Castle Hop
Garden game for brothers, sisters and friends: dribble into safe castles while one plays the dragon.
Three castles in a triangle inside the square, about four giant steps apart; knights dribble in from the edge, the dragon guards the middle.
Set up
- Lay the 3 castles in a triangle inside the square, about 4 giant steps apart.
- One child is the dragon, with no ball, standing in the middle.
- The knights start on the edge of the square, each with a ball.
8 m by 8 m of garden (about 10 giant steps each way), corners marked with 4 shoes or cones.
How to play
- Knights dribble into a castle and stop the ball inside it, which adds 1 treasure point to the family total.
- The dragon tries to toe-poke a knight's ball. A poked knight does 5 toe taps and carries on.
- Swap the dragon every 60 seconds so everyone gets a go.
- Try to beat the family total next round.
Make it easier
- Bigger castles.
- The dragon hops on one leg.
Make it harder
- Knights cannot use the same castle twice in a row.
Three things to say
- Look up for the castle furthest from the dragon.
- Cheer your brother or sister's treasure too.
- Play fair and gentle.
Colts habit
Lift each other: one family total.
Both feet
Stop the ball in the castle with the practice foot sole.
Heads up
Look up for the castle furthest from the dragon.
For your birth year
Pick a birth year to show the tweak for that group.
- 2020 to 2021
- The dragon walks with hands behind their back.
- 2016 to 2017
- Knights must enter and leave a castle through different sides.
Safety: Toe-poke the ball, not the knight. Keep castles flat on the ground.
My best
The family treasure total. Last round and this round. Only ever compared with your own earlier go, never with anyone else. Saved on this device only.