The Games for All

Source: School, Church, and Home Games
Category: GAMES FOR A STORY PLAY HOUR



One American flag on a short stick is handed to the leaders of both
lines, that is, the leading lady and the leading gentleman, and at the
signal to start the flags are passed about the circle (over the head),
the ladies competing against the gentlemen to see which can pass the
flag from hand to hand all the way around the circle in the quickest
time. The race ends when the flag returns to the leader, who waves the
same above his head, indicating the close of the race.

If the group is less than 100 in number, the following game can be
played:

A ball of string is handed to the leader of each team. Upon the signal
to start, the leaders, holding the end of the string, pass the ball to
the next one on the team, who passes it to his neighbor, unrolling it
as it goes, and so on from hand to hand, each one on the team keeping
hold of the string with his right hand. There should be string enough
in the ball to reach all the way round the circle. The ball diminishes
as it is passed along. When the ball reaches the last one in the circle
he starts rewinding the string upon the ball, passes it back to the
next one, who winds on the slack, and so the ball is passed, each one
winding until the ball returns to the captain. Each team will try to
get the ball properly wound back into the captain's hands first. No one
can leave his regular position in the line during the race. If the ball
has been properly wound, it will be possible to throw the same
twenty-five feet to the judges, who take a position within the circle
and about this distance in front of the captain. The first one to get
the ball into the hands of the judge, by means of this throw, wins the
race.

In the next race five or six flags of the Allies are passed about the
circle in the same way. The flags are stuck in the ground in front of
the leaders. Upon the signal to start, the leaders pick up the first
flag and start it on its way, then immediately pick up the second and
start it about the circle and so on until all of the flags are in
motion. The American flag should be passed last. When all of the flags
have been returned to the leaders they run to the center of the ring.
The first one to stick the American flag up in the receptacle there
placed to receive it wins the race. (Careful instruction should be
given that the flags in being passed about the circle must be handed
from one individual to the next so that every individual passes the
flag. Throwing is not allowed.)

See chapter on Racing Games for picnic for other suggestions.

Following these passing games the group can be broken up into smaller
circles, each under the direction of a leader who has been previously
instructed in the type of game he is to give to his group. The
activities of the smaller groups are to be arranged according to the
age of the participants.

In dividing a group into smaller groups according to age, the leader
should first have all children under twelve years of age step forward.
These should be placed in the charge of group leaders. Next all the
boys and girls from twelve to eighteen should be asked to step forward
and next all those young men and women who can participate in active
games. When this last group has been called forward, those remaining
will form the fourth group.

It is difficult for one leader to handle more than fifteen individuals.
If any of the groups contain more than this number, they should be
subdivided, with a leader placed in charge of each subdivision. Try as
far as possible to have the two sexes equally divided in each group.
The games should be carefully selected in advance and the various
leaders should have been trained for their task. No active play program
for large groups should be planned for a longer period than one hour
and then frequent rest periods allowed for adults.

Games which will be found adaptable for the various groups contained in
this volume are suggested below:

For the children under twelve--Schoolyard Games for Primary and
Intermediate Pupils.

For those from twelve to eighteen--Schoolyard Games for Advanced
Pupils.

For the young men and women--Outdoor Games for the Older Boys and
Young Men.

For the middle-aged--a selection of games from chapter on "Games
for Picnics, and Social Games for Adults".

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