Four Square is a sport usually played by children, but is sometimes played by youth and college students. It is popular in many countries, including Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Kuwait, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States. Apart from the players, the game only requires a ball and a set of four squares. With such little required equipment, almost no setup, and short rounds of play that can be ended at any time, it is a popular playground game. It is doubtful that the origins of Four Square will be positively determined because of the casual nature in which Four Square is played and how the game can be customized or developed by anyone who plays it. It is speculated that the game may have been first published among a list of "new games" several decades ago to which youth activity leaders and educators often subscribe, but the source publication has not been identified. This may explain the spread of the game and the common claims that the game was invented by former gym teachers or distant relatives or the kid down the block. It is more common to cite the origins of specific play styles or rules, such as Michigan rules or Aussie rules, etc., and to treat these ideas as shared origins instead. To play, four players position themselves inside a set of four squares facing each other. A round is started by the server in square number 4. The server first announces any rule variations. In one variant of the game, the server drops the ball into his or her own square and then hits it into another square after it bounces. In another variation, the ball is immediately bounced into one of the other three squares. In some variations, the server is required to serve to the square diagonally opposite square 4. The receiving player returns the ball into any other square, generally by hitting it so it bounces once in his own square before landing in an opponent's square, unless certain variants apply. Play continues in this fashion until a player is either unable to return a ball after it bounces in his or her square or the ball is hit out of bounds, at which point that player is "out." The "out" player moves a pre-determined amount of squares down (one, two, or three), with the other players taking their spots accordingly. If the amount of squares down a player has to move exceeds the amount of squares available, then the player is "out of game." Alternatively, the "out" player may directly go "out of game." The "out of game" player moves to the end of a line of people waiting to play. These people are generally called "subs" or supplementaries. Basic gameplay continues until time is over for the activity, players reach a specified number of points, or the players lose interest. ion Service District employee with 10 years of service as a Helensview School educator.

From this year's singles finals of the annual Four Square tournament. Pictured is an example of what a Four Square game looks like. These players are, clockwise from upper left, School Counselor Ian Martin, students Robert Curtin, Tyler Churchill, and Isai Rojas-Arcos. Mr. Evans, with his back to the camera and wearing a hat, officiates.

Submitted photo: Jon Sanders