- Aug 11, 2008
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Only played these games in PS. Downball for us was against a wall and was far superior to four-square.
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Who used to play handball (aka four-square) back in school?
- Thread starter Power King
- Start date
- Tagged users None
**** only playing the great game in PS.
When I completed Yr 12 we played alot of 16 square.
However, we would not use a tennis ball but instead a soccer ball and kicking the ball instead of hitting it, therefore, the game became increasonly violent with people unloading rockets from the first square with the primary objective to hit someone and possibly bounce in their own square.
Best thing is when the ball sits up for you and you cannon it into some-one from 2 yards away.
World class game.
When I completed Yr 12 we played alot of 16 square.
However, we would not use a tennis ball but instead a soccer ball and kicking the ball instead of hitting it, therefore, the game became increasonly violent with people unloading rockets from the first square with the primary objective to hit someone and possibly bounce in their own square.
Best thing is when the ball sits up for you and you cannon it into some-one from 2 yards away.
World class game.
Four square had a brief period of popularity at our school from around years 4 to 6 iirc. Our form of the game involved hitting into the opponents' square on the full rather than in your own one first and was often extended into 6, 8 and even 12 square.
However, downball (that is, hitting the ball down against a wall) began to flourish from the beginning of year 9 due in some part to the cramped confines of the senior campus and for many is now the sole form of recess and lunchtime entertainment. In my view it is certainly a more advanced or perhaps even beautiful game than four square.
However, downball (that is, hitting the ball down against a wall) began to flourish from the beginning of year 9 due in some part to the cramped confines of the senior campus and for many is now the sole form of recess and lunchtime entertainment. In my view it is certainly a more advanced or perhaps even beautiful game than four square.
had to reply to this one:
in Primary School we had a map of Australia painted on the ground outside the classrooms. We used to use the map of Australia for our handball at times. And that was fantastic.
NT was king because it was sort of centrally located to everyone, WA was queen and it was an arse to be in because of the size, SA was Jack, QLD came next, then it was NSW and Victoria. Tassie was used at times, but because of where that was located it was rarely passed to. Victoria was a real arse to be in because of it's size too, but we used it and it went well. QLD and SA were always the best squares to be in.
in Primary School we had a map of Australia painted on the ground outside the classrooms. We used to use the map of Australia for our handball at times. And that was fantastic.
NT was king because it was sort of centrally located to everyone, WA was queen and it was an arse to be in because of the size, SA was Jack, QLD came next, then it was NSW and Victoria. Tassie was used at times, but because of where that was located it was rarely passed to. Victoria was a real arse to be in because of it's size too, but we used it and it went well. QLD and SA were always the best squares to be in.
- Banned
- #55
We called it downball as well. Another school I went to called it hand tennis. I would never forget the endless hours we played before school, at recess, lunch and after school...I would pull off so many sweep shots, fireballs, asteroids, whatever they seem to call it.
Never really played it at high school since we got laughed at by the older kids.
Ha!
Too right.Brandy was much more fun but in this age of political correctness and being "nice" to each other I'll bet it's been outlawed
Yep. My primary school banned Brandy, contact sports i.e. AFL, British bulldog, etc. arseh*le principal of the highest order.
But Hand Tennis as we called it was great. By year 10 though too many gay rules were introduced (i.e. "Cough-ups" juggle it too yourself then slam it in someones square, "Skills" where any part of your body was used, etc.) that me and my mates all gave it up and that was the end of an era.
camsmith
Brownlow Medallist
hahaha this makes me want to go back to High School. I loved playing this game. There was always some BS call of a "liner" when you clearly knew it was in. On some days we had 10+ squares in play with a line of 20-30.
Top thread!
Top thread!
camsmith
Brownlow Medallist
Yeah that was good, unless it was overused. If someone kept calling that out I'd get pissed off
I loved rallies, some huge rivalries would develop.
Ahh the memories!
Played in Primary School and years 7-8.
This year (year 12) we all started up again (much to the dismay of teachers).
It was heaps of fun for some reason, and very social. One day we had so many people we played 8 square teams. (8 squares, 2 people in a square). So fun.....hectic but.
In 8 square, top 2 were safe.
In 4 square, king was safe.
Unlike ps, not that many stupid rules. No Death Rallies, Liners, Service.... replays if in doubt. Lmao. good times!
This year (year 12) we all started up again (much to the dismay of teachers).
It was heaps of fun for some reason, and very social. One day we had so many people we played 8 square teams. (8 squares, 2 people in a square). So fun.....hectic but.
In 8 square, top 2 were safe.
In 4 square, king was safe.
Unlike ps, not that many stupid rules. No Death Rallies, Liners, Service.... replays if in doubt. Lmao. good times!
We have the same game in PE.
Random memory, game invented in Primary School called 'Predator'
Basically, it's gang up tiggy around the entire school.... but instead of tagging.. you must succesfully hold them for 10 seconds. Got a tad rough at times then some kid bit the other guys ear to escape so it was banned. Good times.
