Sling the Sack
Source:
School, Church, and Home Games
Category:
OUTDOOR GAMES FOR OLDER BOYS AND YOUNG MEN
Either a good sized sack well stuffed with rags or straw, or a small
cloth sack filled with sand, may be used for this game. The game can be
played on a level stretch of road or in a good sized field. The group
is divided into two equal teams. A starting line is marked near the
center of the playing space. A player from each team takes a position
behind this starting line and in turn, with his left foot on the
starting line and with his shoulders at right angles to it, slings the
sack with his right arm straight at the elbow, over his head as far as
possible. A left-handed player may reverse this position. The spot
where the sack hits the ground is marked. The player from the opposing
team stands in the same position at the starting line, as did the first
player, and makes his throw in the same direction, and his throw is
marked. These two throws are made in order to measure what constitutes
a good throw of the sack. A line is drawn parallel to the starting line
at the point where the farther of the two preliminary throws landed.
The starting line and this other line are now known as goal lines. A
centre line is drawn parallel to the goal lines and half way between
them. A coin is flipped up between the two captains for the choice of
goals.
The captain who wins the toss can choose either the first throw or the
goal he desires to have. When this is determined, each team scatters
about on the territory in the vicinity of its own goal line, and the
captain of the team which has the first throw designates which player
on his team he desires to sling the sack first. This player (team A)
must take a position with his advanced foot on the goal line and sling
the sack with a straight arm over his head towards the opponent's goal
line. The opponents (team B) endeavor to catch the sack before it
touches the ground. Succeeding, the one catching the sack advances
three paces and from that position slings the sack over his head
towards team A's goal line. Team A players endeavor to catch the sack
and if successful, that player succeeding advances three paces towards
team B's goal line and slings the sack as before. Should any member of
the team fail to catch the sack when it is thrown into their territory,
the player first touching the sack in an effort to catch it, or the
player nearest to where the sack lands, must make the sling from the
point behind where the sack is picked up from the ground. The players
may move anywhere about in their territory. The captain should endeavor
to place them in a position so as to cover as much space as possible.
Side boundaries can be used if desired, in which case the team supposed
to receive the sack which gets out of bounds may advance three paces
whether the sack is caught or not, from the point in line with where it
first hits the ground.
A score is made each time the one member of a team catches the sack
with both his feet on the opponent's side of the centre line. In making
the catch, should he step back with one or both feet on or across the
centre line, or be driven back by the impetus of the sack, it shall not
constitute a point. After each point is made, goals are changed, the
losing team puts the ball into play. The team having the largest score
at the end of thirty minutes wins.
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Game of Goose
Previous:
Human Targets
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