Chapter II: Part 2

A file of ten or twelve players, so-called "hens," stand in line behind each other, hands on shoulders of player in front. The first player raises her arms shoulder high to protect those behind her. One player, the "hawk," tries to catch one of the hens, not the first and second of the file. The first hen must face the hawk throughout all the movements and in order to keep out of the hawk's reach, all the other hens must keep in line with her. A hen caught is out of the play. Both the hawk and first hen take position at rear end of the file, the next two hens becoming hawk and hen.

BOGEY-MAN

One player, called the Bogey-Man, stands on one goal. All the other players stand on the goal opposite. The Bogey-man runs out and calls "Are you afraid of the Bogey-Man?" at which the other players run forward toward his goal, whereat the Bogey-Man tries to capture one of the players. The one caught must follow the Bogey-Man to the opposite goal and from here both run, with or without joining hands, to catch the rest of the players. When all have been caught, the first player caught becomes "Bogey-Man."

DAY AND NIGHT

The players are divided into two teams formed in two lines about three feet apart, facing in opposite directions.

Goal
______________________________
| |
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|------------------------------| Day
Leader | o |
|------------------------------| Night
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|______________________________|
Goal

The leader has a disk painted black on one side and white on the other. A coin may be used in place of a disk. In front of each party at a distance of about fifteen paces is a goal. The leader throws up the disk. If the white side is up when the disk has alighted, he calls out "Day." The day party then rushes toward its goal and the night party pursues, catching as many of the "Day" party as possible. These they take back to their own goal. The captured members are now out of the game. The sides return to their places and the disk is thrown up again. The game is continued until all players on one of the sides are out.

BOUNDARY BALL

The players are arranged as shown in figure. The length of the space is about thirty paces, "a--a" being the outer boundaries and "b" a center line. The two parties stand about ten paces from the center line. A member of the first party throws the ball. The members of the second party catch it or stop it from rolling. The catcher then throws the ball back to the first party and so on until either party succeeds in passing the ball across the outer boundary line of the other party.

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| ) : b ( |
a | ) : ( | a
| ) : ( |
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FRENCH BLIND MAN'S BUFF

A player blindfolded and furnished with a wand stands in the center of the room. The other players join hands and walk or hop around him until he signals them to stop, by tapping the floor with his wand. He points the wand at some one in the ring. The one at whom he points takes the end of the wand, and holding it must answer any three questions the blindfolded player may choose to ask. The player who answers may disguise his voice. If the blindfolded player recognizes the voice, the two players change places.

BULL IN THE RING

The players join hands and form a circle. One is chosen bull and wanders about in the inside, testing the circle in an effort to get out. If he breaks through and escapes the keepers chase him. The one catching him in turn becomes bull.

CALL BALL

A basketball is needed for this game. The players, 10 to 30, are numbered and form a circle, one of the players standing in the center. The object is to catch the ball before the second bounce, when one number has been called.

The player in the center tosses the ball high up within the circle, at the same time calling the number of some player. The one called must quickly run and catch the ball on the first bounce. If he catches the ball he tosses it up and calls the number of some other player. If the ball is not caught the first player again tosses it up. The ball may be caught on the fly.

To vary the game, form sides, numbering the players, the odd numbers forming one side, the even numbers the other. The odd numbers must call on the even, and vice versa. One point is counted for every ball caught, and the side with the highest score after twenty tosses wins.

ARCH GOAL BALL

Basketball and basket goal are necessary equipment. The players (8 to 10 on a team) are divided into seven groups and line up in a single file in two or more lines, facing a basketball goal. Each line has a basketball and stands behind a starting line.

A game is finished when the last man on the team has crossed the starting line before the others have finished.

At a signal each leader passes the ball backward overhead and the next player takes it and passes it on in the same way, and so on down the line. When the last player receives the ball, he runs forward and tries to throw it into the basket standing on a line marked from five to ten feet from the goal. He is allowed but one throw, when he quickly takes his place at the front of his line (the line moving backward in place to make room for him), and he at once passes the ball backward overhead. The last player in turn runs forward, tries for the goal, and this is repeated until each player in line has thrown for goal.

