Spud (game) facts for kids

Spud is a fun game for both kids and adults. In Spud, players try to get each other out by throwing and catching a soft, inflated ball. It's a bit like other games such as "call ball" or "ball tag."

How to Play Spud

Getting Started

You need at least three players for Spud, but there's no limit to how many can join! Make sure you have a big, open space to play in.

To begin, each player gets a secret number. If five people are playing, players will get numbers 1 through 5. One player is chosen to be "It."

Setting Up the Game Area

The player who is "It" stands in the middle of the playing area. They place one foot in front of the other. All other players must touch one of their feet to the "It" player's inner foot. Then, they take three big steps backward. This setup is important for the game to start fairly.

Starting a Round

Once everyone has stepped back, the "It" player throws the ball straight up into the air. As they throw it, they call out another player's secret number. The ball must go straight up!

Running and Freezing

When the ball is thrown, all players run away quickly. They keep running until the player whose number was called catches the ball. As soon as that player has the ball, they must shout "Spud!"

When "Spud!" is called, everyone must freeze right away. If a player was running and couldn't stop immediately, they must walk back to where they were when "Spud!" was shouted. Players cannot run around corners or hide behind trees. Everyone must stay in sight of the player who has the ball.

Taking Your Shot

The player who caught the ball can now take a certain number of giant steps toward one or more other players. Sometimes, younger or older players might get more steps. After taking their steps, the player with the ball tries to hit another player with it. The target player cannot move their feet or duck down. However, they can sway, bend, or shift their body to try and avoid the ball.

Earning Letters (Penalties)

If the ball hits the target player (and they don't catch it), that player gets one penalty letter. The letters are S, P, U, D. The player who was hit then becomes "It" for the next round. They will throw the ball into the air.

If the ball misses the target player, or if the target player catches the ball, then the player who threw the ball gets a penalty letter. That player then becomes "It" for the next round.

What Happens When You Get S-P-U-D

When a player gets all four penalty letters (S-P-U-D), they are out of the game. A new game can then start.

In another way to play, a player who gets all four letters is simply removed from the game. The other players keep playing with their current penalty letters. If only two players are left, there are two ways the game can end:

• Both players can be declared winners.
• One of the players who was removed throws the ball for the final round.

Spud Variations

Ghost Numbers

In a different version of Spud, the highest secret number is two more than the number of players. For example, if there are five players, the numbers might go up to 7. The two numbers that aren't assigned to anyone are called "ghost numbers."

If the player throwing the ball calls a "ghost number," all players must chase after the ball and try to touch it. The last player to touch the ball gets one penalty letter. That player then becomes "It" for the next round.

Kicking the Ball

In this version, you can kick the ball. However, for safety, players cannot kick the ball if it is within three feet of another player. In that case, you can just touch or punch the ball with your hands or another part of your body.

If a player is removed from the game in this version, their number also becomes a "ghost number." When calling a "ghost number," the player throwing the ball must throw it high enough to make sure no one has an unfair advantage.