Zoogle
Inspiration
Zoogle is a game that challenges throwing, catching, and balance skills, plus the honesty and integrity of each player. It involves throwing a special stick around a circle of players, with special rules about throwing and catching. It simulates battle training: let’s say that a warrior had lost their sword in battle, needed one immediately, and a comrade is a short distance away with a spare sword. That person could throw the sword, and the receiver could catch it – but they would want to catch the sword by the HANDLE only.
Themes
Balance, Throwing, Catching, Honesty/integrity, Wide angle vision
Group size
6-12 players
Timing
3-5 min/round
Play area
Any clear area
Energy
Low (sitting, standing)
Age range
10+ years
Start formation
Circle
Equipment
Zoogle stick
Hazards/safety
- Getting hit by the Zoogle stick. Make sure the Zoogle stick isn’t too big, heavy, or dense, and emphasize that the Zoogle stick must be thrown with control. No “spins” or “spears”.
- Getting a splinter from the Zoogle stick. Make sure the Zoogle stick is smooth and splinter-free.
Instructions
You need a Zoogle stick to play Zoogle. A good Zoogle stick is a straight, smooth, non-splintery stick that’s about 14 to 18 inches long and a little thicker than your thumb. Ideally, the ends have been carved so they are smooth and somewhat rounded. Finally, the Zoogle stick needs a handle: about 1/4 to 1/3 of the stick, or a length of stick a little longer than a person’s grasping fist. Choose a way to mark the handle portion of the stick. You can paint the handle, wrap electrical tape around it, or carve away the bark on just that portion of the stick (but not the rest of the stick). The remainder of the stick is considered the “blade.”
Have all the participants stand in a circle. The person with the Zoogle stick throws it to someone else in the circle. Each throw must follow these rules:
- Keep the throw slow and gentle; don’t hurl the stick with speed.
- No “spears.” There must be an obvious “arc” to the path of the stick (meaning, it should go up, then come down).
- No “spins.” The stick is allowed to make ONE 360-degree rotation while in the air, but NO MORE than that.
- The stick must be obviously thrown to one person, and thrown with enough accuracy that it is close enough for that person to reasonably catch it.
The person to whom the stick is thrown must a) catch it, b) by the handle only. If they try to catch it but drop it, or if they catch it but a part of their hand is touching some part of the “blade,” they are penalized. First penalty: lose a hand (put one hand behind your back). Second penalty: lose a foot (stand on one foot). Third penalty: you’re out of the game until the next round.
Zoogle requires honesty and integrity from participants. If a player makes a bad throw (too fast, a spear, a spin, or an inaccurate throw), they should have the integrity to penalize themselves. Likewise, if a player doesn’t make a clean catch (they only catch it because the stick also touched the ground or somewhere else on their body, or they catch it but are touching a part of the blade), they should also penalize themselves.
Players MAY reposition the stick in their hand before throwing it, but if they touch the blade at all while doing so, that’s a penalty.
As players improve, the transition times (how long each player holds onto the stick before throwing it again) typically decrease, which makes the game faster (even though the stick isn’t being THROWN faster). Also, players can “fake out” other players by looking at one person but throwing it to someone else.
Modifications