The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

KICK THE CAN

THIS IS A FORM OF TAG. THE PERSON WHO IS IT STANDS
AT A TREE AND COUNTS TO TEN WHILE THE OTHERS HIDE.
THERE IS A CAN AT THE FOOT OF THE TREE. WHEN HE IS
FINISHED COUNTING, HE YELLS THAT HE IS NOW COMING TO
FIND EVERYONE. HIS OBJECT IN THE GAME IS TO FIND
EVERYONE BEFORE THEY CAN COME BACK AND KICK THE CAN
BEFORE HE SEES THEM DOING IT. THE OBJECT OF THOSE
WHO ARE HIDING IS TO RUN BACK AND KICK THE CAN BEFORE
THE ONE WHO IS IT CAN SEE THEM AND BEAT THEM BACK TO
THE CAN. IF ONE PERSON RUNS BACK AND KICKS THE CAN
BEFORE "IT" CAN DO IT, THEN THE PERSON IS STILL IT
FOR THE NEXT GAME. IF HE CAN SUCCESSFULLY FIND
EVERYONE BEFORE ANY OF THEM CAN KICK THE CAN, THEN HE
IS NOT IT FOR THE NEXT GAME. IF "IT" SEES SOMEONE
BEFORE THEY KNOW HE SEES THEM, HE CAN ALSO RUN BACK TO
THE CAN AND YELL THAT HE SPOTS SO-AND-SO, AND THEN THAT
PERSON IS IT FOR THE NEXT GAME.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAGINAW

Date learned: 00001956 CHILDHOOD