Ante Over facts for kids

Ante Over (also known by many names like Handy Over, Annie Over, or Antony Over) is a fun children's game. It has been played in the United States and Canada for a long time, since at least the late 1800s.

To play, you need a ball or a small object and a barrier. This barrier is usually a small building with a sloped roof, like a shed. The game is played over a building that you can throw a ball over and run around.

Here's the main idea: One player yells "Annie-Annie Over!" and throws the ball over the building. Kids on the other side try to catch it. If they catch the ball, they can sneak around the building. Their goal is to tag a player from the other team. Players must watch out for opponents coming around the building. If you get tagged, you join the other team. If you make it safely around, that side becomes your new "safe" spot. The game continues until one team has all the players.

If the ball doesn't go over the building, the thrower can yell 'Pigtail!' They then try to throw it again. You must catch the ball to be able to run around the building and tag others.

How to Play Ante Over

This game involves two teams, with one team on each side of a barrier. A player on the team that starts with the ball throws it over the roof. They shout "Ante Over!" to warn the other team that the ball is coming.

If the other team doesn't catch the ball before it hits the ground, they must yell "Ante Over!" and throw it back. But if the team catches the ball, the player holding it gets to run around the building. They try to hit an opponent with the ball.

Players are "safe" if they run around the building without being hit. If a player is hit by the ball, they then join the team of the player who hit them. The game keeps going until one team has all the players. Or, it can end when only one player is left on a team.

Game Variations

There are different ways to play Ante Over, depending on where you are.

• In some places, if the ball bounces off the wall or doesn't go over the roof, the thrower might yell "Pig's tail" or "Uncle." This lets the other team know the ball didn't make it over. Then, they yell "Ante Over" again and try another throw.
• An indoor version of the game can use a curtain instead of a building. Any tall object that hides the other team can work. However, a gabled roof is part of the traditional way to play.
• When a building is used, some versions say the ball must touch the other side of the roof. This can make it harder for the other team to catch. Some players even learn to roll the ball up and over the roof.
• If you play with a fence or something you can see through, it's harder for players to cheat. Everyone can see if the ball hits the ground. But with a building, players can sometimes sneak around. This can surprise the other team!
• One rule says you can only hit an opposing player below the waist. This is a safety rule, like in Dodgeball.
• In most versions, players only need to run to the other side of the building to be "safe." Other versions require them to run all the way around the building.