Two points are scored for each team making the goal, one point may be given for finishing first. The team having the highest score wins.

Sometimes the game is played with a time limit. In this case each player throws until he succeeds in getting the ball into the basket. The team wins whose last man finished first.

CHICKEN AND FOX

Two players are chosen--one to be the mother hen and the other to be the fox, who is after a chicken for his meal. The other players are in the brood--each one of them grasps the one in front of him, beginning with the largest, and placing themselves in line behind their mother. As the fox appears the hen says, "What do you want, Fox?" The fox replies, "I want a chicken." The hen in turn says, "Where will you get it?" The fox then replies "Out of your flock." The fox then runs to the right and left trying to pass the mother and get one of the chickens. The one caught becomes fox and the hen takes her place at the end of the line. The second in line in turn becomes mother hen.

Seventh Grade

CHANGING PLACES

All players but one stand in a circle of about seven yards or more in diameter facing inward. The odd player stands in the middle. Each player is given a number which he retains all through the game. The teacher calls out two numbers (but not, of course, that of the player in the middle) and the players so numbered must change places in the circle. While they are doing so the odd player must try to get into one of the vacant places first, and if he is successful the ousted player becomes the odd man in the center.

STEAL THE HANDKERCHIEF

Players form in two lines facing each other and about eight yards apart. Each line is numbered so that there are corresponding numbers on each side. The leader then takes a rag, places it midway between the two lines. He then calls a number, and the players on each side having that number will rush forward and attempt to steal the handkerchief. The one succeeding scores one point for his side. The players return and the game continues; the side scoring highest wins.

ON THE BANK--IN THE POND

Players form in a single file. An imaginary line to the left of the column designated as the Bank and an imaginary line to the right of the column designated as the Pond. These lines are about three feet apart. Teacher facing column calls out "On the Bank," the players jumping onto the Bank. He then calls out, "In the Pond," the players jumping into the Pond. At each command the teacher moves his hand to the opposite line from which players are located. In order to keep players "on their toes," teacher calls "In the Pond" when the men are in the Pond and at the same time moves his hand in the direction of the Bank. Those who jump across or remain behind when the command is given to do otherwise are out of the game.

MAZE

All the players except two stand in parallel ranks, one behind the other. The distance between each player and each rank is that of "double arms' length," so that whichever direction the ranks may face with arms extended horizontally a line of players with finger tips touching will be formed. The ranks should be drawn up so as to form a square as nearly as possible. The chaser has to pursue the runner up and down the lines until he catches him, neither being permitted to pass under the outstretched arms. The teacher makes sudden changes in the lines by calling "right turn" or "left turn," on which all turn in the required direction, still keeping the arms outstretched. These sudden changes alter the direction of the paths down which the two players may run. The interest depends greatly upon the judgment of the leader in giving the commands "right (or left) turn." They should be given frequently--and sharply, and often just at the moment when the chaser is about to catch the runner. The game continues until runner is caught, or a time reached when a new chaser and runner are chosen.

The game may be played with hands on hips instead of arms outstretched.

BOMBARDMENT

Playground or gymnasium suitable place for this game. Basketball and Indian clubs are necessary equipment. Number of players 10 to 40. The ground is divided into two equal fields by a line across the center. At the rear of each field a row of Indian clubs is set up, there being the same number of pins as players. Should the number of pins be so great as to require their being closer than two feet, a second row should be placed in front of the first so that each club stands opposite a space in the preceding row of clubs.

The players are divided into two teams, from five to twenty in each team. The players stand behind their clubs and the dividing line in any scattered formation. Several balls should be put in play if a large number are playing.

The object is to knock down the opponents' clubs. Each player acts both as a guard to protect his clubs, and as a thrower. He may throw whenever he can secure a ball, there being no order in which players should throw. Balls may be made to displace the opponents' clubs by being thrown against the wall behind the clubs so that they will rebound, knocking the clubs down from the rear. No player is permitted to cross the center line. The game is most interesting when several balls are in play at once. For each club overturned the side which knocked it down scores one. Every club overturned by a player on his own side spoils one for the opponents. The game is played in time limits of from one to twenty minutes, the side winning which has the highest score at the end of that time.

