Playground Handbook

general rules

• Respect school property and private property.
• Use equipment appropriately and safely.
• Leave all toys, games, balls, and personal items at home.
• Students will use appropriate language at all times.
• Hitting, kicking, wrestling, play fighting, and unsafe play are not allowed.
• No one can be excluded from any game unless permission has been granted by the adults on the yard.
• Positive comments only.
• Chase or tag games are only allowed on the field.
• Students are expected to walk on the blacktop.
• No playing around the portables, classroom doors, or windows.
• No climbing on fences or trees.
• All food must be eaten at the tables only.
• Students must remain at the lunch tables until they are dismissed.
• Stop all play when the bell rings and return playground balls to the cart.

play structure

• Flipping only on the pull-up bars.
• Keep one hand on the bar at all times.
• One person on the monkey bars at a time.  Go one direction only.
• Go down the slide facing forward on your bottom only.
• Only one person on the slide at a time.

Do not:

• Jump off any bars.
• Play tag games.
• Climb, sit, or stand on top of the bars or jungle gym.

swings

• One person at a time allowed on a swing.
• Waiting person must count to 30 (one forward and one back equals one count).
• Swing with your bottom only facing the field.

Do not:

• Count back.  You must go to a different swing after counted one.
• Twist, jump from, run under, or stand on swings.
• Sit on swings when students want to swing.
• Stand beside or behind swings when in use.
• Hold hands with anyone while swinging.

four square

• Ball must bounce before person plays it.
• There are no teams.
• If there is interference from outside, re-serve the game.
• Ball must be hit with hands.  You can use one or both hands.
• When in doubt, ALL players vote.
• Play starts with a serve from the corner “A” square.
• Body hits are out.

Do not:

• Do overhead slams.
• Hold the ball.
• Hit hard corner shots.
• Do double or multiple hits.
• Kick the ball when out.

soccer & football fields

• Teams must be evenly divided.
• Use “two hand touch.”
• Only one goalie.  If anyone else picks up the ball, they will be asked to leave the game. (Tell a supervisor.)
• Stop play if someone is injured.  Resume play with a throw in.
• Tackling will result in immediate loss of play privileges.
• Stay off soccer field if not area if not playing in game.

Do not:

• Tackle, slide tackle, or trip other players.
• Climb on soccer nets or backstops.
• Use hands while playing soccer.
• Play a “free for all” game of any kind.

tetherball

• Players choose which ½ of the court is their half.
• Players may only stay within their boundaries, or they are out.
• As long as the ball is on your side, you can hit it.
• Server decides which direction to start play.
• If you hit someone on purpose or argue with the server, you are out and must go to the end of the line.
• When in doubt, all players vote.
• Three wins, then out.
• Game over when person hits ball until rope is gone.

Do not:

• Touch rope or push up rope on pole at any time.
• Hold the ball after serve or rope throws.
• Do volleyball tap or set the ball up to yourself.
• Hold the ball unless serving.
• Hang or sit on tetherball, or climb on pole.
• Cut or save places in line.
• Do “ropies.”

basketball

• Each half court may have a maximum of two basketballs.
• Offense calls fouls.  If foul occurs while shot is being made, fouled team takes it out.  All other fouls, the opposite team takes ball out of bounds.
• Charging is a foul.
• If a majority of players want to play a basketball game instead of just shooting, players must play game or leave.

Do not:

• Travel or double dribble.
• Push or use foul language.
• Do knocks in “lightning” or any other basketball game.
• Continue playing once the freeze bell rings.

Handball

• Only two players on the court at all times.
• The ball must bounce within the lines of the handball court.  Liners are out.
• The server may have no more than one serve/attempt to put the ball in play inside the white lines.
• The winner serves.  Three wins only, then winner goes out.
• When in doubt, all players vote.  If voted out, you must go out.
• Always stand behind the line when waiting.
• If the ball misses the wall, you are out.  There are no “take ons” or “life” or “chances”.

Do not:

• Cut or save places in line.
• Stand or sit against the handball wall while others are playing.
• Use substitute players.
• Play with “catchies” or “pick-ups” or “blockies” or “slices”.