The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

Red Rover

This game is often played on a grade school
playground. In order to play, many children are
needed. After everyone is present who is going to
play, two people are designated who are going to be
the leaders of the two teams. The leaders then take
turns picking people until there are no players
left.
Each team stands in a long line facing each other
separated by 25 feet. Now both teams join hands to
form 2 individual chains.
The team captain or team leader who didn't get
the first pick of who was to be on his team gets to
start the game.
First, the captain quietly tells the members on his
team who to call over. Let's say they want Joe. Then
the whole team yells, "Red Rover, Red Rover send Joe
right over!" The person who was called has to run
over and try to break the chain of linked hands, by
running through it. However, the runner can only
use his/her body to break the chain.
If the runner is able to break the other team's
chain, then they are allowed to go back to their
original team and take a player from the opposite
team with them. However, if the runner is unable to
break the chain they must stay on the team he/she
was called to.
The teams take turns no matter if the runner makes
it through or not. A winner is finally decided once
one team gets all of the players from the other
team onto their side.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Date learned: 00001975 CA