Over the River

  1. Ball Games
  2. Recess Games
  3. Rotational Games

  • 11+ Players

  • Grades 6+

  • Bouncy Balls

  • 10-15 Minutes

This is a quick paced, rotational game where players work in pairs to send the ball over the river into the other team’s “Square.” Over the River is also known regionally in New England as Copley Squares.

Goal

To practice teamwork and keep the ball out of the river and out of your square.

Before You Start

  • Review how to work well in a pair with communication
  • Review the different game zones:  The Allstar Square, the River Square, and the Rookie Square.
  • Make sure players know how to use the recycle line to join the game.

Set Up

  • Designate a large rectangular playing space, divided into three equal sections. This can be done with cones, chalk, or using already painted on lines.
    • The middle section is “The River”, while the two end sections are the “Allstar Square” and the “Rookie Square”.
  • Create a Recycle Line alongside the game space, with the start of the line next to the “Rookie Square.”

How to Play

  • All players begin on the recycle line.
  • The first two players in line form a team and start in the “Allstar Square.”  The next two players form a second team and start in the “Rookie Square.”  All other players wait in the recycle line and cheer on the game. 
    • Have players high five their teammate when they get to their square.
  • Teams play one game of Rock, Paper, Scissors to decide who gets to start with the ball.
    • After the first round, players in the “Rookie Square” will start with the ball.
  • One player on the starting team serves the ball by tossing it across The River into the other team’s square.
    • The serve has to be playable–it must bounce inside the other team’s square. Redo if the serve isn’t playable. 
  • The ball has to bounce in the receiving team’s square before they can touch it. Players then have up to 3 passes between them, without bounces, before they have to send the ball back to other teams square.
    • Players do not have to pass to their teammate and can immediately return the ball after it bounces in their square. 
    • Players can send the ball into the other team’s square using underhand passes, volleyball style hits, or however they want! 
  • The round is over if:
    • the ball bounces in the “River”
    • the ball bounces out of bounds
    • The ball doesn’t bounce once inside the receiving team’s square before players on the receiving end touch it
    • the play exceeds 3 passes between teammates
  • At the end of a round, the team that made the error high fives their teammate and both return to the recycle line. 
  • The remaining team moves into the “Allstar Square” (if they are not already there) and the next two people in line enter the “Rookie Square” to begin a new round.

Variations

  • Use a volleyball to practice volleyball skills.
  • Make the space bigger or smaller depending 
  • Add a third player to each team if the space is really big 
  • If a team wins three rounds in a row, give them high 5s and have them rejoin the recycle line.  Then restart the game with four new players, instead of just two.