http://www.visionpcservices.com/impax/4square.asp
Basic Concept:
The game is played on a square court about 14' X 14' split into 4 squares. You can also play on oddly shaped courts (like circles split into 4 pie pieces, and rectangles). It helps a lot if the lines that separate the squares are at least 2 inches thick, but it is not necessary. Next designate one square as the server's square or square 4. Always make this the square with the least advantage. (for example...if playing with lots of sun, make the server face the sun). Then going counter-clockwise mark squares 3, 2 and 1. The best places to play are schools where the playgrounds have 4-square courts painted on them , or any slab of concrete you can take some chalk to and make your own court. On another note, we have found that the game works better with a crocheted bag, but any will work fine.
You begin the game with one person in each square, and the server tosses the footbag to another player, players continue kicking the bag until it lands on the ground, at which point someone is OUT. When someone is OUT they move to square 1 then all people that were in a lower number square move clockwise one square. For Example...if the player in square 3 got OUT, they would go to square 1, the player in square 1 would move to square 2, and 2 would move to 3, the server would stay. (If your game has more than 4 people playing, form a line outside square 1, then any one who gets OUT instead moves to the end of the line and the person in front of the line moves into square 1). The object of the game is to get to the server square and stay there. Every time a player serves a round and does not get OUT, they get a point.
The 4-square philosphy
4-Square was desgined to be a game for relaxing and having fun. It's all about sharing some good times with your fellow footbag friends...and hopefully meeting some new ones. Seriousness and 4-Square hardly belong in the same sentence together...but if you just can't let it all go, or if you want to offer an official competition at an event please check out the tournament rules on the variations page
4-Square was also designed to be changable. It can be changed temporarily by the players using propositions which only last until the game is over...or it can be changed more permanently by a footbag club or group of friends who want to start each game with their own modifications. The rules on this page are only the basic framework for a game which has already spread around the world and found many different local variations.
Remember that local variations always take precedence over the rules...so remember which region/country you are in when you are playing!
The Golden Rules:
The golden rules make up the basic 4-square game and may may not be altered once the game begins
You are OUT if:
- A legal kick lands in your square
- You kick the bag on a line
- You kick the bag out of bounds
If there is any disagreement during the game, a VOTE occurs
In 4 square, every player is a judge...as a judge players should be honorable and tell the truth
- The server gets 2 votes, other players get 1 vote
- Players cast their votes by pointing at the person they think is OUT
- Players do not have to vote
- Players may not change their vote.
- Ties result in a HACK-OFF
- In serious disagreements, Both players in question may agree to HACK-OFF
- If a player completely leaves the 4 square court during a vote, they are OUT
HACK-OFFS occur to settle disputes between 2 players when the VOTE was not clear
- The player in the higher numbered square serves to the other
- The other 2 squares are out of bounds
- disagreements are voted on by all 4 players
PROPOSITIONS
- At the beginning of each round the server may make one PROPOSITION
- A PROPOSITION can not change any of the golden rules
- A VOTE occurs, and if the VOTE succeeds then the new rule becomes a game rule
Standard Game Rules:
It is recommended to start with these rules until you get a feel for the game.
These rules can be changed by the server through propositions.
You are OUT if:
- You SPIKE the bag (Passes which do not go up before dropping)
- You pass the bag TOO LOW (Passes which do not go above the knee of the player the bag was passed to)
- The bag touches you on your arm, below your elbow
- You contact someone inside their square
- You step into someone elses square
The player in square 4 is the server for each round:
- The server must call their score before they serve or they are OUT
- Serves must be a nice hand toss to another player, above their waist
- Every round a you stay in square 4, you get a point
- The first player to get 15 points wins, you keep your points when you get out
Basic gameplay rulings:
- There is no maximum number of contacts
- Players may kick into someone else's square as long as they do not interfere.
- Players may go into the out of bounds region.
- Delaying the bag is allowed
TOO LOW and SPIKE rules:
If you SPIKE the bag or pass it TOO LOW, you are OUT regardless of whether the defending players touches the bag or not.
If the defending player successfully recovers the from a bad pass, the pass should be considered good. This is up to the players/judges...If the bag is in the air...there is no reason to stop!
The TOO LOW and SPIKE rules are only meant to be guidelines for what kinds of shots are 'gettable'.
4-Square Modifications and Variations
4-Square propositions: Browse or add to the 4-Square propostions database
4-Square variations: Rules for modified versions of 4-Square (3-Square, Team Sqaures) and local variaions
A Little History
One day in the sun 3 young men named Cody Roberts, Joe Crain, and Lon Smith were wandering in the streets of downtown Grass Valley. They had tired of hanging out at the local comic shop playing magic and decided to head over to the market for a drink and snack. While enjoying their goodies they wandered over to nearby Hennessy School to stop and play. Seeing as they had no football, basketball, soccerball, frisbee, badmitten, or anything else fun other than a hackysack they took to the big blacktop area to kick the ol' sac around. There they found a four square court neatly painted on the school-yard ground, where only minues before, 4 school kids bounced a big red ball back and forth while they laughed and smiled. And since it was the flattest, most appealing spot, they moved the circle of three over to it. Right away they decided the squares were to be the playing field for some sort of hacky-game.....
We have had many hours of fun and laughter playing this game. It is cool to see footbag community enjoying it too!
thanks. i was mostly asking because in the video from ... ... , they had a 4x4 each so like 10x10 max. and that seemed nice to play on. 
