Difference between revisions of "Four Square"

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[[Four Square]] is occasionally referred to as "boxball," but only if you're really weird.
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[[Four Square]] is a game very commonly played at most CTY sites. It requires a Four Square ball (though a kickball, basketball, tennis ball, or even a soccer ball may suffice) and four squares drawn on the ground (though sidewalk tiles, if large enough, may suffice).
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==The Basics==
  
== Golden Rules of Four Square ==
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Four Square is a game involving a ball, four squares arranged to form a larger square, and at least four players. Each square is recommended to be 6 to 8 feet in length. Each square has a name, as well as a rank. The name and rank, from lowest to highest, is as follows (though this may vary depending on where people live):
  
# The Golden Rules must always be obeyed.  The King cannot change or effect them in any manner.
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# Jack
# The King is the only one that can make rules.  These rules have to effect all of the players, not only the King, Queen, Jack, or trash.
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# Queen
# If a player gets out, then they are out, no trades or subs.  The king makes all final desions on outs, unless Mob rules are called.
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# King
# If a player thinks they are out, and subsequently walks off the court, then they are out.
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# Ace
# Any rule can be called, as long as all players understand it.  Also, rules can only be called at the beginning of each turn.
 
# No player can get out on the first hit (after the king's bounce).
 
  
== Normal Rules-- Old School Rules ==
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Each player stands in a square, the Ace with the ball. The general gameplay is very similar to tennis - the Ace serves the ball to a person in another square by bouncing the ball in his own square once, then hitting the ball to another player. That player then hits the ball to another player, maintaining a steady pace of the game, and so on, until a player gets [[Four Square#Getting Out|out]]. The play is then over, and the ball is returned to the Ace to begin the next play.
  
Old School rules are a set of rules that are used when no other rules are being played.
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==Misconceptions==
    Single Touch, one hit, and that is it
 
  
<i>Reasons for being out</i> -- These are for all games, unless the king has changed the rules
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Four Square has become popular in many elementary schools and thus has built itself a reputation of a game it is not. Here are some common misconceptions that should be avoided when possible.
  
* hitting it out of the square
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===The Objective===
* bouncing out of your square into the outside area
 
* transgretion of any of the rules set by the king
 
* slaming it (aka cherry bombs)
 
  
== Various Rules of Four Square ==
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Many players believe the objective of the game is to achieve the highest-ranked square. However, because Four Square is a cooperative game, such an objective would cause players to turn against each other and attempt to get each other out. In reality, Four-Square is a defensive game where the objective is simply to stay in the court as long as possible. Targeting other players and attempting to get people [[Four Square#Getting Out|out]] is mean-spirited, which CTYers most certainly are not.
  
Here are the various rules, what they mean, and other notes.
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===Making Up Rules===
  
Single Touch- only hit once
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In many variations of the game, the Ace is able to modify the rules of the game to his liking, "turning rules on or off." These extra rules, however, do nothing for the game except allow people to target each other and further disrupt the game's rhythm. This generally degrades the game rather than enhances it, but it is how many elementary schools play; Four Square is just like any other sport, though, where the rules cannot be modified. Players who enjoy modifying the rules of a game should play [[Mao]].
  
Double Touch- once or twice
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==Rules==
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Four Square essentially has a very simple set of rules, but this article gets rather detailed in order to serve as a reference for advanced players.
  
Ect. Ect.
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===Getting Out===
  
Forced ___#___- this means that you must touch the ball a preset number of times each time it goes into your square
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Getting out is considered a penalty for a player disrupting the pace of the game for the others. There are 6 absolute ways of getting "out," which cannot be debated upon or reconsidered. These methods are listed below:
  
Volleys- must hit the ball before it touches the ground--
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# Double-Bounce - if the ball bounces once in the player's square, then a second time anywhere else without the player hitting the ball<br />
can also be played with no Volleys
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# Double-Touch - if the player touches the ball twice in a row in the air (unless the Ace calls double-touches, which were very common in BRI)
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# Own Square - if the player hits the ball in his/her own square
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# Out - if the player hits the ball out of the court
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# Hold - if the player holds the ball
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# [[Four Square#Reaching and Volleying|Reaching/Volleying]] - if the player hits the ball without it first bouncing into his/her square
  
