The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

RED ROVER

IN THIS GAME YOU NEED TWO TEAMS. IT IS BEST TO HAVE AT LEAST FIVE
PEOPLE ON EACH TEAM. THE OBJECT OF THE GAME IS TO GAIN PEOPLE ON
YOUR TEAM WITHOUT LOSING ANY TO THE OTHER TEAM. EACH TEAM LINES UP
ABOUT TWENTY FEET FROM EACH OTHER. THE MEMBERS OF THE TEAMS LINE UP
SIDE BY SIDE WHILE HOLDING THE TEAMMATES' HANDS THAT ARE ON BOTH
SIDES OF THEM. THEY SHOUT "RED ROVER, RED ROVER, SEND BLANK
RIGHT OVER." INSTEAD OF THE WORD BLANK, A NAME OF SOMEONE ON THE
OTHER TEAM IS CALLED, OUT. WHEN THE CHILD HEARS HIS NAME CALLED HE
RUNS AT THE OTHER TEAM AND TRIES TO BREAK BETWEEN THE HANDS OF TWO
OF THE OPPOSITE TEAM MEMBERS. IF HE SUCCEEDS HE RETURNS BACK TO
HIS TEAM. IF HE DOES NOT SUCCEED HE BECOMES A MEMBER OF THE OTHER
TEAM.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Date learned: 00001960S