JAPANESE TAG

The players are scattered within a limited playing area. This game is played like ordinary tag except that "it" must place one hand on the spot where he was tagged and hold it there while trying to tag another man. Any player running outside of the playing area automatically becomes "it".

HOOK ARM TAG

Players paired in circular formation, inside arms hooked at elbows, outside hands on hips. Two players stand in the center, one is "it," the other is chased by "it". The chased player runs about the circle either inside or out and may hook the elbow of any player. The player he catches holds fast to him and a third player is then the one to be chased. If he tags a player chased, before he can hook an arm, the latter must chase "it" or someone set free by "it," and the game continues.

CROSSING NO MAN'S LAND

Formation--In single line.

A parallel line is drawn about fifty feet in front and the player being "it" stands between this line and the players. At a signal, players change to the opposite line. "It" tries to catch as many runners as possible. Players so caught must help "it" catch the others. After such charge those uncaught assemble themselves and try to charge back to previous base. Players charge and re-charge until all have been caught.

OBJECT RELAY RACE

Players stand in files, an equal number in each file. Opposite and at about fifteen and twenty yards respectively from the front player of each file, two circles (about eight inches in diameter) are marked on the ground, one straight behind the other. In the nearest of each of the circles an object (stone, stick, club) is placed. At the command "Go" the first player of each file races to the first circle, seizes the object and places it in the second circle, five yards off. He then races back and touches the outstretched hand of the next player in his row. The latter then races to the object and in the same way places it back in the near circle, and so alternately until each player of the row has had his turn. The last player, having deposited the object in the circle, races back to the line which the front players were originally "toeing". The first row to finish wins. Each player after touching the outstretched hand of the "next to run" places himself at the rear of his row, which keeps moving forward so that the next to run is always "toeing" the original line.

PASS AND TOSS RELAY

This game is suitable for playground, gymnasium or classroom. Equipment necessary is Bean Bag or ball. Number of players preferably 8 to 10 on a team. The players stand in two or more even ranks, facing sideways and numbered consecutively. The players at either end step two paces forward of the ranks, to the points marked 1 and 10 respectively, as they are to be in a position to catch the ball tossed by some other player.

+-------------------------------------+
| O------ O |
| 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 |
+-------------------------------------+

No. 1 of each team tries to return to his original position first.

Player No. 1 has a bean bag (or ball) and at a signal for starting runs toward the rear and as he runs tosses the bag to No. 10. The line immediately moves forward one place, No. 2 stepping into the place vacated by No. 1. Upon catching the bag, No. 10 takes his place in line with the rank, and passes the bag to his next neighbor, No. 9. The bag is then passed rapidly up the line until it is received by No. 3, who tosses it to No. 2. No. 2 in turn, as soon as he receives the bag, dashes for the rear, tossing the bag as he goes to the player standing at 10, who in this case will be No. 1. The line again moves up--No. 3 now stepping out to the place marked 1. The play is continued until No. 1 is back in his original position. The rank getting the bag around to No. 1 first after he returns to his original position wins the game. No. 1 should hold the bag up at arm's length as soon as he gets its as a signal that his rank has completed its play.

DOWN AND UP

Players form in column of files.

All spread legs. First player in the column passes some object (stick, stone, hat, eraser, bean bag) back between legs to the next player, who passes it on. When the last player in the column has received it he yells "Down" and runs forward astraddle the other players to the head of the column. The other players quickly rise and the object is passed back between the legs until all have carried it forward.

ZIG ZAG RELAY

Players form in columns of files.

Place four bean bags four feet apart at a distance of ten feet in front of each column in direction of depth. At a signal the first player in each column runs to the right of the first bag, passes it and then runs to the left of the second, to the right of the third, to the left of the fourth and around it and then zig-zags back. When he reaches the starting line, he touches off a second player who, in turn, proceeds to duplicate the first player's performance. Column finishing first scores.