Black Knight- can spin the ball in the air with out catching it
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When a player gets out, he/she moves to the Jack square, while the rest of the players move up to fill in the empty space created by the player getting out (i.e. Jack moves to Queen, Queen moves to King, King moves to Ace). If more than four players are playing the game, the player who gets out moves to the back of a line next to the court, while the person in the front of the line moves to Jack.
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*Keep in mind that all players are required to HIT the ball. Pushing, spinning, or throwing the ball is considered a hold.
  
Black Magic- if another person hits the ball and you catch their volley, and say Black Magic before they say White Magic, then they are out-- if you don't catch it or they say it later then the "Whiter" the you are OUT!
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===The Line===
  
Pirates!!- (also known as argg..) all player must say argg when you hit the ball, stand on one leg, and close one eye
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When playing Four-Square, avoid thick lines at all costs, as they induce arguing amongst the players. The line is simply used to divide the court into four squares, and on the occasion that the ball hits the line in between two squares, players should continue playing as they normally would. If the player somehow hits the line on the outer perimeter of his/her own square, it is considered Own Square. If the ball hits the line, and then bounces out, the play is classified as a [[Four Square#Redos|Redo]].
  
Napolean- the next king can't change the rules until they have been up for 2 turns
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===Redos===
  
Vortex- if one player hit the ball in the perfect center of the court, and the king says "VORTEX!!" then the whole court moves in a clockeise direction, this can be done many times, and it stays until the next king comes
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A Redo is when the current play ends, but no player is legally out. In this case, all players maintain their normal positions and the ball is returned to the Ace to be served. Some reasons a Redo may occur are listed below:
  
Earthquake- same as vortex but, the players must jump, and the last one to do so is out
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# If the ball hits the line, and then out, without any player contacting the ball
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# If the ball is served and goes out without any other player contacting the ball
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# If a player waiting in line or a person not in the game interferes with the game (called an Interference)
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# If a [[Four Square#Dead Ball|Dead Ball]] occurs in the form of "gradually dead"
  
Snakes in the grass- when the king says this all the players must get out of their squares, the last to do so is out
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In most cases, Redos are called because no player can absolutely determine which player is out. Redos may not be used as an excuse to stay in; in other words, if a majority feels that a player is out, that player should  not argue a Redo. Redos are used only if all players are unsure whether or not one is out.
  
Bus-stop- when the king says this all the players must put one foot in the middle, and the last one is out
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===Dead Ball===
  
body-parts- can't hit others on their body- none will be out, just a restart
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A "Dead Ball" is defined as a point of time in a round in which the ball is simply rolling on the ground rather than bouncing. There are two different types of Dead Balls that are treated differently when they occur, explained below:
  
chicken-feet- allows balls that bounce of the feet not to count
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*Gradually Dead - The ball gets steadily lower throughout the round until it finally begins to roll.
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*Instantly Dead - The ball is high enough to hit normally but a player hits it such that it rolls.
  
Forced-body- must hit it with your body into the other square
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If a Dead Ball occurs in the form of Gradually Dead, it is no specific player's fault that the game was stopped, so it is considered a Redo as explained in the previous section. If a Dead Ball occurs in the form of Instantly Dead, the player who caused the Dead Ball is considered out, usually by Own Square.
  
bobbles- allows the ball to be bobbled between the two hands of the current ball holder
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*Dead Balls are much less likely to occur when using a proper Four Square ball. Basketballs are usually the reason Dead Balls occur, as they are much heavier and bounce differently.
  
