Overheard @ Lane today, "I'll eat your fetus!"
Speaking of which, I think I played about three and a half hours of 4 square today. That might be about the average. On Monday, though, I put up 2 sandbags as prizes but they had to play with one of my rules and could not add or take away rules. The first bag was a facile version of the Mr. Sandman that I had used for a couple sessions. The rule was Five In a Row. The first player to score 5 points in a row, using only normal rules wins. Scores are dropped to zero if they are knocked out of the king square. Immediately about 10 kids lined up to play. This kid named Alex won sooner than I thought. All the other players forgot to focus on the king and he scored 4 points fairly easily. Of course the others gave him a hard time when he had game point. It's always funny to see how the player with game point is ruthlessly targeted for the mobs bullshit. Basically he has to play the perfect game and leave nothing to chance. He'll almost always get outvoted and theres no way the other players will allow a hack-off. Well, despite all this, Alex still manages to score one more point and won the bag.
The second game was for a brand new Revolution Sandblade. Spin Rule!
Players have to spin a full rotation equal to their square #. Play only to 10 points and player with game point spins double the square #. These kids play 6 square. Six. That means thay they would have spun at least 15 times just to get to King, then another six more before the serve. As you can imagine the players in the higher numbered squares are at a huge disadvantage as the game goes on. Particularly the king if he manages to score several points in a row. This was easily the most fun i've ever had just watching a game. They were off balance, staggering around and missing easy passes which they normaly wouldn't. Just watching them stand there trying to stay focused with lost looks on their faces was great. This was a long game as very few people were able to stay in the 6th square to score many points. Eventualy Martin scores the 10th point, having spun at least 216 times to win
, that boy got skillz.
Going back to today, we tried a few new rules:
-Same Side: You must receive the pass with the same side the passing player kicked with. So if I pass using my left leg you must recieve using your left leg. Upper body contacts are neutral and you are out only if you kick with the wrong leg. It's harder for players who aren't comfortable kicking with their left leg. Tom was really good at kicking with one foot then kicking again with the other foot changing the direction of the bag. Brilliant.
-Ong Bak: Must pass using your knee.
-Kings Royalties: After getting a full hack you are awarded a point for eliminating someone from their square.
We also played with Tom's rule, Five In a Row today and Same Side. Tom's rule is after x amount of legal contacts you are allowed to catch with your hand and serve it to another player. Trippy serves are automatically on when this rule is voted in. Usually we play 4 or five contacts but we tried only 2 and the game was frantically fun. It really picks up the pace and keeps you on your toes. Then we played several games of 5 In a Row. I think this can really help players understand that everyone should try and get the server out. Even if it means helping other squares out.
I love 4 square.
Thanks Lon!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(that should have been read, "But the WV crew is pretty, okay?") And they're pretty friendly, too. You don't really know me but take it from me, I've been talking to John and Brad and this jam is going to be awesome. You should go for sure. I was thinking about going too, but I don't think I'll be able to because of work, etc. But who knows.
. From what little I know about you, it's probably not something you have to worry about.
Sorry about that. So, Happy Birthday and it was fun to read that it was such good jam. Pictures? Videos? Don't disappoint. 