Eighth Grade

CROWS AND CRANES

Players form in two lines, back to back and at about one yard interval. One line is designated "Crows" and the other "Cranes." If the leader calls out "Cranes," the Cranes will rush forward about thirty feet across a safety line, and the line designated as Crows will turn around and attempt to tag his opposing player before he has crossed the distance to the safety line. If the leader calls "Crows," the Crows will rush forward to their safety zone. Those who are tagged must go over to the other side. The team having the largest number of players at the expiration of a given time wins. The game can be made more intensive by the leader if he drawls out the "r" in either Crows or Cranes.

JUMPING CIRCLE

Players form a circle about 30 feet in diameter. One player in center holds a light rope about fifteen feet long with a soft weight on one end. The player in the center swings the rope around so that players in the circle have to jump it. Player failing to jump the rope has a point counted against him or he may be made to withdraw from the game.

HINDU TAG

The players are scattered in a limited playing area, about fifty feet square. One player is "it". He chases players about and may tag anyone who is in "safe" position (on both knees, forehead on ground). Players ought not to remain in one place, but must move about. Any player tagged is "it". Players should not go out of playing area. Anyone doing so is automatically "it".

SWAT TO THE RIGHT

Any number of players may participate. Players form a circle, hands behind back, facing in, eyes closed. One player carrying a swatter (belt, knotted towel, etc.), runs around outside of circle and places swatter in someone's hand. The player receiving it immediately hits the player to the right. The player who is being hit, runs around the circle until he is back to his starting position. The player with the swatter follows the runner and swats him until he is back in position. The player with the swatter runs on and places it in the hands of some other player.

SQUAT TAG

The players are scattered within a limited playing area. One player is "it". He can touch anyone who is not in a full squat position. The player touched becomes "it" and chases about after some other player. Players who for fear of being made "it" remain in the squat position should be pushed over. The squat position consists of knees full bent with hands on hips.

TEN STEPS

One player who is "it" blinds his eyes and counts ten while all the other players run for hiding places. As soon as the one who is "it" says "ten," the players must stand motionless wherever they may happen to be while he turns at once to look for them. Any player whom he sees moving must come back to the goal and start over again. The "blinder" repeats this five times, and any player not entirely out of sight the fifth time the blinder turns must change places with him, while the original "it" becomes a spectator.

After counting "ten" and turning to look for moving players five times, the hunter counts one hundred to give players chance to reach their final hiding places and the game continues as in regular I Spy.

HANG TAG

One player is chosen chaser or "it" and changes places with anyone whom he can tag. Players may escape being tagged by hanging from anything overhead which will enable them to lift their feet from the floor. Played out of doors, players will naturally save themselves by catching hold of the branches of trees. If played in a gymnasium or playground pieces of apparatus may be used for the same purpose. Players are also considered safe if instead of hanging by their hands, they throw themselves across some obstacle such as a fence, which enables them to lift their feet from the ground. No two players may hang from the same piece of apparatus. The last one taking possession may keep his position, the one before him being obliged to find another place. This keeps the players constantly on the move and the game becomes more interesting.

CLUB SNATCH

A goal is marked off across each end of the playground. An Indian club is placed midway between the goals. A starting base is marked on each goal line in line with the club. The players are divided into two equal teams, each having a captain. Each party takes its place in one of the goals. The object of the game is for one of the runners to snatch the club and return to his goal before a runner from the opposite side tags him, both leaving their starting bases at the same time on a signal. The players on each team run in turn, the captains naming the runner each time.

INDIAN CLUB WRESTLE

Players come up in files not more than eight in a file. Each file forms a circle. In the middle of each circle four Indian clubs are placed. At the signal "go" each circle joins hands and pulls. When the umpire sees that any player in any circle has knocked down a club he calls "Out One." That player withdraws from the game. All stop playing and wait for the signal "go" and the play is repeated. When any one of the circles has been reduced to one player, the game ends, the circle scoring that has the largest number of players left.

