Red Rover

Red Rover (also known as Bullrush, Forcing the City Gates and Octopus Tag) is an outdoorgame played primarily by children on playgrounds. This 19th century children's group game (requiring around 10 or more players total) is thought to have originated in Britain and then spread to Australia, Canada and the United States.

Game

The game is played between two imaginary lines, usually around thirty feet apart. Each team lines up along one of these lines, and the game starts when the first team (usually called the "East" or "South" team, although this does not relate to the actual relative location of the teams) calls out, "Red rover, red rover, send [name of player on opposite team] right over." or "Red Rover, Red Rover, let [name of player of opposing team] come over." or "Red rover, red rover, we call [name of player on opposite team] over."

The immediate goal for the person called is to run to the other line and break the chain (formed by the linking of hands). If the person called fails to break the chain, this player joins the team which called "Red rover". However, if the player successfully breaks the chain, this player may select either of the two "links" broken by the successful run, and send them to join the team that had been called out. The other team then calls out "Red rover" for a player on the first team, and play continues.

When only one player is left on a team, they also must try and break through a link. If they do not succeed, the opposing team wins. Otherwise, they are able to get a player back for their team.

Risks

As with any game involving physical contact between players, there are inherent risks. For example, when the runner breaks through a link (or attempts to break through), it can hurt the linkers' arms or body or knock them to the ground. Practices particularly discouraged are linking players hand-to-wrist or hand-to-arm (rather, players should hold hands only), "clotheslining" an opposing player at throat height, or extending the hands so an onrushing player runs into a fist.

Due to the inherent risks, especially if played by a group of children of varying ages, some playgrounds have banned the game.