It’s been about three years since I’ve taught a middle school class, and in that time the average number of middle schoolers playing 8-square during break has declined from roughly 73% to roughly 0%. I take this as a personal insult.
Before Christmas break I told my access class (think homeroom) that we’d have to go outside and play 8-square when the weather got warmer. They did not know what 8-square was, and asked if it was like 4-square. I said only in-so-much-as a blizzard is like an ice-cube. Intrigued –more with the possibility of going outside than in playing 8-square– they have been incessently asking me (a) “What is 8-square and?” (b) “Could they go outside and play it, please?”
As Lauren mentioned, we’ve had some really warm weather lately, so yesterday I took them out. There was much rejoicing. Earlier in the day I had grabbed some seniors (we keep a full supply on hand) who remembered playing 8-square to come out and chalk out a “court”. Traditionally an 8-square court is laid out in a 2×4 grid, but we drew out a 3×3 grid this time. It seemed to work well.
The rules are exceedingly simple:
- The ball must bounce in your square before you hit it.
- You must hit* it with your hand(s).
- You must hit the ball into someone else’s square.
None of the screwy rules you see with 4-square. This is a real man’s game (the girls tend to be as good as the guys). Acceptable exclamations include, “good show”, “bad form”, “nice hit”, “tough one” and “quit your whinin'”. It’s a good game for teaching kids to just take their lumps, because everyone “gets out” all the time.
They are playing with the huge “training ball” right now. Later on I’ll bring out the Tournament Play ball. It’s smaller and bouncier.
*You do have to explain that “hit” is a single momentary contact with the ball. Otherwise you get shoves and holds, which break rule 2 and get you out.
Gretchen says
Looks like the “training ball” has a rating of PG-13. What is the rating on the Tournament Play ball -- R? NC-17?
Lloyd says
The Tournament ball is a somewhat larger version of Happy Fun Ball. The training ball is 13 inches in diameter, and, yes, maybe inappropriate for children under 13 years of age.
Brad says
Some of our 8th grade guys play four square when we have a rare recess time. They have labeled each square. If you’re in the lowest square, you’re called the Joker. Then you’re Queen, then King. The highest square gives you the title Super King.
Brad says
We just so happened to have some recess time this morning. The guys played Four Square, so I asked them about the labels again. The first square’s label is not Joker, it’s Dunce.
Lauren says
Sooooo….. it’s really 9 square, huh. Don’t you teach math?
Lloyd says
That’s the name of the game. You might as well ask why “Mr. Sommerer’s Stupid Review Game” is called that. It’s because that’s its name.
Deborah says
That’s what I was going to say.
Kristi says
Those squares are huge. I don’t recall them being that large when I learned the game. (This is what happens as you age, isn’t it? Things aren’t as big as they used to be.)
Peggy says
Yes, unfortunately some things are bigger.
Lloyd says
Well, the students are bigger… Just kidding. One of the reasons it’s more fun than 4-square is that the squares are bigger.
Peggy says
I’ve never played this game. It sounds hard. Any chance you have a video of the game?
Did any of you out there ever play SPUD? I remember playing that as a kid.
Kristi says
Teach me. What’s SPUD?
Peggy says
Oh my, I had to think about it. And then it seemed too long to type so here you go. But we used to just call out a name. And we took 4 giant steps (spelling Spud), not 2. We used a ball like the one above.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Lf7Azy22_0&feature=related
or
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_4_1geTTAI