Today when we think of hopscotch we think of children at recess hopping through squares drawn on the sidewalk with chalk, but when hopscotch was developed thousands of years ago Roman foot-soldiers were the ones “playing the game”. Hopscotch began in ancient Britain during the early Roman Empire. The courts were over 100 feet long and used for military training purposes. Later Roman children drew their own smaller courts, added a scoring system and “Hopscotch” spread throughout Europe and eventually around the world.
Hopscotch is a versatile game that can be played indoors or outside and requires little equipment. To play you need either masking tape or chalk to draw the pattern on the ground and markers such as beanbags, stones, or buttons.
To begin playing the first player tosses his marker into square one. The marker must land completely within the square or the player forfeits his turn. If the toss is successful, the player hops through the court being sure to hop over square one where his marker is. After reaching the last square the player turns around and hops back through the court pausing to pick up his marker and then hopping into square one and out. The first player continues to toss his marker into each succeeding numbered square and hopping through the court. Only one foot can be in a square at one time. A players turn ends if his marker fails to land on the proper square, he steps on a line, he loses balance when picking up his marker and falls, he goes into a square where a marker is, or puts two feet in a single square. When this happens the player does not get credit for the current sequence and must do the same sequence on his next turn. Sometimes a “rest” square is added at the top of the hopscotch pattern where a player can rest a second or two before hopping back through the court. The first player to complete one course for every numbered square on the court wins!
Hopscotch is a good cardiovascular exercise and playing for just 15 minutes burns 150 calories-plus. Because of hopping on one leg and bending down to pick up a marker, hopscotch also works the legs, bottom, and calves. To work both legs, be sure to alternate legs when hopping through the court.
Above information adapted from:
Hopscotch by Dagonell the Juggler and Better Homes and Gardens: Easy as child's play