The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

A ball game played by African-American children

Lins-ee , clap-sies
twirl about
to back-sies
right hand
left hand
touch your knees
and your toes
and your heels
under we go
high-sies
low-sies

Submitter comment: This game is played with a ball. The ball is thrown up
against a wall. We always played on the brick wall
homes in my neighborhood. As the ball is thrown and caught
each call is a command that must be done before the ball is
caught off of the wall. Example; Linsee is to throw the ball,
Clap-sies means to throw the ball on the wall and clap before
it is caught. Twirl about means to throw the ball on the wall
and twirl completely around before the ball is caught.
Back-sies means to turn your back and throw the ball on the wall.
This game continues on with the player performing each line
in the game. A missed catch constitutes giving the ball to
the next player. When your turn comes back around you begin
at the point you missed. Example, If you missed at left
hand, you begin the game at left hand. The first person to
get all the way through the game is the winner.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; children in the community

Date learned: 00-00-1961