Red Rover Game: Rules, a Safer Version and Fair Calling
Red rover is an old playground game for two teams. Each team stands in a line holding hands, and one team calls “Red rover, red rover, send Sam right over!”. Sam runs at the other line and tries to break through. It is simple and exciting, but the classic version can also hurt, which is why many schools have dropped it. Here are the classic rules, a safer way to play, a fair way to choose who gets called, and variations.
Classic rules
- Split the players into two teams of about the same size, and have each team form a line facing the other, about 10 to 15 metres apart.
- Players in each line hold hands with the players next to them.
- The first team agrees on one player from the other team and chants “Red rover, red rover, send (name) right over!”.
- The called player runs at the calling team’s line and tries to break through between two linked players.
- If the runner breaks through, they choose one of the two players they broke between to take back to their own team. If they do not break through, they join the calling team.
- The teams take turns calling. The game ends when one team has all the players, or when time runs out and the bigger team wins.
Why the classic version is risky
The classic game has a running child crash into linked arms. Children can be clotheslined across the chest or neck, fall hard, or hurt wrists and shoulders when the line holds firm. For that reason many schools and playgrounds have banned or discouraged it. If you play, use one of the safer versions below and have an adult watching.
A safer way to play
- Tag instead of crash: the line does not link hands. The runner tries to run past the line without being tagged, which turns the game into a team version of tag.
- Hold a scarf or pool noodle: players hold soft objects between them instead of hands, and the runner only needs to touch or push through them.
- Walk, don’t run: for young children, the called player walks and tries to slip under linked arms.
- Keep the lines short, play on grass, and never let the line raise its arms to chest or neck height.
Fair teams and a fair way to call players
Start with even teams. Use the Random Name Picker to split the group at random, as explained in our guide to random teams, and flip a Coin Flip to decide which team calls first.
A common problem in red rover is that the same few children are called again and again, while quieter children are never called at all. A simple fix is to let the picker choose who is called instead of the team. The table shows the chance that a given child on the other team is called at least once in ten calls.
| Team | Random | Remove |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | 89% | 100% |
| 8 | 74% | 100% |
| 10 | 65% | 100% |
| 12 | 58% | 83% |
| 15 | 50% | 67% |
With a random pick each time, a child on a team of ten has only about a two in three chance of being called in ten calls. With the remove option, each child is called once before anyone is called again, so everyone gets a turn as long as there are at least as many calls as players.
Variations
- Colour rover: instead of a name, the team calls a colour, and everyone wearing that colour runs at once.
- Red rover with tug of war: end the session with a fair game of tug of war between the two final teams.
- Indoor red rover: players crawl or walk across a mat and must tag the far wall without being tagged.
FAQ
How do you play red rover?
Two teams stand in lines holding hands. One team calls a player from the other side, who runs and tries to break through the line. If they break through they take a player back; if not, they join the calling team.
Why is red rover banned at many schools?
Running into linked arms can cause falls and injuries to arms, shoulders, chest and neck. Many schools have banned or discouraged the classic version for that reason.
What is a safer version of red rover?
Let the runner try to get past the line without being tagged instead of crashing through linked arms, or have the line hold soft scarves or pool noodles.
What do you say in red rover?
The calling team chants 'Red rover, red rover, send (name) right over!' and the named player runs at their line.
How do you make sure everyone gets called?
Use a random name picker with the remove option, so each child is called once before anyone is called again.