The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

SHAM BATTLE

A SHAM BATTLE INVOLVES TWO PEOPLE WHO ARE FACING EACH OTHER AND ARE
STANDING ABOUT TWO FEET APART. WHEN THE CUE IS GIVEN THEY BEGIN TO
PRETEND THEY ARE BOXING WITH ONE ANOTHER. THE OBJECT OF THE GAME IS
TO NEVER TOUCH THE OTHER PLAYER WHILE THE PRETEND BOXING IS TAKING
PLACE. IF A PLAYER DOES TOUCH HIS PARTNER HE LOSES THE BATTLE.

Submitter comment: THIS GAME WAS LEARNED BY THE INFORMANT WHEN SHE WAS IN FIFTH GRADE
AT ST. MICHAEL'S SCHOOL IN SOUTHFIELD, MICHIGAN. HER TEACHER, SISTE
CONRADIA, HAD HER STUDENTS STAND UP AND PLAY IT FOR A FEW MINUTES
DURING THEIR MATH CLASS IN ORDER TO RID THEM OF SOME OF THEIR EXCESS
ENERGY. FOR EXAMPLE, IF THE CLASS WAS QUITE NOISY ON A GIVEN DAY
SISTER CONRADIA WOULD SAY THAT IT WAS TIME FOR A SHAM BATTLE AND
EVERYONE WOULD STAND UP, FACE THEIR PARTNER AND BEGIN TO PLAY UNTIL
THEY WERE TOLD TO SIT DOWN AGAIN.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD

Date learned: 00-00-1970