Tetherball
Tetherball is a two player game that helps improve hand-eye coordination as well as overall response time. This a quick, two player game where the object of the game is to get the tetherball to wrap around the pole and "tether". One player is directing the ball one way, while the other is directing it the opposite way. The first one to get their ball to tether is the winner, or the winner is decided if the other player commits one of several different rule breakers. This is fast-paced game is a recess classic!
Tetherball
Rules
- At the beginning of recess the winner of rock/paper/scissors will decide who serves, decide which side of the circle they want to be
on, and which direction to hit the ball. After the first game, the new player entering the game will decide who serves, decide which
side of the circle they want to play on, and which direction they want to hit the ball.
- At the start of the game when the player serves the ball, they are not allowed to touch it again until the opposing player touches the
ball.
- There are no “one hit wonders” where the person who serves the ball is able to win the game with one hit. The opposing player to
the server must be allowed to touch the ball at least 1 time before the game ends. If a “one hit wonder” does occur, a restarting of
the game will take place with the same person who originally served serving again
- If any part of the player touches the rope, they are out of the game. This includes hats and clothing
- If the player touches the pole at any time during the game they are out
- If the player stands on or crosses the center dividing line they are out.
- The tetherball is only allowed to touch the players’ hands, arms and shoulders. If any other part of the body is hit by the ball a player
out. This includes the head and face.
- Players are allowed to step outside of the circle as long as they remain on their side of the dividing line
- Players must wait for the ball to be on their side of the circle for them to hit or catch the ball. If they reach over the center line to grab
the ball they will hand the ball back to the opposing player and the game will resume.
- At no time during the game the tetherball is allowed to be thrown. It must be hit with a fist or an open hand.
- Students are not allowed to catch the ball until after they hit it 3 times. Every time the player catches the ball, they must hit it an
additional 3 times before they are allowed to catch the ball again. If they catch the tetherball without hitting it 3 consecutive times
they will hand the tetherball over to the opposing player. Hitting the ball hard and having it go around the pole 3 times is not the same
as hitting it 3 times. If a student is hitting the ball and the opposing player is able to block the ball, the student who originally hit the
ball is allowed to catch the ball. After the block and grabbing the ball, they will need to hit the ball 3 more times before they catch the
ball again.
- When a student hits the ball, the opposing player may catch the ball at any time
- There are no teams allowed, the games can only be 1 player against 1 player.
- There are no “popcorns” “bubblies”, “hot potatoes”, or any action where a student hit the tetherball with several small hits keeping the
tetherball in front of them.
- There are no “elevators” where a player involved in the game or someone else comes into the game and grabs the rope and raises it
higher on the pole.
- A player is only allowed to win 3 consecutive times, after they win their 3rd game they need to get back in line.
- When a player wins 3 times in a row and leaves the circle, the next 2 players in line will enter the game. The two players who just entered the game will play rock/paper/scissors just as if they were the first 2 players there.
on, and which direction to hit the ball. After the first game, the new player entering the game will decide who serves, decide which
side of the circle they want to play on, and which direction they want to hit the ball.
- At the start of the game when the player serves the ball, they are not allowed to touch it again until the opposing player touches the
ball.
- There are no “one hit wonders” where the person who serves the ball is able to win the game with one hit. The opposing player to
the server must be allowed to touch the ball at least 1 time before the game ends. If a “one hit wonder” does occur, a restarting of
the game will take place with the same person who originally served serving again
- If any part of the player touches the rope, they are out of the game. This includes hats and clothing
- If the player touches the pole at any time during the game they are out
- If the player stands on or crosses the center dividing line they are out.
- The tetherball is only allowed to touch the players’ hands, arms and shoulders. If any other part of the body is hit by the ball a player
out. This includes the head and face.
- Players are allowed to step outside of the circle as long as they remain on their side of the dividing line
- Players must wait for the ball to be on their side of the circle for them to hit or catch the ball. If they reach over the center line to grab
the ball they will hand the ball back to the opposing player and the game will resume.
- At no time during the game the tetherball is allowed to be thrown. It must be hit with a fist or an open hand.
- Students are not allowed to catch the ball until after they hit it 3 times. Every time the player catches the ball, they must hit it an
additional 3 times before they are allowed to catch the ball again. If they catch the tetherball without hitting it 3 consecutive times
they will hand the tetherball over to the opposing player. Hitting the ball hard and having it go around the pole 3 times is not the same
as hitting it 3 times. If a student is hitting the ball and the opposing player is able to block the ball, the student who originally hit the
ball is allowed to catch the ball. After the block and grabbing the ball, they will need to hit the ball 3 more times before they catch the
ball again.
- When a student hits the ball, the opposing player may catch the ball at any time
- There are no teams allowed, the games can only be 1 player against 1 player.
- There are no “popcorns” “bubblies”, “hot potatoes”, or any action where a student hit the tetherball with several small hits keeping the
tetherball in front of them.
- There are no “elevators” where a player involved in the game or someone else comes into the game and grabs the rope and raises it
higher on the pole.
- A player is only allowed to win 3 consecutive times, after they win their 3rd game they need to get back in line.
- When a player wins 3 times in a row and leaves the circle, the next 2 players in line will enter the game. The two players who just entered the game will play rock/paper/scissors just as if they were the first 2 players there.