Four Square·Playground Games
Four Square
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Playground Games
1–4 players
both
ball
10 essential rules
Four Square is a ball game played among four players on a square court divided into quadrants. Players hit a rubber ball between each other's squares, attempting to eliminate opponents through strategic bouncing, spinning, and placement. The game combines hand-eye coordination, quick reflexes, an...
Four Square requires exactly four active players at any time, one occupying each quadrant of the court. Players are ranked by their square number, with the King (Square 4) holding the highest rank and the Peasant (Square 1) holding the lowest.
Players advance by surviving rounds and moving into higher-numbered squares as other players are eliminated. Each successful round where a higher-ranked player is eliminated moves the surviving lower-ranked players up one position.
For young children (ages 5-7): Use a smaller, softer ball; reduce court size to 10x10 feet; prohibit Cherry Bombs and hard spikes; For elementary-age players (ages 8-12): Standard court and ball sizes; adult supervision recommended; encourage Friendlies rules; For adults and competitive play: Ful...
"Around the World" is a King's Rule where the ball must travel to each square in sequential order (King to Queen to Jack to Peasant, or the reverse) rather than to any square. Players must pass the ball to the adjacent square in the declared direction.
Ensure the ball is properly inflated before play. An over-inflated ball bounces too high and can cause hand and wrist injuries. An under-inflated ball is unpredictable and leads to frustration; Inspect the ball for cracks, tears, or surface damage before each session. A damaged ball may bounce er...
When the ball leaves the court after an elimination, the eliminated player is typically responsible for retrieving the ball and delivering it to the King for the next serve. In organized play, ball retrievers or spare balls may be used to minimize downtime between rounds.
After the serve, players hit the ball back and forth between squares. On each hit, the ball must bounce exactly once in the receiving player's square.
Black Magic is legal by default but can be banned by King's Rules. Spinning the ball is considered an advanced technique and is one of the most effective strategies in competitive play.
If the ball strikes a player's body (other than their hands or forearms) while the ball is in play, the player who was struck is eliminated. Players may not intentionally use their body to block or redirect the ball.
"Bus Stop" (also called "holding" or "trapping") is a technique where a player catches or traps the ball momentarily before releasing it. True Bus Stop (catching and throwing) is always illegal as it constitutes a carry.
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