Mob- if none can decide if a person is out, then the mob will
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===Reaching and Volleying===
  
Mob wall- the mob can hit the ball back into play
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Suppose the ball bounces in the Jack's square but happens to pass the Queen's square first. After the ball bounces into the Queen's square, the Jack may instinctively reach into the Queen's square in order to try to hit the ball. Sometimes if the ball bounces in the Jack's square, for example, and is heading towards the Queen's square, the Queen tends to reach and hit the ball before the Jack is able to.
  
baby pig- next person in line will sit in the middle of the squares and will play the ball and won't be out
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These types of events are called Reaching. Reaching is usually unintentional, as it is instinctive to reach for and hit the ball. However, Reaching is a violation of the rules and is considered out. To avoid Reaching, players should try to hit the ball only after it bounces in his/her square.
  
Da' Barn- must say any kind of animal noise- no two consectutive sounds
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Similarly, Volleying is defined as one player hitting the ball, then a second player hitting the ball without the ball touching the ground at all. Once again, in this case, the volleying player is out.
  
If you have any you wish to add, just do it!!
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At BRI, it is commonly called hacking. Sometimes, hacking is allowed by the Ace.  Hacking causes a lot of confusion.
  
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==Variations==
  
== Game variations ==
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===Soccer Four-Square===
  
    Here I will explain 9-Square, You got nuked!, and Doubles
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At BRI, RA Joe started Soccer Four-Square. As implied, a soccer ball is used.  It is a mix of soccer and four-square in which players are not permitted to use their hands or arms.  In soccer four-square, the ace can and will often call double touch, triple touch, or unlimited touches. This allows some players to stay in for much longer. "Dirty" serves were often called if a player puts their foot on top of the ball, but it is often played.
  
<b>9-Square</b> - pattern of 9 squares with the king in the middle
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This was also very popular at Easton 17.1.
  
* this game is very hard but allows many players to play at the same time
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This same game was called No Hands, No Arms foursquare at LAN 19.1 and most of the same rules still apply except a normal foursquare ball is used and only two touches are allowed.
* this game also benifits the king in many ways- it allows the king to allow the ball just to bounce though his square and on to the next
 
* the best way to eliminate him is to hit him in the leg - so call chicken-feet all you kings!!
 
  
<b>You got nuked!!</b> - where every ones a country, and every one gets nuked
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===Nine Square===
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Initiated CAR 14.2 by RA Robel (?), this is four square but 9. Makes for a very interesting game, because the person in the middle can easily be squashed. One essential rule: if your body hits the ball, and then the ball does not go in another person's square, you are out. No other rules allowed. This was heavily played by *the male population of* Macro b. Memorable instances include Riley's hall bonding which took place during the last two activity periods (after having had some horrible bubble-tea) and during one of the dances when the game was joined by some wandering Micro students in front of KW building. Nine square is also popular at LMU due to the fact that the break area just outside of both Saint Robert's hall and the dining hall has a large cement tile floor where four- and nine-square is often played.
  
* every one becomes a country (this is what you are called) and when ever anyone gets out everyone can yell You got nuked!!
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===BEEG Foursquare===
* this makes for a very funny game, all the over rules are normal
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Beeg foursquare was a game played during LAN 19.1 where someone would use chalk to divide the brick square in the middle of Hartman Green into four sections, and normal foursquare rules applied except the squares were massive. Because of the limited access to Hartman Green during free time, the game was rarely ever played, with the notable exception of the one dance that was on Hartman Green. During this dance, a variation on the game was played where a team of two would be allowed to occupy one square and double touches were allowed in the sense that one partner was allowed to pass the ball to the other.
  
<b>Doubles</b> - double the people, twice the chaos
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==Four Square Gods==
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The Four Square God is a position held currently only at CTY LAN session 1. The position was first passed down in 2018 from Raymond Chang to Aaron Erlanger.
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* 18.1 - Raymond Chang
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* 19.1 - Aaron Erlanger
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* 20.1 -
  
* one person is in the square and the other is outside
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==Places where it's common==
* only one of them can play the ball before the next person touches it
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* Stanford (Baby CTY, defunct)
* N.B.  the king does't get a double
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* Chestertown
 
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* KW CAR
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* Lancaster
 
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* Mt.Holyoke (Baby CTY)
This page was brought to you by Four Squarer - also known as "North Korea"
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* Bristol
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* Easton
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* Los Angeles
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* Seattle
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(Please add more )
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{{Things we like}}
 
   
 
   
 
[[Category:Games]]
 
[[Category:Games]]

Latest revision as of 01:06, 24 July 2019

Four Square is a game very commonly played at most CTY sites. It requires a Four Square ball (though a kickball, basketball, tennis ball, or even a soccer ball may suffice) and four squares drawn on the ground (though sidewalk tiles, if large enough, may suffice).

