Blue one basket belongs to the Red team and the other to the Blue team. The ground is then further divided into nine even squares. This may be done in any of the usual lining methods as described on page 301. The small squares are numbered in consecutive order around the outside starting in one corner the ninth one is in the center. When players are learning the game it may be advisable to mark these numbers on the ground but for players familiar with the game this may be dispensed with.

TEAMS.–While from eighteen to sixty players may play this game at once eighteen makes the best playing number. Where there is a larger number it may be found best to divide them into two sets each set to play for ten minutes and then give place to the other and so on alternately.

The players are divided into two teams each with a captain. The teams are chosen by the following method

The players are lined up according to height and either by marching (one to the right and one to the left) or by numbering off (the even numbers stepping out of the line) are divided into two files standing side by side. Each file constitutes a team and each member of a team is paired off with the opponent standing in the file beside him. By this method the two opponents forming a couple are of practically equal height.

The couples are numbered as they pair off the number indicating to which court they shall go for the opening of the game. Thus couple Number One will go to the small court marked 1 couple Number Two to the court marked 2 etc. Should there be more than nine couples the tenth couple will go to court number 1 the next couple to court number 2 etc. Usually only one or two couples go to each small court but sometimes three or four couples must be so assigned to accommodate a large number of players. Where there are so many however it will be found best to divide the number into halves one half playing at a time as previously mentioned. Should there be an odd player (without a partner) he is placed in the center court (number nine) and remains there throughout the game. A good leader however will see that some player changes off with this odd individual during the game.

It will thus be seen that each court contains an equal number of players of each team. For instance if there be but two players in a court one of them belongs to the Red team and the other to the Blue team. If there be four players in the court two of these belong to the Red team and two to the Blue team etc.

OBJECTS OF THE GAME.–The objects of the game for each team are (1) to throw the ball into its own basket this may be done from any court in the diagram and (2) to prevent the opponents from putting the ball into their basket.

One of the marked characteristics of this game is the constant change or progression in the position of players as every time that a goal is made with the ball the players all move to the next square or small court. This is done in order to give each player an opportunity to play from all positions on the field. This makes all-round players and gives the retiring less aggressive ones a fair share of the play. It also prevents certain players having the most desirable positions throughout the game.

START.–The game is started by the teacher or referee tossing the ball in the air between two opposing players in court nine each facing his own basket. Each player tries to send the ball toward his own basket others playing upon the ball immediately.

RULES AND POINTS OF PLAY.–The ball may be thrown for a basket from any of the courts. In other words it is not necessary for the ball to be passed to a player in court two to be thrown for the red basket or to court six in order to be thrown to the blue basket though that may be a desirable play. Experience has shown however that when a player on the Blue team is standing in one of the courts farthest away even in court two it is not usually wise to throw to court six by way of the center (court nine) as too much massing of players results. The Blue team player in court two will often find it better to throw the ball to a player of this team in court one or three and so on around the outer edge to court six although there is no rule to prevent throwing the ball wherever a player pleases. As a general rule the more zigzag the path of the ball the more open the game. Short passes make a better game than long ones.

Players must remain in their own small courts except when progressing. It is optional however whether any penalty shall be attached to momentary stepping over the lines between small courts in the excitement of rapid catching and passing. This point should be decided before the game opens and would probably be used only with experienced players. No player may step over the outer boundary lines except to get the ball when it goes afield. A throw for a basket made with even one foot outside of the outer boundary lines is a foul.

Guarding is done by holding the hands or arms over the opponents ball to hinder the aim but neither the ball nor the holder of it may be touched. Only one player is allowed to guard a thrower no matter how many players may be in the small court where the thrower stands. The two opponents who first pair off at the opening of the game when places are assigned act thereafter as guards one to the other no other players being allowed to fill that office.

When two players have possession of a ball the one who touched it first has the right to it. If this cannot be decided instantly the ball is thrown up between them as at the start of the game the nearest player tossing it. For a good game this rule should be strictly enforced no discussion over the possession of a ball being allowed.

When the ball goes outside of the outer boundaries of the court only one player may go after it. All of the players in the small court through which it left this boundary may start for it but the first one over the line continues and secures the ball. Players from other courts may not try to get a ball that thus goes afield. When a ball has gone afield the player picking it up must throw it from the point where it is picked up to any court player. No running or walking with the ball is allowed in thus returning the ball to the courts.

In playing on the ball no player is allowed to hold the ball or to run or walk with it. A player may turn around quickly with the ball but must throw it at once. A player transgressing these rules must give the ball to his opponents–that is to the opponent who has been paired off with him.

FOULS.–No scoring is made on the fouls. Transgression of any of the rules given above is punished by giving the ball to the opponents the transgressor in each case giving it to the opponent paired off with him.

SCORE.–A team scores one point each time that it makes a goal. The game is played on time limits the team winning which has the highest score at the end. Where a large number of players is divided into two parties to take turns at playing the time limits for each are generally ten minutes with such rest intervals the two parties may play indefinitely. Where all of the players are engaged in one game the period may be anywhere from thirty to sixty minutes.

The players are divided into two equal parties one of which personate defenders and take their places in the barn with the doors and windows open. The other party are the besiegers and are stationed outside the barn. The fighting is done by means of weeds specially prepared for the purpose. The weeds commonly called redroot or iron-weed are very good for this. The stems measuring about a foot and a half in length are stripped except for a small leaf or tuft of leaves at one end. On the opposite end the root is cut away so as to leave only a small knob which will serve to weight the missile.

The game opens with each party provided with a pile of this ammunition which is thrown at the opponents through the doors and windows of the barn. A player hit once with a dart is considered “wounded ” but may keep on playing. A player hit twice is “killed ” and is out of the game. Each party must keep within its own bounds.

The party wins which has the fewest killed at the end of the game. This was a favorite game with a group of Long Island boys from one of whom the author obtained it.