RULE 1
FOUR PLAY. OTHERS LINE UP.
One player stands in each square. Everyone else waits in one line beside Square 1.
Teacher-facing · Playground Fix · Grades 6–8
THE FOOTBAG FIX™
A four-square footbag version for older students with one-contact play, low kicks, visible landings and fixed rotation.
8–15 minOne four-square court · one soft footbag8 rule momentsNo student accounts
Why this exists
Teach the close call before recess.
Four-square-style footbag works best when everyone can see exactly what ends a turn. One contact, low kicks, visible landings and a fixed rotation give older students a version they can run without negotiating every rally.
Start with one agreed version
Use one four-square court and one soft footbag. Four play; everyone else waits in one line beside Square 1.
Freeze the hard moment
The projected training shows a short playground scenario, freezes at the exact decision point and gives the class three possible calls. Everyone thinks; one randomly chosen Call Crew makes the official decision.
Transfer the language outside
Give older students a four-square variation where one contact, visible landings and fixed rotation keep the game moving. The screen is the rehearsal. Recess is the destination.
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The shared rule set
Eight moments students can actually remember.
The Fix is intentionally not a professional rulebook. It teaches the moments most likely to stop this schoolyard version, then gives students one neutral sequence for restarting play.
RULE 2
DROP. KICK. SERVE.
Square 4 drops the footbag and sends it with one controlled foot contact into another square.
RULE 3
ONE CONTACT TO SEND.
Use one controlled foot or lower-leg contact. No catching, carrying, or repeated juggling during a turn.
RULE 4
LANDS IN YOUR SQUARE? PLAY IT.
The receiving player must send the footbag before it touches the ground in their square.
RULE 5
LINE OR OUTSIDE = SENDER OUT.
If the footbag lands on a painted line or outside the court, the player who sent it rotates out.
RULE 6
FEET LOW. BODIES SAFE.
Keep kicks below waist height and give other players room. No charging, blocking, or high kicks.
RULE 7
OUT? LINE UP. ROTATE UP.
The player who is out joins the end. Lower squares move up; the next player enters Square 1.
RULE 8
DISAGREE? ONE RPS CALL.
Use one Rock-Paper-Scissors decision for a close line or touch call, then move on.
How the class runs it
WATCH → FREEZE → CALL → LOCK → PLAY.
The teacher can run the whole activity from one projected screen. Students do not need devices, logins or accounts. If the class makes a poor call, the moment replays and the rule is repaired before it is locked into the final outdoor play card.
Use the indoor training once when the game is new, then return only when the same close call starts consuming recess again. A successful Playground Fix should gradually become unnecessary because students can start, rotate, settle ordinary disputes and keep playing without a teacher standing beside the game.
Equipment
One four-square court · one soft footbag
Outdoor setup
Use one four-square court and one soft footbag. Four play; everyone else waits in one line beside Square 1.