The Basics

Four Square is a game involving a ball, four squares arranged to form a larger square, and at least four players. Each square is recommended to be 6 to 8 feet in length. Each square has a name, as well as a rank. The name and rank, from lowest to highest, is as follows (though this may vary depending on where people live):

  1. Jack
  2. Queen
  3. King
  4. Ace

Each player stands in a square, the Ace with the ball. The general gameplay is very similar to tennis - the Ace serves the ball to a person in another square by bouncing the ball in his own square once, then hitting the ball to another player. That player then hits the ball to another player, maintaining a steady pace of the game, and so on, until a player gets out. The play is then over, and the ball is returned to the Ace to begin the next play.

Misconceptions

Four Square has become popular in many elementary schools and thus has built itself a reputation of a game it is not. Here are some common misconceptions that should be avoided when possible.

The Objective

Many players believe the objective of the game is to achieve the highest-ranked square. However, because Four Square is a cooperative game, such an objective would cause players to turn against each other and attempt to get each other out. In reality, Four-Square is a defensive game where the objective is simply to stay in the court as long as possible. Targeting other players and attempting to get people out is mean-spirited, which CTYers most certainly are not.

Making Up Rules

In many variations of the game, the Ace is able to modify the rules of the game to his liking, "turning rules on or off." These extra rules, however, do nothing for the game except allow people to target each other and further disrupt the game's rhythm. This generally degrades the game rather than enhances it, but it is how many elementary schools play; Four Square is just like any other sport, though, where the rules cannot be modified. Players who enjoy modifying the rules of a game should play Mao.

Rules

Four Square essentially has a very simple set of rules, but this article gets rather detailed in order to serve as a reference for advanced players.

Getting Out

Getting out is considered a penalty for a player disrupting the pace of the game for the others. There are 6 absolute ways of getting "out," which cannot be debated upon or reconsidered. These methods are listed below:

  1. Double-Bounce - if the ball bounces once in the player's square, then a second time anywhere else without the player hitting the ball
  2. Double-Touch - if the player touches the ball twice in a row in the air (unless the Ace calls double-touches, which were very common in BRI)
  3. Own Square - if the player hits the ball in his/her own square
  4. Out - if the player hits the ball out of the court
  5. Hold - if the player holds the ball
  6. Reaching/Volleying - if the player hits the ball without it first bouncing into his/her square

When a player gets out, he/she moves to the Jack square, while the rest of the players move up to fill in the empty space created by the player getting out (i.e. Jack moves to Queen, Queen moves to King, King moves to Ace). If more than four players are playing the game, the player who gets out moves to the back of a line next to the court, while the person in the front of the line moves to Jack.

  • Keep in mind that all players are required to HIT the ball. Pushing, spinning, or throwing the ball is considered a hold.

The Line

When playing Four-Square, avoid thick lines at all costs, as they induce arguing amongst the players. The line is simply used to divide the court into four squares, and on the occasion that the ball hits the line in between two squares, players should continue playing as they normally would. If the player somehow hits the line on the outer perimeter of his/her own square, it is considered Own Square. If the ball hits the line, and then bounces out, the play is classified as a Redo.

Redos

A Redo is when the current play ends, but no player is legally out. In this case, all players maintain their normal positions and the ball is returned to the Ace to be served. Some reasons a Redo may occur are listed below:

  1. If the ball hits the line, and then out, without any player contacting the ball
  2. If the ball is served and goes out without any other player contacting the ball
  3. If a player waiting in line or a person not in the game interferes with the game (called an Interference)
  4. If a Dead Ball occurs in the form of "gradually dead"

In most cases, Redos are called because no player can absolutely determine which player is out. Redos may not be used as an excuse to stay in; in other words, if a majority feels that a player is out, that player should not argue a Redo. Redos are used only if all players are unsure whether or not one is out.

