The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

RED ROVER, RED ROVER

TWO TEAMS ARE PICKED. THEN SOMEONE ON ONE TEAM YELLS
"RED ROVER, RED ROVER, LET (CALL OUT A NAME ON THE
OPPOSITE TEAM) COME OVER." THEN THE PERSON CALLED
RUNS TOWARDS THE OPPOSITE TEAM WHO HAVE THEIR ARMS
LOCKED TOGETHER. HIS OBJECTIVE IS TO BREAK THROUGH THE
OPPOSITE TEAM. IF HE DOES, HE JOINS THE RANKS OF THE
OPPOSITE TEAM. GAME ENDS WHEN ONE TEAM GETS
THEIR MEN ON THE OTHER SIDE. A VARIATION IS THAT IF
YOU BREAK THROUGH, YOU GO BACK TO YOUR SIDE AND IF YOU
DON'T YOU JOIN THE OPPOSITE TEAM. THEN THE TEAM THAT
IS DEPLETED OF ITS MEN FIRST LOSES.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Date learned: 11-05-1967