The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

POM POM

THIS IS A GAME WE USED TO PLAY DURING LUNCH HOUR IN
GRAMMAR SCHOOL. IT'S A ROUGH GAME, PLAYED ONLY BY
BOYS. THE GAME REQUIRES AN OPEN SPACE ABOUT 50 FEET
WIDE, WITH TWO END LINES DESIGNATED ONE AT EACH END.
ONE BOY IS SELECTED TO BEGIN AND HE STANDS IN THE
MIDDLE OF THE SPACE. EVERYONE ELSE STANDS AT ONE OF
THE END LINES. THE BOY IN THE MIDDLE CALLS OUT "POM
POM" AND EVERYONE MUST RUN FROM ONE END LINE TO THE
OTHER ACROSS THE SPACE. THE STARTER TRIES TO CATCH
ONE OR MORE BOYS AND SLAP THEM ON THE BACK THREE TIMES
BEFORE THEY GET TO THE FAR END LINE. ANYONE CAUGHT
IN THIS WAY MUST JOIN HIM IN THE MIDDLE.
"POM POM" IS SAID AGAIN AND ALL THE BOYS IN THE MIDDLE
TRY TO CATCH OTHERS IN THIS WAY. THE PROCESS IS
CONTINUED UNTIL EVERYONE IS CAUGHT. THE OBJECT IS
TO BE THE LAST BOY CAUGHT, AND IT WAS A FURTHER SIGN
OF PRESTIGE IF YOU WERE THE ONLY BOY LEFT AND YOU
COULD GET THROUGH THE ENTIRE GROUP ONE OR MORE
TIMES WITHOUT BEING CAUGHT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Date learned: NOT GIVEN