The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

A RELAY GAME

AT MY MOTHER'S SCHOOL IN TIFFIN, OHIO, THE GIRLS WOULD
DIVIDE INTO LARGE TEAMS AND PLAY A RELAY GAME.
IT WAS SET UP AS FOLLOWS:
THERE COULD BE AS MANY AS 14 GIRLS ON EACH TEAM; THE
REFEREE WOULD LAY A STICK IN THE CENTER GOAL WITH
THE TWO TEAMS FACING EACH OTHER. THE REFEREE WOULD
THEN SAY "READY-SET-GO!" AND ONE GIRL FROM EACH TEAM
WOULD RUN TO THE CENTER GOAL AND FIGHT OVER THE
STICK. THE QUICKER GIRL WOULD THEN RUN BACK TO HER
TEAM AND GET BACK TO THE SECOND GIRL ON HER OWN
TEAM WITH THE STICK AND NOT BE TAGGED BY THE
OPPONENT. IF THE GIRL WAS TAGGED BEFORE SHE REACHED
THE GOAL THEN SHE WOULD HAVE TO JOIN THE OPPOSITE
SIDE. SO THE TEAM WITH THE MOST GIRLS ON IT AT
THE END OF THE GAME WAS DECLARED THE WINNER.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; OHIO ; DETROIT ; TIFFIN

Date learned: VARIOUS