Four Square

The object of Four Square, also known as King’s Court, is to eliminate the players in the higher squares so that you may advance to those squares and potentially win the game. The game is played with a ball on a square-shaped court with four identical squares occupied by one player each. Four Square involves bouncing the ball – it can be a basketball or a rubber ball – between players until one of the players makes a mistake. The player who makes a mistake is eliminated and has to leave the court, at which point all the players are permitted to advance into the next highest square and a new player joins the game in the lowest square. Read on to learn the rules of Four Square.

The Court

Many schools and parks have a Four Square court painted on the pavement. If not, you can create one using chalk. The court should be eight feet long on each side and is separated into four even squares, each with a dimension of four feet by four feet. It is important that the squares in the court are equal because otherwise the game is not fair for all players. The squares in the court are numbered from one to four and sometimes given titles such as Ace, Jack, Queen, and King. You can choose whichever ranking system you prefer, but in terms of the court layout the highest- and lowest-ranked squares should be diagonal from each other. The court is used to determine what is out of bounds in the game. If the ball bounces on any one of the inside lines, that player is out.

four square3Ball Play

Players are only allowed to hit the ball with their hands – including the fingers up to the wrists or the back of the hand. Players are allowed to hit the ball with an open or a closed fist. They are not allowed to catch the ball or to hold it during play. Players are allowed to put a “spin” on the ball as long as it is done using the hands.

Serving and Gameplay

Gameplay begins when one player serves. The server is always the highest-ranked player and the recipient is the lowest-ranked player. The server should drop the ball and serve on the bounce. The receiver should allow the ball to bounce once in her square before hitting the ball into any other square. During regular gameplay, players are not required to let the ball bounce before returning it, although they may if they wish. Only the person in the square that the ball bounced in can touch the ball at that point. Players may be eliminated for any of the following reasons:

  • Failing to hit a ball in their square to another player
  • Allowing more than one bounce in their square
  • Causing the ball to go out of bounds or bounce on an inside line
  • Catching, holding, or carrying the ball
  • Hitting the ball with a body part other than the hands
  • Hitting the ball when it’s not her turn

four square 740x303Summary

Four Square is an action-packed game that can be played outside by kids of varying ages. Not to mention, Four Square really helps kids to develop motor and coordination skills. Try making a Four Square court with chalk on your driveway to start playing with your kids today!