Dead Ball

A "Dead Ball" is defined as a point of time in a round in which the ball is simply rolling on the ground rather than bouncing. There are two different types of Dead Balls that are treated differently when they occur, explained below:

  • Gradually Dead - The ball gets steadily lower throughout the round until it finally begins to roll.
  • Instantly Dead - The ball is high enough to hit normally but a player hits it such that it rolls.

If a Dead Ball occurs in the form of Gradually Dead, it is no specific player's fault that the game was stopped, so it is considered a Redo as explained in the previous section. If a Dead Ball occurs in the form of Instantly Dead, the player who caused the Dead Ball is considered out, usually by Own Square.

  • Dead Balls are much less likely to occur when using a proper Four Square ball. Basketballs are usually the reason Dead Balls occur, as they are much heavier and bounce differently.

Reaching and Volleying

Suppose the ball bounces in the Jack's square but happens to pass the Queen's square first. After the ball bounces into the Queen's square, the Jack may instinctively reach into the Queen's square in order to try to hit the ball. Sometimes if the ball bounces in the Jack's square, for example, and is heading towards the Queen's square, the Queen tends to reach and hit the ball before the Jack is able to.

These types of events are called Reaching. Reaching is usually unintentional, as it is instinctive to reach for and hit the ball. However, Reaching is a violation of the rules and is considered out. To avoid Reaching, players should try to hit the ball only after it bounces in his/her square.

Similarly, Volleying is defined as one player hitting the ball, then a second player hitting the ball without the ball touching the ground at all. Once again, in this case, the volleying player is out.

At BRI, it is commonly called hacking. Sometimes, hacking is allowed by the Ace. Hacking causes a lot of confusion.

Variations

Soccer Four-Square

At BRI, RA Joe started Soccer Four-Square. As implied, a soccer ball is used. It is a mix of soccer and four-square in which players are not permitted to use their hands or arms. In soccer four-square, the ace can and will often call double touch, triple touch, or unlimited touches. This allows some players to stay in for much longer. "Dirty" serves were often called if a player puts their foot on top of the ball, but it is often played.

This was also very popular at Easton 17.1.

This same game was called No Hands, No Arms foursquare at LAN 19.1 and most of the same rules still apply except a normal foursquare ball is used and only two touches are allowed.

Nine Square

Initiated CAR 14.2 by RA Robel (?), this is four square but 9. Makes for a very interesting game, because the person in the middle can easily be squashed. One essential rule: if your body hits the ball, and then the ball does not go in another person's square, you are out. No other rules allowed. This was heavily played by *the male population of* Macro b. Memorable instances include Riley's hall bonding which took place during the last two activity periods (after having had some horrible bubble-tea) and during one of the dances when the game was joined by some wandering Micro students in front of KW building. Nine square is also popular at LMU due to the fact that the break area just outside of both Saint Robert's hall and the dining hall has a large cement tile floor where four- and nine-square is often played.

BEEG Foursquare

Beeg foursquare was a game played during LAN 19.1 where someone would use chalk to divide the brick square in the middle of Hartman Green into four sections, and normal foursquare rules applied except the squares were massive. Because of the limited access to Hartman Green during free time, the game was rarely ever played, with the notable exception of the one dance that was on Hartman Green. During this dance, a variation on the game was played where a team of two would be allowed to occupy one square and double touches were allowed in the sense that one partner was allowed to pass the ball to the other.

Four Square Gods

The Four Square God is a position held currently only at CTY LAN session 1. The position was first passed down in 2018 from Raymond Chang to Aaron Erlanger.

  • 18.1 - Raymond Chang
  • 19.1 - Aaron Erlanger
  • 20.1 -

Places where it's common

  • Stanford (Baby CTY, defunct)
  • Chestertown
  • KW CAR
  • Lancaster
  • Mt.Holyoke (Baby CTY)
  • Bristol
  • Easton
  • Los Angeles
  • Seattle

(Please add more )