4 Square (Part 3)

Let's Play... or not. First, you need to have a game.

Games

There are two games to chose from. The ref (or king, if there is no ref) must chose before any round starts.

General Rules

Out

What does it mean to be out? You could get out in a number of ways from using moves specific to non-straight games in straight to missing the ball when it is passed to you. Anyways, it means that you have to go to the end of the line, while everyone that ranks below you moves up.
As shown in the picture, when someone gets out, everyone that ranks lower than him / her moves according to the black and yellow arrows. The person that is out must then go to the side of the court, and follow the thin black line back to the end of the line.

Strickes

When you reach five strickes, you are automatically out. But instead of going to the end of the line, you are not allowed to play in the game for 3 turns. Afterwords, go to the end of the line.

Penalties

The ref can give penalties by removing a player from play for a number of turns due to any reason he / she feels appropriate. After your penalty, you will join the end of the line.

Straight Game

Clarification: This is not the "normal" four square. There is no normal. This is just the simpler version, as you can tell from the rules below.

Straight Rules

The king starts the game by serving. By serving, the king must first bounce the ball in his / her own square, then passing it to jack.

Passing

By passing the ball, you bounce the ball in another players square. If the ball touches the other person anywhere below their knee before bouncing on the ground, it is considered a shoe-shine and the person is out. If the ball bounces on the other person anywhere above their knee, it is considered a air-ball and you are out. If the ball bounces outside of the other person's square before reaching their square, you are out.

Receiving

If someone passes the ball to you, you must pass it to another player before five seconds is up. If you fail to do so, the ball bounces twice in your square, or the ball bounces somewhere else after bouncing in your square AND YOU FAIL TO MAKE CONTACT WITH IT, you are out.

Fastball

If you look at the rules for non-straight games, you would see that they are having a lot more fun then straight, so there is a thing called fastball. Though also availible in non-straight, most people would prefer the slam than fastball. Anyhow, for fastball, you aim for the other person sideways, then flick both elbows in that direction. While doing so, release the ball, creating a "fastball". This may take a little practice to master, and if not done correctly, could be mistaken as a slam, meaning your out.

Non-Straight Game

This version of four square is considerably much more beefed up than straight game, and many experts prefer it, though beginners (and I) prefer straight game. Anyways, a lot more (rough) moves are allowed, and it is very easy to get someone out if you set your mind to it. Ready? Let's go.

Nonstraight Rules

The king starts with the ball, then serves it to any other player he / she likes. By serve, he / she is not required to bounce the ball, though they may if the want to, then pass it to any other player's square any way they prefer.

Passing

Normal passing has the same rules as straight game, except for one thing. If the ball touches the player before touching the ground and the player fails to catch the ball (before touching the ground), the player is out. If the player catches the ball (again, before the ball touches the ground) and announces "AIR-BALL" within 2 seconds, the person who passed the ball is out. If he fails to declare air-ball, he / she is out.

Receiving

If someone passes the ball to you, you must pass it to another player before two seconds is up, unless you do popcorn. If you fail to do so, the ball bounces twice in your square, or the ball bounces somewhere else after bouncing in your square AND YOU FAIL TO MAKE CONTACT WITH IT, you are out.

Moves

You are about to see why many people love non-straight games. You get to do tons of cool moves, from the slam to the cherry bomb. Ready? Forware...MARCH (that didn't really make sense)!

Slam

Let's get the simplest out of the way. The slam is basically chucking the ball as hard as you can in someone else's square. Though simple, the slam is actually one of the most effective (and most widely used) move of all time, making it almost universal. Try this one out for yourself, and you will see why everyone loves it. If fact, there are different slam variations, as shown below:

Tree-Top

To do the tree top, toss the ball into the air, then, when it's falling, jump up and smash it down on an opponents square (like a slam-dunk in basketball).

Spin-Top

My favorite, you toss the ball, catch it, spin around a few times, then, suddenly , WITHOUT WARNING, spit the ball out with a lot of force at someone else's square. Very satisfying.

Popcorn (Move)

For the popcorn, say you want to think throughly about who you want to get out before tossing the ball, but you only have 2 seconds. What do you do? You declare popcorn, then toss the ball around (just like popcorn) until you make your decision. Then, pass it.

Cherry Bomb

The Cherry Bomb can only be used by the king when he is serving. What he does is that he slams the ball (really really REALLY really REALLY HARD!!!!!!!!!!!! I cannot emphasize this enough!!) on the middle point of the court, as shown in the picture.

Basically, if your arch enemy is in jack, and you are king, you can pick on them this way. This move can only be used twice in a row.

Potato

Again, only the king can use this move when he is serving (I'm just refering to king as he because in real life, a king would be a man). To start off, king (or ref, in some variations) declares "Potato!" and puts the ball in the middle of the court (the same spot you do a cherry bomb on). Everyone else then rushes to make contact and KEEP CONTACT with the ball. The last player to touch the ball is out. Again, you can only do this twice in a row.

Baby Drop

This move is techincally Non-Straight specific, but if you do it in Straight Game, just make sure its not very obvious and you (should) be perfectly fine.