The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

Split

This is a game involving some skills and some logic.
The game is called split. Two people play this game.
All that is required is a patch of grass and a pocket
knife. The two people stand facing each other about
two feet apart. One person takes the knife and
tries to get it to stick into the ground within
two feet of the opponent's foot. If this is
accomplished then the person must place their foot
where the knife is in the ground. Now it is his turn
to throw the knife. This goes on until one person
can't place their foot where the knife is since they
are as far into the splits as they can go. One rule
of the game is that if the knife does not stick
completely it can be checked by pulling the
blade straight up. If some of the grass's roots
get pulled up with the blade then the opponent must
place their foot there. Otherwise it's their turn.
The logic part comes in as to where to throw the
knife for optimum leg movement.
In this game the term "splits" refers to the gymnastic
move of putting your legs out parallel to the ground.
Sometimes the knife doesn't stick always straight up
or down. This is where checking to see if there are
any grass roots on the blade comes into play.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES