⚽ Ball Games

Four Square

The classic playground game where kids bounce a ball between four squares and try to move up to the King square.

AgesK–2nd, 3rd–5th, PreteenKids4-12 per courtTime15-20 minWhereIndoor or outdoorEnergyActive

Get ready

Make a big square about 10-12 feet across and divide it into four smaller squares.
Label the squares 1 through 4 (or King, Queen, Jack, and Dunce). Square 1 is the King.
Put one kid in each square. Everyone else lines up outside square 4.

The King serves by bouncing the ball once in their own square, then hitting it into someone else's square.
The ball must bounce once in your square, then you hit it with open hands into another square.
You're out if the ball bounces twice in your square, you hit it out of bounds, or you catch or hold it.
When a kid is out, they go to the end of the line. Everyone below them moves up a square, and the first kid in line steps into square 4.
Keep playing and try to get to the King square and stay there.

Set simple rules up front so arguments are quick: no spiking, and line balls are in.
Younger kids can catch and throw instead of hitting.
Let the King call a fun rule each time a new King takes over, like 'only use one hand.'