PASS ROUND

Players are in circle formation about four feet apart. They number off, odds forming one team and evens the other. A ball, eraser or some object is given each team on opposite side of the circle. At a signal the teams pass the object to the right to members of the same team only. Each player must catch the object in his turn. The team which passes its object so that it catches up with the opponent's wins. Any player dropping object must regain it himself and pass it on fairly.

HUMAN TUG OF WAR

Players form in columns of files facing each other. Players stand close together, arms placed about the waist of the player in front (grasping the left wrist with the right hand is the strongest grip). Leading player of each team grasps the opponent about neck or shoulders, team breaking first or having one or more players pulled over the line after thirty seconds is the leader.

VOLLEY BALL

Ten to thirty players may play at one time on playground or gymnasium. Equipment consists of volley ball and tennis net.

For large teams this game is best played on a ground measuring fifty feet in length and twenty-five in width. A tennis net or a net two feet wide is stretched across the center of the ground from side to side, extending one or two feet beyond the boundary on either side. The upper edge should be from six feet and one-half to seven feet and one-half above the ground. The players are evenly divided into two teams. They scatter over their respective courts without special arrangement. A captain is chosen for each side. An umpire is desirable.

Each team tries to keep the ball in lively play toward its opponents' court, as each team scores only on its opponents' failures to return the ball or keep it in the air.

The ball is put in play by being served by a selected member of either team, who should stand at the rear of his court with one foot on the rear boundary line behind the line. From this position the ball is tossed upward lightly from one hand and batted with the open palm of the other hand over the net and into the opponents' court. The server has two trials. A served ball may be assisted on its course by any other player on the server's side using one or both hands (open palm), no player so assisting the ball on the serve may strike it more than twice in succession, and the server under such circumstances may not strike it more than once.

Should the ball then fail to land on the opponents' court, the server loses his second serve. In serving, the ball must be batted at least ten feet by the server before being touched by any other player on his side. If a return ball hits a player on the server's side and bounces into the opponents' court, it is considered no play. The players on a side take turns in serving. A ball which bounds back into the court after striking any other object except the floor or ceiling is still in play.

In sending the ball across the net, players should aim for an unprotected part of the opponents' court or try in other ways to place them at a disadvantage. The service changes to opposite side when the serving side:

1. Allows the ball to touch the floor.
2. Knocks it out of bounds.
3. Fails to return it to the opponents.
4. The ball hits the net during the service.
5. A served ball falls outside the opponents' court.
6. A player on the serving side touches the net at any time.

Score. The game consists of twenty-one points--only the serving side scores.

One point is scored when:

1. A good serve is unreturned.
2. Any time when the opponents fail to return the ball which is in
play.
3. When the receiving side touches the net.

(Should the serving side fail to return a ball to the opponents' court, they are put out. The serve passes to the opponents and no score is made.)

Scoring on Fouls.

1. Touching the net by a player on the receiving side allows the
serving side one point.

2. A ball sent under the net counts one for the opposing side.

3. If the ball strikes any object outside the court and bounds
back, although it is still in play, it counts one for the opposing
side. A ball sent out of bounds in returning a service scores one
point for the opposing team. One point is scored by the opponents
whenever a player catches the ball or holds it for even an instant.

Group Games for Adults

CHARIOT RELAY

Players line up at one end of the room. Count off by threes. Each group joins hands, and on the command "Go!" they run to the other end of the hall and return without letting go of hands. The first group back wins.

HURDLE RACE

Place several objects at different distances. Contestants race, jumping over them.

SONG CONTEST

Song contestants are supplied with pencil and paper. Standing on one foot, each writes two lines of a patriotic song. One finishing first wins.

Contestants are supplied with paper and crayon, and asked to draw a picture representing some popular song. The one whose drawing is the best representation wins the prize.

LAUGHING RELAY

Line up players in twos. Partners face and march backwards four steps. Leaders draw for first chance. One side named Blues, other Reds. If "Blues" have first chance, they try for the space of thirty seconds to make the "Reds" laugh. All "Reds" found laughing are recruited to the other side. Three turns constitute a game. The side having most recruits at the finish wins.

