Four square

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For other uses, see Four square (disambiguation).
The serve and first two hits in a four square game.
The serve and first two hits in a four square game.

Four square is a ball game played among four players on a square court divided into quadrants.

Contents

[edit] Gameplay

Four square requires only a ball and a court made of four squares. With such little required equipment, almost no setup, and short rounds of play that can be ended at any time, it is a popular playground game. Gameplay varies significantly from region to region.

[edit] Objective

The objective in four square is for individual players to enter the court in the lowest square and move up by eliminating players in higher squares. [1] Once at the top square the player has the privilege of serving the ball to start each round. Players are eliminated when they cause any number of specific errors. With each elimination, players advance to until the lowest square is available and a new player joins the court in that position. Any number of players may wait in a line outside the court for their turn to play.

[edit] Ranks

There are four ranks in which the game consists of. The chart below will show them:

Rank 1:(Highest):King Rank 2:Queen Rank 3:Jack Rank 4:(Lowest):Pawn


[edit] Boundaries

Four square is played on a square court divided into four smaller squares of equal size. Different communities or groups use different size courts, ranging from 16 to 24 feet [2]. Court sizes are often adjusted to be appropriate for age or skill level.

The outermost lines of the court are considered fair play and the ball may land on any portion of an outside line and still be in play. The inside lines are designated as out of bounds and balls landing on any portion of an inside line are in error. A popular abbreviation of these rules is known as 'inside out, outside in'. Balls landing outside the court are considered errors as well. [3]

[edit] Starting gameplay and service

Each round of the game begins with the player in the top square serving the ball. The server must first drop the ball in their square then serve to another square. The serve is intended to put the ball into play fairly and must be reasonably returnable by the first receiving player. From this point on, regular game play follows until a player is eliminated. If you spike the ball, it will make the game a little more interesting but more severe injuries can happen.

[edit] Regular gameplay

Players must allow the ball to land once in a square, and the occupant of that square must return the ball to any other player's square by hitting or striking the ball with their hands. They may hit with one or both hands but must hit cleanly with no holding, fumbling or catching; or be eliminated. Once the ball lands in a new player's square, that player must return it, and so forth, until a player makes an error and is eliminated.

[edit] Errors and elimination

Players may be eliminated for the following errors:

  • A player hits the ball out of bounds.
  • A player allows the ball to bounce more than once in their square.
  • A player fails to hit the ball properly into another player's square.
  • A player hits the ball more than once before returning it to another square.
  • A player violates a special rule. Four square is known for its many spontaneous rules.


Eliminated players leave the court, all remaining players move up to the next highest square, and a new player joins in the lowest square.

[edit] Officiation and Judging

Four square is a fast game and often played by younger children. It is often difficult for children to self-govern a game of four square and it is important to create some form of officiation or judging when appropriate. It is advised that before a game, that all the players should elect a Judge and an Assisant Judge to decide the calls.if you chase the ball in to the ocean you are automatically out!!

[edit] Varieties and styles of gameplay

Four square is played all over the world and the potential to discover, customize and reinvent rules for four square is limitless. In addition to common names such as four square and handball, here are a few of the other names that four square is known by. Refer to the Four square regional varieties section to learn more about each country's variety of play.

  • North America: Four Square, Square ball, Blockball, Champ, Smash, King's Court,Queen's: Elimination Nation,Handball, Four Ball, Downball, Hand Tennis, Kingpin, Line Square
  • Africa: Hand Tennis, Indirect, Orbliquet
  • Asia: Downball
  • Europe: Square Ball, King, Four Square

Four square is a highly improvisational and customizable game, especially when played by children. Many varieties allow the top ranking player to develop or enforce special rules at their discretion. Rules range from strategic to silly and new rules are born every day.

[edit] Tournaments and competitions

As players rise in skill level or athletic ability it is important to appropriately raise the challenge of the game. Changing elements of the game, such as ball types, court sizes, boundaries, etc, will make the game more difficult but it is very rewarding to players to create structure for formal competition, either in tournament or other traditional competition styles.

Some communities or groups have developed rules for tournament-style play. Squarefour and The International 4-Square League both use systems of scoring that give numbers or averages to players over time, while other groups use an elimination or double elimination system. Below are a number of models of four square tournaments.

[edit] World Championships

The Four Square World Championships, a competitive adult four square tournament, take place in Bridgton, Maine, USA, each winter season. Peter Lowell of the Lakes Environmental Association hosts this annual fundraiser each winter to support the environmental work done in the lakes region of Maine, USA. This competition draws athletes from the USA and Canada, and has registered competitors from Israel and Bermuda. Prior world championships have been held on Jan 29, 2005, Jan 28, 2006, Feb 3, 2007, and Feb 16, 2008.

Four Square World Championships February 16, 2008

[edit] Footnotes

  1. ^ Rules Despite regional variances player advancement to the top square is universal.
  2. ^ Squarefour uses 16' and Camp Fowler uses the 24' court.
  3. ^ Squarefour

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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