Played it everyday for a year in year 11. Kinda stopped after that.
Played it most of the time in every preceding year as well.
Good times.
Funny how every year has diff rules. All the year 7s can like headbutt it and kick it on the full and all this crap. It was just hands when we started playing. Spose it's evolution! But yeah, every kid would have to have played 4-square at some stage.
Played it most of the time in every preceding year as well.
Good times.
Funny how every year has diff rules. All the year 7s can like headbutt it and kick it on the full and all this crap. It was just hands when we started playing. Spose it's evolution! But yeah, every kid would have to have played 4-square at some stage.
Only played it in PS.
2-square was far more popular at my school. You'd get less chances, but if you were as good as me, you didn't need them
2-square was far more popular at my school. You'd get less chances, but if you were as good as me, you didn't need them
in grade 3-4 it was the best because our classroom opened to a courtyard which was 3/4 surrounded by brick wall so the ball hardly ever went out. If it did it just went into the sandpit (ahh, another grand old place) so it never rolled away. Good that it was right next to teh classroom as we could keep playing untill the teacher came.
in grade 5/6 we played 'soccer downball'. very fun, large squares with 2 ppl pers square. same rules (i think) as this 'soccer square', mentioned in the previous page.
some of the rules that came and went throughout the many year levels not previously mentioned:
2 and up- 2 bounces then hit it to a squre on the full.
2-2- if you tap it, and it bounces twice in your squre, you can then hit it on the full to another square.
cherry- just hit it on the full to another square (had to be above the knees)
eveready- if you didn't say this before serving and you ace someone, they can claim that they weren't ready and they would still be in. to counteract this you would call eveready and it didn't matter if they were ready.
walked- if you go back in the line (even if you arn't out) it is said that you have walked and that you are out. this rule was ridiculous as it meant if you had to just about dive to get the ball back in play and you walk into the line you are out.
*red= rules dweeby little nerds made up when they had a sook about going out.
in grade 5/6 we played 'soccer downball'. very fun, large squares with 2 ppl pers square. same rules (i think) as this 'soccer square', mentioned in the previous page.
some of the rules that came and went throughout the many year levels not previously mentioned:
2 and up- 2 bounces then hit it to a squre on the full.
2-2- if you tap it, and it bounces twice in your squre, you can then hit it on the full to another square.
cherry- just hit it on the full to another square (had to be above the knees)
eveready- if you didn't say this before serving and you ace someone, they can claim that they weren't ready and they would still be in. to counteract this you would call eveready and it didn't matter if they were ready.
walked- if you go back in the line (even if you arn't out) it is said that you have walked and that you are out. this rule was ridiculous as it meant if you had to just about dive to get the ball back in play and you walk into the line you are out.
*red= rules dweeby little nerds made up when they had a sook about going out.
Marklar_33
Brownlow Medallist
Haha, I never went anywhere in school without a tennis ball, I did lose a few for bouncing or target practise in class... no malice, just trying to bounce back off the corner of the table n stuff
Downball where Im from was played either against a wall, or in two courts parallel to a wall. 4 years at school were basically wholly taken up by this. We had a group of 6-8 permanent participants, but there was also a 'rival' downball group (who thought they had the best wall, lol). Once a month or so, we'd take them on in team events, but mostly we just played against ourselves, and even have downball round-robins, a different head to head matchup every lunch hour. It even got so sad that the final was played in the hour leading up to a school social, in an attempt to gain a crowd. It didnt work real well, except the occassional assclown stealing the ball
Good times, good times
4 square and down-ball got banned from our school. We played it untill year 11 or still do play. It would often get physical when some disputed a decision and then a "mosh" like pit would form and people would often get hurt.
Pretty intense but a bloody great game.
Pretty intense but a bloody great game.
I would like to know the history behind this game in Australia - we seem to have different rules to four square in other countries.
hahaha this makes me want to go back to High School. I loved playing this game. There was always some BS call of a "liner" when you clearly knew it was in. On some days we had 10+ squares in play with a line of 20-30.
Top thread!
yep peaked in year 10 at my school and some days if you went out you would have to wait around 5 minutes just to get back in the game, really made it fierce and competitive.
by the time year 12 came around we had moved onto hacky sack.
Last edited:
Quivorir
"Unhinged"
- Mar 29, 2010
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Exactly like my school. At year 10 you got the "big area" that had like 12 squares or something, everyone was playing so the line was massive. Then we moved onto the boring hacky sack too.
The question should really be who didn't play foursquare.
Yep Downball ruled...it was a mad scramble to get out there at recess and lunchtime...sometimes we had 10 up to 20 boys ready to take there turn...and then it was a process or elimination to the final two...and then start all over again.
Some heated battles, words and pushes ensued.
Loved it!
was the rage during recess in my primary school over 20 years ago.... teachers would even get in on it too, nice alternative after the footy season finished when you had no interest in playing cricket with the alpha-jocks
