Four Square facts for kids
The layout of a four square court.
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| Players | 4 |
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| Setup time | 30 seconds |
| Skill(s) required | Manual dexterity Strategy Social skills |
Four Square is a super fun ball game played by four people on a square court. This court is split into four smaller squares. The main goal is to be the best player on the court by getting other players out. You do this by bouncing a ball back and forth between the squares.
If the ball bounces in your square and you can't hit it into another player's square, you're out! It's a really popular game at schools because you don't need much equipment. It's also quick to set up and games can end whenever you want.
Contents
Playing the Game: The Court and Rules
Four Square is played on any hard, flat surface. This could be wood, concrete, or even asphalt. There isn't one exact court size. Usually, the whole court is about 10 to 30 feet (3-8 meters) on each side. It's divided into four equal smaller squares.
Each of these four smaller squares has a rank, and one player stands in each square. The squares can be ranked in different ways. Sometimes the highest rank is across from the lowest. Other times, the ranks go up as you move around the court like a clock.
The lines on the court are very important! The lines inside, which separate the player squares, are "out of bounds." If the ball touches any part of an inside line, the player who hit it makes a mistake. The lines around the very edge of the court are usually "in-bounds." A simple way to remember this is "inside out, outside in." Sometimes it's hard to tell if the ball hit a line, even for judges in tournaments!
How to Use the Ball
Four Square is usually played with a rubber playground ball. These balls are typically about 8.5 inches across and filled with a little air. But you can use other sizes and types of balls too!
In the regular game, called "classic" play, you must hit the ball only with your hands.
You are not allowed to carry, catch, or hold the ball during play. But you can put spin on the ball when you hit it, as long as you don't hold it. Holding the ball for too long can give a player an unfair advantage. When you hit the ball, it must clearly change its speed or direction.
Getting Players Out
Players can get out of the game if they make a mistake or a "foul." When a player is out, they leave the court. The other players then move up to the next highest square. A new player then joins the game in the lowest square. Players who are out usually wait in line for their next turn.
Here are some common ways players get out (but remember, rules can change!):
- Not hitting the ball into another square.
- This includes missing the ball completely.
- Or hitting the ball into your own square.
- Hitting the ball when it's not your turn.
- Hitting the ball with a body part that's not allowed (like your foot).
- Hitting the ball out of bounds (or onto an inside line).
- Hitting the ball before it bounces on the ground in your square.
Fun Mini-Games to Try!
Sometimes, playing regular Four Square can get a bit boring. That's where mini-games come in! Mini-games add new and exciting rules to the game. The player who starts with the ball usually decides which mini-game to play. There are tons of mini-games out there, and every group of players might have their own special rules!
Here are some popular mini-games:
- Cherry Bomb: The player serving the ball kicks it really hard in any direction. They then call out another player's name and tell them to get the ball in a certain amount of time. The player who gets the ball must run back to their square with it. While they're getting the ball, the other players count down. If the player doesn't get back in time, they're out! If they do, the game goes back to normal.
- Tips: In this game, players must not let the ball touch the ground! They hit the ball to another player while it's still in the air. If a player hits the ball while touching the ground, they're out. If a player makes a bad pass and the other player can't hit it up, the passer is out. If a player gets a good pass but then hits it wrong and the ball touches the ground, they're out.
- War: The player serving the ball picks another player to declare "war" on. This means they play regular Four Square, but only the two players at war can get each other out.
- Don't Break Mama's Dishes: This is like "Tips," but players can touch the ground when they hit the ball.
- Sprinkles: In this game, players can't get out! If a player would normally be eliminated, they just stay in their square. This is great for practice rounds, especially with harder mini-games like "Tips."
- Suicides: All players (except the one serving) line up on one side of the court. They then run to the middle line, run back to the outside line, and then run to the parallel outside line. It's like a running drill you might see in basketball!
- Packman (or Cereal Killer): Players (except the server) run around the court, but they must stay on the lines that make up the squares. The server then chases them, also staying on the lines. If the server catches or touches another player, that player is out!
- Players who are not in the game can stand on the court lines. They act like obstacles that the running players have to avoid.
- Double Tap: This is a very popular mini-game where players can hit the ball twice in a row before it goes to another square.
Making the Game Fit Everyone
Four Square is a great game for kids and school playgrounds. You can easily change how hard or easy it is, or how much supervision is needed, to fit different ages and skill levels. Schools, churches, and camps often change the court size, the type of ball, or even the rules to make the game more fun or to match the players' abilities.
Games Like Four Square
Four Square has inspired other cool games. One example is "Nine Square." Instead of a two-by-two grid, it's a three-by-three grid! The "king" square is in the middle, and the ball is served from there. The rules are similar: players pass the ball by bouncing it between squares.
Recently, other versions of the game have become popular that are played in the air. These are similar to the original, with four or nine people in their spots, but they have to keep the ball off the ground, like in volleyball. The way players rotate and the rules are similar to the ground versions.
A Look at History
Four Square has been around for a long time, at least since the 1950s. Newspapers mentioned a game called "four square" back then, even if they didn't explain the rules.
A teacher's manual from 1953 describes Four Square with the same rules we use today!
In Sweden, the game is known as "King." Many players also call the person in the serving square the "king."
World Championships
The Four Square World Championships is a big competition for adults. It happens every winter in Bridgton, Maine, USA. The Lakes Environmental Association hosts this yearly event to help protect the lakes in Maine. Players from the US and Canada come to compete, and people from as far away as Israel and Bermuda have joined!
Here are some recent champions from February 24, 2018:
- 2020 Men's World Champion: Alec Douglas from Norway, Maine, USA
- 2018 Women's World Champion: Brittany Dunay from Maine, USA
- 2018 Men's World Champion: Christian Housh from Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- 2018 Women's Junior World Champion: Penny Housh from Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- 2018 Men's Junior World Champion: Sabian Hallin from Maine, USA
Before 2018, world championships were held every January or February from 2005 onwards.
World Records
On August 4-5, 2012, a group of 17 students and former students from Needham High School in Massachusetts played Four Square for an amazing 34 hours! They were helped by about 50 other people from Needham at different times. This broke the old world record, which was 30 hours, held by 15 students from Manchester College.
Before that, the world record was held by eight players from Argentina who played for 29 hours in 2008. This was recognized by Guinness World Records. Even before the Argentinian record, a group of teens from Youngstown, Ohio, also played for 29 hours!
See also
In Spanish: Cuatro cuadras para niños
