The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

RED ROVER

THIS GAME IS PLAYED BY FOUR OR MORE PERSONS. THE
PLAYERS FORM TWO TEAMS OF EQUAL NUMBER. EACH TEAM
FORMS A STRAIGHT LINE, JOIN HANDS AND FACE EACH OTHER
LIKE SO: (DIAGRAM ON 5 X 8 CARD SHOWS TWO TEAMS
FACING OPPOSITE EACH OTHER). ONE TEAM THEN DARES A
MEMBER OF THE OTHER TEAM TO RUN OVER AND BREAK THE
CHAIN OF THEIR TEAM BY SAYING, "RED ROVER, RED ROVER,
LET SO AND SO COME OVER." IF SO AND SO CANNOT RUN
THROUGH THEIR HANDGRIPS HE, THEN, MUST BE ON THEIR
TEAM. THE OTHER TEAM THEN REPEATS THE CHANT AND TRIES
TO CATCH ONE OF THEIR MEMBERS. THE GAME IS OVER WHEN
ALL BUT ONE MEMBER OF A TEAM IS CAUGHT.

Submitter comment: LEARNED THIS GAME AT GRANDMOTHER'S HOUSE.

Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; Greenville

Date learned: 11-30-1967