The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

RED ROVER

RED ROVER WAS/IS A GAME PLAYED BY CHILDREN. TEAMS WERE
CHOSEN EVENLY AND EACH TEAM WOULD MIGRATE AT LEAST 40
FEET AWAY FROM THE OTHER. EACH MEMBER ON EACH TEAM WOULD
HOLD HANDS WITH THE TWO MEMBERS ON EITHER SIDE OF THEM.
ONE TEAM AT A TIME WOULD SHOUT: "RED ROVER, RED ROVER,
SEND (NAME) RIGHT OVER." THE ONE CALLED WOULD THEN
PROCEED TO RUN TOWARDS THE OTHER TEAM WHO CALLED, AND
BREAK THROUGH THE HAND BRIDGE OF THAT TEAM BY CRASHING
THROUGH. IF HE DIDN'T BREAK THE CLASPED HANDED BRIDGE,
HE WAS INCORPORATED INTO THAT TEAM. AND THAT TEAM
CONTINUED TO CALL PERSONS FROM THE OTHER TEAM. IF
THE PERSON CALLED, DID SUCCEED IN BREAKING THROUGH,
HE WOULD CHOOSE ONE OF THE TWO MEMBERS FORMING THE BROKEN
BRIDGE AND THAT PERSON WOULD BE INCORPORATED INTO THE
OTHER TEAM. THEN THAT TEAM WOULD BEGIN TO CALL.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; ALLEN PARK

Date learned: 00-00-1971