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Playworkers playing foursquare
  1. Autonomous/Self-access Games
  2. Ball Games
  3. Recess Games
  4. Rotational Games

  • 11+ Players

  • Grades 3-5

  • Balls

  • 10-15 Minutes

Goal

To develop eye-hand coordination and strategic thinking skills.

Before You Start

  • One player starts in each square and the other players wait in the recycle line for their turn.
  • The player in square A or 1 is the server.

Set Up

  • A foursquare court with each box labeled A, B, C, D or 1, 2, 3, 4.
    • A standard foursquare area is one large square (10’ x 10’) divided into four smaller squares (5’ x 5’).

How to Play

  • Play begins when the server drops the ball once into his/her square then hits it underhand into a different square.
  • The ball must bounce once and only once in any square.
  • Each player must hit/play the ball with his/her hand(s) into an opposing player’s square after it has bounced only once in their square.
  • A player gets Recycled out of the game (goes to the end of the line) if:
    • The ball bounces more than once in a player’s square.
    • The ball is played before it bounces once in a square.
    • The ball hits the inside or outside lines of the foursquare court or goes out of bounds before it bounces, then the player who hit the ball gets recycled out of the game.
    • If a player catches, holds, or “bubbles” the ball.
  • Anytime a player gets recycled out of the game, a square is left open and the players must rotate. 
    • The remaining players advance to close the gaps between A or 1 and D or 4.
    • The first person waiting in line advances to square A or 1 and becomes the server for the next round.

Variations