Choreographed Games Catch The Cane
( Choreographed, Running, Singing and Song )The players who should be numbered consecutively stand in a circle or semicircle. One player stands in the center of the circle or in front of the semicircle with his index finger on the top of a cane wand or closed umbrella which stands perpendicularly to the floor. Suddenly he lifts his finger from the cane at the same time calling the number assigned to one of the players in the circle. The person whose number is called must run forward and catch the cane before it lies on the floor. If he fails he must return to his place in the circle if successful he changes places with the center player.
This game may have a great deal of sport in it if the action be kept lively and the one who is calling the numbers gives them in unexpected order sometimes repeating a number that has recently been given then giving a few in consecutive order and then skipping over a long series etc.
FOR THE SCHOOLROOM.–When played in the schoolroom the player with the cane should stand in the center of the front of the room. The other players–part of the class at a time–may be lined up in front of the first row of desks or only the players seated in the first row of seats may be called according to the number of their row. At the discretion of the teacher this row may change to the rear row of seats each line moving up one seat to make room for them.
This is an admirable game for making alert and active children who are slow or dull.