by Paul Tukey
We absolutely need to acknowledge Storey Publishing for its unwavering belief and patience. This project has been in the works for years; our busy careers might have otherwise derailed this great little book. So thank you, Pam Art, Dan Reynolds, and our editor, Lisa Hiley, for hanging in there and giving us the opportunity to relive our youth on these pages.
Finally, I want to thank my writing partner, the glorious Victoria Rowell, and her agent, Irene Webb, for jumping on board for this rollicking ride. In the midst of reading Hollywood scripts, shooting television pilots, and launching high-profile book tours, one of my all-time favorite actresses didn’t laugh out loud when I asked her to help with a book about kubb, Mölkky, and Double Ball. “This is so intrinsic to family, fitness, nature, and togetherness,” said Victoria. “Yes! I’d be honored.” We’ve had an absolute blast.
— P. T.
Credits
Authors’ photograph by Brett Plymale
Interior photography by
The Art Archive/Amoret Tanner Collection/Art Resource: 65
© Ben Stansall/AFP/Getty Images: 35
© Classic Image/Alamy: 137
© Classic Stock/Alamy: 87 and 108
Florentine Games, Blind Man’s Bluff (colored engraving), Piattoli, Guiseppe (fl. 1787– 1807)/Private Collection/The Bridgeman Art Library international: 27
© Frances Roberts/Alamy: 78
The Granger Collection, NYC – All rights reserved: 132
© H. Armstrong Roberts/Robertstock/AuroraPhotos. com: 114
© Iain Masterton/Alamy: 18
© Illustrated London News Ltd./Mary Evans Picture Library: 30
© Imagebroker/Alamy: 49 and 188
© John Ewing: 124, 130, 135, 182, and 186
© John Giustina/Getty Images: 93
© John Lund/Tiffany Schoepp/Getty Images: 160
© Jonathan Gordon/Alamy: 73
© Julian Nieman/Alamy: 170 (right)
© Knightshade/Dreamstime. com: 52
© Marilyn Angel Wynn/Getty Images: 131
© Mary Evans Picture Library: 22 and 115
© Mary Evans Picture Library/Alamy: 97
© Mary Evans Picture Library/HENRY GRANT: 165
© Micah Hanson/Alamy: 174
© Mike Kipling Photography/Alamy: 154
© New York Daily News Archive/ Getty Images: 32
© Old Visuals/Alamy: 153
© Phil Degginger/Alamy: 142
© The Protected Art Archive/Alamy: 192
© Rick and Nora Bowers/Alamy: 45
© Ryan Pierse/Getty Images: 175
© Science and Society Picture Library/Getty Images: 21 and 157
© Superstock, Inc./Getty Images: 113
© Terhox/Dreamstime.com: 148
© Terry J. Alcorn/iStockphoto. com: 170 (left)
© Three Lions/Getty Images: 16
© Time and Life Pictures/Getty Images: 70 and 191
© Tobias Titz/agefotostock: 173
© Topical Press Agency/Getty Images: 179
© University History Arc/ agefotostock: 41
© ZEE/Alamy: 57
Index
Page references in italics indicate illustrations or photographs.
B
backyard golf, 14, 14–18
big birdie golf, 17–18
rules, 15–16
strategy, 16
badminton, 19, 19–23
battledore and shuttlecock, 23
birdie/“shuttlecock,” 19, 21, 21
rules, 20–21
strategy, 22
battledore and shuttlecock, 23
beanbag toss. See cornhole
big birdie golf, 17–18
Blind Man’s Bluff, 24, 24–27
Blind Man’s Wand, 25
rules, 26–27
strategy, 27
bocce, 28, 28–32, 30
kissing “Fanny,” 31
learn the lingo, 31
rules, 30, 30
strategy, 31
British bulldogs, 33, 33–36
how to play, 34, 34–35
rules, 35
strategy, 36
as war game, 36
C
calling all players, 13
Capture the Flag, 37, 37–41
Civil War and, 41
rules, 38–39, 39
strategy, 40
Cherokee marbles, 42, 42–46
family fun, 43
round rocks used in, 46
rules, 44, 44–45
strategy, 46
Chinese horseshoes, 115
Chinese jump rope, 47, 47–50, 49
jump the shot, 50
rules, 48–49
cornhole, 51, 51–55, 52
field of play, 53, 53
learn the lingo, 55
rules, 54
strategy, 54–55
upping the ante, 55
crab soccer, 56, 56–59
Omnikin, 59
rules, 58–59
croquet, 60, 60–65
extreme, 64
learn the lingo, 63
pall mall predecessor of, 65, 65
rules, 61–62
setup, official, 63, 63
strategy, 62
D
Ding, 92
disc dog, 93, 93
disc golf, 92
dodgeball, 66, 66–71
benefits of, 68
