The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

PUNCH IN AND PUNCH OUT

THIS GAME WAS PLAYED IN A STREET OR ON AN EMPTY LOT
WITH BOUNDARIES DETERMINED BY THE PLAYERS. AT LEAST
FOUR MUST PLAY. ONE PLAYER IS PICKED TO BE "IT"
BY USING A "COUNT-OUT" RHYME. "IT" OCCUPIED THE HOME
BASE AND COULD NOT BE PUNCHED WHILE ON THAT BASE.
THE OBJECT OF THE GAME IS FOR "IT" TO GET SOMEONE
ELSE TO BE "IT." TO DO THIS, "IT" HAD TO HOP ON ONE
FOOT OFF THE BASE AND PUNCH SOMEONE ELSE. WHILE "IT"
HOPS, HE CANNOT BE PUNCHED, BUT IF HIS OTHER FOOT TOUCHES
THE GROUND, HE CAN BE PUNCHED. IF "IT" MANAGED TO PUNCH
SOMEONE WHILE HOPPING, THAT PLAYER WOULD THEN BE "IT"
AND WOULD HAVE TO HOP BACK TO BASE OR BE PUNCHED.
ONCE THE NEW "IT" REACHED BASE THE PROCEDURE WAS
REPEATED. THE PLAYERS COULD NOT GO OUTSIDE OF THE
PREARRANGED BOUNDARIES. DURING THE GAME, THE PLAYERS
CONTINUALLY TAUNT AND HARASS THE PLAYER WHO IS IT (I.E.
"JOHN IS IT AND TOOK A FIT AND CAN'T GET OVER IT!")

Submitter comment: INFORMANT PLAYED THIS GAME WITH HIS BROTHERS AND
FRIENDS IN THE 1920S AND 30S.

Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; GLENSHAW

Date learned: 10-02-1971