Four Squares – Game

This game is fun and can be played with four or six squares. It’s a great game for any child’s party and requires little supplies to set up and play.GAME RULES:

1. In the standard game, there are four squares painted on the ground, all touching each other, making one, larger square (or six squares making a rectangle).

* Each small square is roughly 8′ x 8′, but that’s not a hard and fast rule.

*The best ball to use is the standard red ‘kickball’.

2. Each player occupies one of the squares.

* If you have more than 4 (or 6) players, you can make two playing areas (or more if needed).

3. The squares each have a rank order.

a. The square with the highest rank is called the ‘King’ [Sometimes the 'Ace'].
b. The #2 square may be called the ‘Prime Minister’
c. The other three may be called the ‘Queen’, ‘Prince’, and ‘Princess’.

4. At the start of the game, the King bounces the ball in his square once and then hits it towards one of the other squares.

5. The receiving player then hits the ball to any other player, and play continues until one of the following things occur:

a. A player hits the ball (or is hit BY the ball) before it bounces once in their square.
b. A player does not hit the ball before it bounces twice.
c. A player hits the ball out of bounds (it must land in someone’s square first).

6. Once a player is ‘dead’, they move back to the lowest ranking square. The other players then move up to fill the vacancies. If there are more players than squares, that person goes to the back of the line, and the person at the front of the line gets to move onto the lowest square and play.

* Playing off of walls, poles, etc is not only legal but encouraged.

7. You can decide the “winner” two different ways.

a. Set a timer. When the timer goes off, whoever is in the “King” square, wins.
b. The first player to be “King” 3 times wins.

* If time permits, kid’s love to help make the squares, otherwise, have this game set up ahead of time.