ga-ga variation, 71
learn the lingo, 68
rules, 68–69
setup, initial, 67
spud variation, 69–71
strategy, 69
Double Ball, 72, 72–75, 73
rules, 74
strategy, 75
world champs, 75
Double Dutch, 76, 76–79, 78
learn the lingo, 79
rules, 77–78
F
field hockey, 80, 80–83
layout, official, 83, 83
rules, 81–82
strategy, 82
first player. See who goes first
fistball, 183–184
flag football, 84, 84–88, 87
football and, 85–86
NERF football, 88
rules, 86–87
flashlight tag. See Ghost in the Graveyard
flying disc, 89, 89–93
Ding, 92
disc dog, 93, 93
disc golf, 92
Frisbee name origin, 91
rules & strategy, 90–91
Ultimate Frisbee, 92
Follow the Leader, 94, 94–97, 97
make your own rules, 95–96
music for game, 97
Fox and Hounds, 98, 98–101
Fox and Geese, 100
“hashing,” 99, 101
how to play, 99
Wolf and Sheep, 100
Frisbee. See flying disc
G
ga-ga, 71
Ghost in the Graveyard, 102, 102–105
ancient/modern games, 105
rules, 103–104
Grandmother’s Footsteps, 157
H
“Hall of Shame Games, The,” 8–9
health issues, inactivity and, 7
hoop trundling, 106, 106–110, 108
earliest/recent hoops, 108
variations, 109–110
hopscotch, 197, 197
horseshoes, 111, 111–115, 113, 114
Chinese horseshoes, 115
“ringers,” 111, 113
rules, 113–114
setup/playing area, 112, 112
strategy, 114
Hot and Cold, 168
J
jump the shot, 50
jump rope. See Chinese jump rope; Double Dutch
K
kickball, 119, 119–122. See also Mexican kickball
field of play, 120, 120
ramping it up, 122
rules, 121
Kick the Can, 116, 116–118
how to play, 117
strategy, 118
<
br /> Kin-Ball, 59
kubb, 123, 123–127
equipment, 124, 124
field of play, 125, 125
object of game, 125
rules, 126
strategy, 127
L
lacrosse, 128, 128–132
back in time, 131
Iroquois and, 132, 132
modern/vintage equipment, 130, 131, 131
rules & strategy, 129–130
ladder toss, 133, 133–137
double ball (“bolo” or “bola”), 134, 135, 135, 137, 137
monkeyball, 136
rules, 135–136
snakes in original game, 133, 134
strategy, 136–137
London Bridge, 138, 138–142
game origin debate, 141
history of, 142, 142
how to play, 139–140
original song, 140
variations, 141
M
Mexican kickball, 143, 143–145
rules, 144
strategy, 145
miniature golf courses, 14, 16, 16
Mölkky, 146, 146–149
rules, 148, 148–149
scaled-down version, 149
strategy, 149
monkeyball, 136
N
nature hunt, 169
O
Omnikin, 59
P
pavement games, 193–197
hopscotch, 197, 197
Roman ball, 193, 193–194
runaway game, 195, 195
stoopball, 196, 196
Tic-Tac-Toss, 194, 194
Q
quoits, 150, 150–154, 153, 154
how to play, 151
official rings for, 153
rules, 152
tournaments, 154
R
Red Light, Green Light, 155, 155–157
Grandmother’s Footsteps, 157
history of, 157
rules & strategy, 156–157
Red Rover, 158, 158–161
how to play, 159–161, 160
more peaceful version, 161
relay races, 165
ring toss. See quoits
Rock, Paper, Scissors, 10
Roman ball, 193, 193–194
runaway game, 195, 195
S
sack race, 162, 162–165, 165
how to play, 164
relay races, 165
scavenger hunt, 166, 166–170
Hot and Cold, 168
most famous, 170, 170
nature hunt, 169
rules, 167–168
sepak takraw, 171, 171–175, 174, 175
ball for, 173, 173
national associations for, 175
rules, 172–173
strategy, 174
spud, 69–71
stick ball, 190, 191, 191
stoopball, 196, 196
T
Tic-Tac-Toss, 194, 194
touch football. See flag football
“trundling.” See hoop trundling
tug of war, 176, 176–179
as ancient game, 178
in early 1900s Olympics, 179, 179
U
Ultimate Frisbee, 92
V
volleyball, 180, 180–184
fistball, 183–184
learn the lingo, 184
rules, 182–183
W
wheelbarrow race, 185, 185–188, 186
longest, 188
with real wheelbarrow, 187
who goes first, 10–12
contest: rotten egg, 11
counting off, 11
drawing straws, 12
flip of a coin, 10
hand over hand, 11
rock, paper, scissors, 10
volley for serve, 12
which hand, 11
Wiffle Ball, 189, 189–192
around the world, 192
how to play, 190–191
stick ball and, 190, 191, 191
Wolf and Sheep, 100
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