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