TELEGRAMS

Give each player a pencil and paper. Ask each to write the name of the city (town or state) in which he was born. Then ask each to separate the letters in the name of his birthplace and, using each letter as the initial of a word, to compose a telegram. Some interesting combinations are the result.

WHIRLWIND

This is an old English game. Arrange as many chairs as there are players in a circle. All the players but one are seated. This odd player takes his position in the center of the circle. His object is to take the vacant chair, but this the others prevent by hastily moving up (to right or left, as the movements of the person standing indicate) so as to fill the empty seat whenever the standing player approaches it.

In this manner, the vacancy is kept at the point farthest from him, and unless he is agile, the player cannot capture it.

THE LAUGHING GAME

Players form a circle. The first player starts with the word "ha," the second says "ha, ha," the third "ha, ha, ha," and so on, each one in turn adding one more ha than has been made by his neighbor. In each case, the ha ha's must be made without laughing, which is almost an impossibility. Before the circuit has been completed the entire circle is in peals of laughter. Each one guilty of laughing drops out of the game. The one remaining longest without laughing wins.

GAME OF OPPOSITE

Players stand in a circle. An extra player stands in the center, holding in his hands as many pieces of tape as there are players in the circle. The tape (or ribbons) are of two colors, red and blue. The opposite ends of each tape are held in the hands of a player. When the leader says "Reds let go," "Blues, hold on," the blues will let go, always doing just the opposite of the command given to be obeyed. Commands should be given rapidly and in military tone. When word for "all to hold on" is given the entire circle lets go, and so on.

MUSICAL CIRCLE

All players sit in a circle. One in the centre is the leader. To each one is assigned some musical instrument, which he must play. The leader waves his baton, but from time to time he will quickly begin to pantomime the instrument of someone in the circle. For instance, he plays the cornet, and as soon as he does this, the one to whom the cornet was assigned immediately sits back with folded hands until the leader goes back to his baton. Should a player fail to remark that the leader has taken his instrument he is subject to forfeit.

MEMORY TEST

A tray piled high with all sorts of objects, as diverse as possible in character is brought into the room. The players are given one minute in which to take a rapid survey of same. At the end of that period the tray is taken away and the players, with pencil and paper (previously supplied them) write down the names of as many of the articles as they can remember. The one whose list is largest and most correct is the winner.

FINDING A PARTNER

An odd number of players participate. At a signal (preferably a musical accompaniment), the players, fly or skip promiscuously about the room. When the music stops each player attempts to stand back to back with a partner. The one left without a partner, as the game proceeds, tries to be successful the next time.

NOSE AND TOE TAG

This game is played like ordinary tag, with the exception that no one can be tagged who has his right hand on his toes and left hand on his nose.

SPIRITS MOVE

A leader and his accomplice are required in this game. The one illustrating the game leaves the room. His accomplice passes among the players and stopping before one of the number and with hands outstretched says, "Spirits Move." The leader from without replies "Let them move." Again the accomplice passes among the number and steps in front of another player, saying, as before, with hands outstretched, "Spirits Move." Again the reply from his accomplice, "Let them move." He proceeds in this manner until finally he takes his stand before another one of the group saying "Spirits Move and Rest Upon." The leader from without completes the sentence by adding the name of the person over whose head the hands are extended.

The trick is simply this: The one over whose head the accomplice's hands rest is the one who spoke last before the leader retired from the room.

HANDS OVER HEAD

A leader and his accomplice are necessary to this mystifying game. The leader leaves the room while his accomplice passes around among the players, occasionally stopping in front of one of them, and with hands extending over the player's head says. "Hands Over Head." The leader answers from without "Hands Over Head." He continues around the circle in like manner until finally he stops in front of a player and with hands extended says "Hands Over Head and Rest Upon" whereupon the leader answers "Hands Over Head and Rest upon (John Smith)" naming the person over whom the hands are extended.

The trick: The accomplice places his hands over the head of the person before whom he has been standing at the time the leader withdraws from the room.

