Four Square
American schoolyard game — bounce a rubber ball between four numbered squares; the top square controls the rules.
🌤outdoor
What is Four Square?
Four Square is an American schoolyard ball game played in a large court of four numbered squares. One player stands in each square; a rubber playground ball is bounced between players by hitting it downwards into another player's square. If the ball bounces out, or your square commits a fault, you're out — the next player rotates in from the sideline, and everyone else advances up the numbered rank. The top-square player (King) sets the rules.
Quick facts
Category
Playground Games
Type
Individual
Players
4–4
Where played
outdoor
Country of origin
🇺🇸 United States
Estimated origin
20th-century US schoolyards
Olympic
No
Popularity
regional
Sources & provenance
Last verified 2026-08-24.verified