Kick the Can is a timeless children’s game, played in backyards across the world. Here are the basic rules.
Setting up the Game
Playing Kick the Can is easy. The only necessary items are a large area with some good hiding spots and a can. The playing field should contain at least one spot with a little bit of room as well as several good hiding places, such as trees, vegetation, buildings, outdoor furniture, etc. The “Can” may be an actual can – medium sized coffee cans do nicely – or a box, ball or any other object that won’t damage the feet of people kicking it. You’ll also need a “jail:” any area within sight of the can where captured players can wait to be allowed to rejoin the game.
To begin, place the can in the middle of the open area, so that there is some space between the can and the hiding spots.
Playing the Game
One player is designated as “It.” He or she stands with one foot on the can and closes his or her eyes while counting out loud to a predetermined number. This gives players time to hide. 50 or so is a good number: it gives players enough time to hide without taking too long. The other players hide anywhere they can: behind trees, cars, buildings, etc.
When It reaches the number, he or she opens his or her eyes and begins looking for the other players. The other players are attempting to get past It and kick the can. If It tags someone before he or she kicks the can, that person must go to “jail” and wait. If It catches all the players, he or she wins. The game begins again, with usually either the first or last player caught being the new It.
If any untagged player kicks the can, all players in jail are freed and the game starts over with a new “It,” generally whoever kicked the can.
Variations
There are different ways to play kick the can. Here are a few variations:
- Instead of going to “jail,” captured players can join in on the side of It, attempting to catch the others. In this case, anyone who kicks the can or the last untagged player is considered the winner and should be It for the next round.
- Instead of tagging, It can step on the can and shout out a name if he or she has spotted someone. It must say the name loudly and correctly identify where the player is hiding. For example: “I see Jamie hiding behind the yellow shed.” If It is correct, the player identified must go to jail.
- For a faster-paced game, players freed from “jail” may simply continue playing instead of beginning the whole game over. If the cycle of jailbreaks gets too much for a slower It, the first player tagged three times can take over.
For a children’s game played in streets and backyards, there is a surprising amount of strategy involved. It’s a great game for kids to play in mixed groups of older and younger. Try it at dusk, when the shadows make better hiding spots.
