Rules of Hopscotch
Hopscotch is a game that has been around for over three hundred years. A favorite of children everywhere, you can play it with friends or all alone. The word hopscotch means “hop-scratch,” since players sometimes scratch the court into dirt or slate on the ground, and then play by hopping over the scratched lines. There are many variations to choose from, but they all have a few rules in common.
Start With Your Court
Begin by drawing a court on the pavement with chalk, or in firm dirt with a stick. You can choose from various classic courts, or invent your own.
You’ll want it to be between six and eight feet long by three or four feet wide, but it doesn’t have to be perfect. This game is for fun!
Get your Markers
Each player will need a distinct object to act as a marker. It will need to be heavy enough not to blow away, and flat enough to not roll. Nearby rocks make great markers, as long as you keep track of whose rocks are whose.
Determine Player Order
Choose who goes first, second, and so on. You will go in the same order every round.
Pitch Your Marker
Throw your marker, trying to make it land in the number one square. If you make it, good for you! If not, your turn is over, time for the next person to try.
Hop
If your marker lands in the right place, now it’s time for you to hop. Avoiding the number one square, hop on one foot in each of the other squares in order. If two squares are next to each other, use both feet to hop on them at the same time. If you make it all the way to home without tripping or missing a square, good for you! If not, you must try again on your next turn. Either way, it’s now time for the next person to have a turn.
Ascend
Pitch to the next number in order and if your pitch was successful hop, avoiding the stone that contains your marker. Each turn should either include a successful pitch and hop, a successful pitch and unsuccessful hop, or an unsuccessful pitch. Only players who have successful pitches and hops can try for the next highest number on their next turn. It might take several turns to get some numbers right.
Winning
Win in a group by being the first to get all the way to home, having successfully pitched and hopped every number in order. Win alone by getting all the way to home, having successfully pitched and hopped every number.
Groups
Hopscotch has no boards or ruling authorities other than children everywhere.