BOTTLES

Any number of couples may compete in this game. Arrange two files of Indian clubs, large bottles or ten pins, five in a file, at a distance of four feet apart with an aisle of six feet between files. Each couple is comprised of a man and woman. The man is blindfolded and to his wrists are attached streamers or reins about three feet long. The woman, at a given signal guides her partner by means of these reins on and around each bottle in the first file, returning in like manner by the second file.

The team succeeding in making the circuit without overturning any of the bottles wins.

In no way is the driver permitted to suggest direction except by driving with the reins.

RELAY SPELLING RACE

This game is particularly interesting if the men and women of the party compete. For each team a pronouncer is chosen who takes his place directly to the right of the blackboard immediately in front of his team, who are standing in file formation, and at a distance of about fifteen feet from the blackboard.

Each pronouncer is supplied with a list of words previously agreed upon between themselves, and consisting of words commonly used but frequently misspelled, as necessary, parallel, embarrass, harass, etc.

At a given signal the first contestant leaves his place in the file, runs to the board and as the pronouncer announces the first word to him, proceeds to write it on the board, quickly, but legibly, turns and runs to the end of the file, tagging as he does so the second player in his file. The second contestant in turn, runs to the board, writes the word pronounced to him and in like manner returns to the end of the file, tagging as he does so the third contestant. No contestant except the first leaves his place until tagged by the returning contestant. With ten contestants to a file, count finishing first as equal to two misspelled words at first, later to one misspelled word. The side finishing first is thereafter entitled to consider 2 (or 1) misspelled words as correctly spelled in the final count.

SUGGESTION FOR CONDUCTING PLAY LEADERS' TRAINING CLASS

MELVIN W. SHEPPARD

Community Service, Inc., One Madison Avenue, New York, N.Y.

THE PURPOSE

The purpose of play leaders' training classes is to develop volunteer leaders who will carry on recreational program in various schools, churches and industrial plants, and later on who will organize play groups on vacant lots in home vicinities. This will lead to neighborhood activity. As the schools progress those leaders who display more initiative than the others should be noted as a desirable source from which paid recreational leaders may be drawn by the city recreational commission and other agencies.

PROCEDURE

Before starting the class, confer with superintendents of schools, churches, and industrial leaders, and send to all institutions in the city, which are likely to be interested, invitations to send delegates to the proposed class. After organization of the class there should be some classification of its members so that the most efficient work may be done.

It is desirable in nearly every case that there be separate classes for white leaders and colored leaders in order that there may be the utmost freedom of expression and the least hindrance to the enthusiastic participation in the games.

THE COURSE

Experience shows that ten lessons of one hour's duration each will be sufficient in which to present a total of thirty games with such directions and general suggestions as will enable the leaders to take the games taught back to their organizations.

During the first few lessons, the time should be taken up entirely with the teaching of games and toward the end of the course train all students to act as leaders in turn. This brings out initiative and enables the instructor to prepare tentative lists of the most efficient leaders. Towards the end of the course, the students should do practically all of the game-leading. By dividing them into groups, each under a leader, the instructor can increase his own efficiency and help more specifically the individual members of the class.

RECOGNITION FOR ATTENDANCE

If the instructor deems it advisable, a certificate of attendance testifying to the interest shown by the student may be presented at the end of the course. It should, however, be made plain that this certificate does not indicate that the student is an expert playground director. An expert playground director is one who not only can direct the games on the playground, but also by his influence makes the playground an asset to the neighborhood instead of a liability.

Unless a book on games is provided as a guide to the course, each student should receive at each lesson a mimeographed copy of the direction for the games taught at that class, to become a part of his permanent equipment.

Neighborhood organizations, particularly rural schools and vacant lots, can be put in shape for playgrounds through simple and cheap athletic equipment such as volley balls and net, basket balls, quoits, playground balls and bats, medicine balls, which can be purchased at a very reasonable price and will answer all purposes until more elaborate equipment can be obtained.

End of Project Gutenberg's Games and Play for School Morale, by Various