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Four square

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For other uses, see Four square (disambiguation).
The serve and first two hits in a four square game.

Four square or box ball is a ball game played among four players on a square court divided into quadrants.

Gameplay

Four square requires only a ball and a court made of four squares. With such little required equipment, almost no setup, and short rounds of play that can be ended at any time, it is a popular playground game. Gameplay varies significantly from region to region.

Courts are easily made from chalk or tape and the ball is usually a standard rubber kickball or dodgeball. However, some prefer to use volleyballs due to their lighter weight and decreased bounce, allegedly making the game faster paced and more exciting. Mini basketballs share these advantages, and their grip dots contribute to increased spin efficacy.

Objective

The objective in four square is for individual players to enter the court in the lowest square and move up by eliminating players in higher squares. [1] Once at the top square the player has the privilege of serving the ball to start each round. Players are eliminated when they cause any number of specific errors. With each elimination, players advance to until the lowest square is available and a new player joins the court in that position. Any number of players may wait in a line outside the court for their turn to play.

Boundaries

Four square is played on a square court divided into four smaller squares of equal size. Different communities or groups use different size courts, ranging from 16 to 24 feet [2]. Court sizes are often adjusted to be appropriate for age or skill level.

The outermost lines of the court are considered fair play and the ball may land on any portion of an outside line and still be in play. In some communities, the inside lines are designated as out of bounds and balls landing on any portion of an inside line are in error. A popular abbreviation of these rules is known as 'inside out, outside in'. Balls landing outside the court, and hitting it inside your own square are considered errors as well. [3]

Starting gameplay and service

Each round of the game begins with the player in the top square, or King, serving the ball. The server must throw or slap the ball into another square. The serve is intended to put the ball into play fairly and must be reasonably returnable by the first receiving player. From this point on, regular game play follows until a player is eliminated.

Regular gameplay

Players must allow the ball to land once in a square, and the occupant of that square must return the ball to any other player's square by hitting or striking the ball with their hands. Once the ball lands in a new player's square, that player must return it, and so forth, until a player makes an error and is eliminated. One variation of the rules indicates that all hits must be two-handed; other variations call for only underhanded hits.

Errors and elimination

Players may be eliminated for the following errors:

  • A player hits the ball out of bounds.
  • A player allows the ball to bounce more than once in their square.
  • A player fails to hit the ball properly into another player's square.
  • A player hits the ball more than once before returning it to another square.
  • A player violates a special rule. Four square is known for its many spontaneous rules.

When the players cannot agree on a certain error - for instance, two players think the ball landed in bounds and two players think it landed out of bounds - some versions of the game call for a "battle" or "showdown". This is when two players have their own mini game of two square, where one player serves the ball from the "king" square to the player in the "jack" square, and only those two squares are considered in. The winner of the battle stays in and the loser goes out. A battle may also be used during gameplay when you know there is a mismatch. The same rules apply.

Alternate versions of the rules call simply for a "redo," in which case that round is played over.

Eliminated players leave the court, all remaining players move up to the next highest square, and a new player joins in the lowest square.

Hits

There are many different ways to hit a ball in four square. Some of the most common are:

  • Basic hit — the most essential hit to master, one or two hands are used to return the ball. Medium power. Accurate.
  • Spike — Just as in volleyball, the ball is smacked down with as much power as can be mustered. Almost always gets the opponent out. Very powerful, but minimal accuracy.
  • Cut (baby bounce or dropshot) — where one uses a hand to actually slow the ball down enough that it barely bounces in the opposing square, leaving the opponent minimal time to return. Low power.
  • Backhand — Involves using the back of your closed fist to spike the ball. Very powerful, but also very inaccurate unless used by a skilled player.
  • Foot — although against the rules in most four square play, in some games you can use your feet to return the ball. Used mostly for emergency saves. Low power and inaccurate.
  • The Shovel — a variation of the basic hit where you use two hands to "shovel" under the ball and create back spin. Low power, but accurate.
  • The Slice — just like tennis, the slice involves using a hand to create either top or back spin on the ball. Creates major confusion. Medium power and accurate.
  • The in between the leg spike (IBTLS) — Very hard to perform and requires much skill. The player sees a medium ball (not too high, not too low to the ground) and steps over the ball while at the same time bringing down his hand to spike the ball, so that the ball goes in between his legs and into the opposing square. This hit is used to ensure an out, as it catches the opponent by surprise. High power and accurate.
  • The Head-butt — When you use your head to spike the ball; an ill-advised move. Low power and inaccurate.
  • Shoe Shine - You hit the ball right at the opponent shoes it should hit their shoe and bounce of; if this happens the person who got hit on the shoe is out. High power hard to get at the shoe.

Varieties and styles of gameplay

Four square is played all over the world and the potential to discover, customize and reinvent rules for four square is limitless. In addition to common names such as four square and handball, here are a few of the other names that four square is known by. Refer to the Four square regional varieties section to learn more about each country's variety of play.

  • North America: Four Square, Square ball, Blockball, Champ, Smash, King's Court,Queen's: Elimination Nation,Handball, Four Ball, Downball, Hand Tennis, Kingpin, Line Square
  • Africa: Hand Tennis, Indirect, Orbliquet
  • Asia: Downball
  • Europe: Square Ball, King, Four Square

Four square is a highly improvisational and customizable game, especially when played by children. Many varieties allow the top ranking player to develop or enforce special rules at their discretion. Rules range from strategic to silly and new rules are born every day. The most common new rule requires players to yell out a name based on a topic determined by the 'Ace' position prior to hitting the ball. This added element creates a much more competitive game. It is very common to find different rules as you go to new places. Its almost like playing a whole different game sometimes. For example, the way I play Four Square is very different from the version talked about on this page but these are the generally accepted rules.

Tournaments and competitions

As players rise in skill level or athletic ability it is important to appropriately raise the challenge of the game. Changing elements of the game, such as ball types, court sizes, boundaries, etc, will make the game more difficult but it is very rewarding to players to create structure for formal competition, either in tournament or other traditional competition styles.

Some communities or groups have developed rules for tournament-style play. Squarefour and The International 4-Square League both use systems of scoring that give numbers or averages to players over time, while other groups use an elimination or double elimination system. Below are a number of models of four square tournaments.

World Championships

The Four Square World Championships, a competitive adult four square tournament, take place in Bridgton, Maine, USA, each winter season. Peter Lowell of the Lakes Environmental Association hosts this annual fundraiser each winter to support the environmental work done in the lakes region of Maine, USA. This competition draws athletes from the USA and Canada, and has registered competitors from Israel and Bermuda. Prior world championships have been held on Jan 29, 2005, Jan 28, 2006, Feb 3, 2007, and Feb 16, 2008.

Four Square World Championships February 16, 2008

Footnotes

  1. ^ Rules The four positions are, in some communities, colloquially known as King, Queen, Jack, and Toilet Washer, in decreasing order of advancement. Despite regional variances player advancement to the top or King square is universal.
  2. ^ Squarefour uses 16' and Camp Fowler uses the 24' court.
  3. ^ Squarefour

See also

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