Four Square

Four square

The layout of a four square court.
Players	4
Setup time	30 seconds
Skills	Manual dexterity Strategy Social skills

Four square is a popular game at elementary schools with little required equipment, almost no setup, and short rounds of play that can be ended at any time. The game also has a large following for adults in many communities.

Four square dates to at least the 1950s. A game called four square is mentioned in newspapers at least as far back as the 1950s, but the rules are not explained. A 1953 teacher's manual describes four square with the same rules used today. However, it's possible this game could've evolved from "Jeu de paume", a game popular in France as early as the twelfth century.

Four square is played on any hard-surfaced court, such as wood, concrete or asphalt. There is no official court size, but typically courts measure between 10 and 30 feet (3.0 and 9.1 meters) on a side, and divided into four smaller squares labelled 1–4 of equal size.

Rules vary, but there are two common objectives. The first is to have the most points when the game ends, where 1 point is awarded to the person in square 4 (the server) each turn. The second is to be the last player who hasn't been eliminated by obtaining a predetermined number of "outs".

One player occupies each of the 4 squares at a time; the other players wait in line. The player in square 4 serves the ball into another square. Once the ball bounces into a square, the player who occupies that square must hit the ball into another square with their hands, and so on, until someone gets out. Each time a player gets out, that player leaves the court and enters the back of the line and all remaining players advance to the higher numbered square (if applicable). Square 1 is then filled with a new player from the line of awaiting players.

A player may get out as follows:

• Failing to hit the ball into another square
• Allowing the ball to bounce more than once in their own square
• Hitting the ball out of the squares or hitting a line
• Hitting the ball incorrectly such as by holding, catching, carrying, etc.
• Hitting the ball out of turn or committing interference

Four square has inspired other similar games. One example is nine square, which uses a 3-by-3 grid instead of a 2-by-2 grid. The 9 square is the middle and the ball is served from this position. Another version is played similar to the original in that four players occupy their respective spots, but they must keep the ball off the ground like in volleyball.

The game is called King Out in Sweden. A similar schoolyard game is called handball.

There is no governing body for four square. Tournaments are held in a variety of locations throughout the world. One tournament called “The Four Square World Championships” takes place in Bridgton, Maine, United States, each year. The competition draws athletes from the US and Canada, and has registered competitors from Israel to Bermuda. Winners from various years are:

• 2023 Men's World Champion over 40 division, Eric Costanza, Northbridge, MA, USA - under 40 division, David Long, South Paris, Maine, USA
• 2021 and 2022: Cancelled due to global pandemic
• 2020 Men's World Champion, Alec Douglas, Norway, Maine, USA
• 2018 Women's World Champion, Brittany Dunay, Maine, USA
• 2018 Men's World Champion, Christian Housh, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
• 2018 Women's Junior World Champion, Penny Housh, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
• 2018 Men's Junior World Champion, Sabian Hallin, Maine, USA

Prior world championships have been held in January or February from 2005 through 2018.

On August 4–5, 2012, a group of 17 Needham High School students and alumni — assisted by 50 other Needham residents at various times — broke the previous world record by playing for 34 hours, the previous record being held by 15 Manchester College students who played the game for 30 hours. The world record was held by eight Argentinean players for 29 hours in 2008, as recognized by Guinness World Records. The Argentinean record was preceded by a group of teens from Youngstown, Ohio, who also played for 29 hours.

• Russian four square
• Crossnet
• Wallball
• Roundnet
• Handball (schoolyard game)
• Downball

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• Official rules