4-Square Rules:

4-Square Rules

Updated July, 2007 for Hidden Oaks Place adaptation


Overview: Four players play at once. Each player occupies his/her square. A playground ball is served to start each round of play. The ball is then hit from square to square until a player is out. When a higher square becomes available, players advance to the next sequential square.
Objective: The primary objective of the game is to have fun. The secondary objective is to advance squares or stay in square 4 as long as possible.
Rotation: Four players compete in squares numbered 1-4. When a player exits, the players in lower numbered squares move up and a new player enters in square 1. Player in square 4 decides who serves.

Serving: The server must stand with both feet behind the marked “service” line, bounce the ball and hit it underhand, with two hands, into one of the other squares.
The Gentlemen’s Serve: Is a serve that is reasonable to return and merely initiates ball into play so as to not end play on a serve. The person whose square a ball bounces in or is about to bounce in (if a Netsy is used) is the only player who may legally hit the ball.

Returns: When a ball enters a player's square, the receiver must hit the ball into another square. This may be done on the fly (called, A Netsy) or after one bounce. A player may go wherever necessary to track down and hit a ball that has bounced in their square.

Legal hits: Any part of the body may be used to hit the ball. Obvious "carries" are not allowed. In addition, the hit must form a parallel, but opposite vector to the force upon contact (perpendicular to the mean plane of the hitting surface). An exception to this rule is using Spins.
Spins: A spin may be done using one or two hands. NOTE: carries are not authorized. The ball shall travel in a similar trajectory as a hit and be in contact with a player’s hand/s for a minimal amount of time.


In-bounds objects: Except on a serve, buildings, fences, benches, trees, etc. are in-bounds objects, considered to be neutrally in play as if the ball was still in the air, and do not count as a hit, a bounce, or out-of-bounds. Sidewalks, steps, players in line, etc. are out-of-bounds. Bystanders who have little/no concept of the game are considered in-bounds objects if the ball bounces off them. If the line-standers actively get the ball before the player attempts to play it and the player is reasonably capable of hitting in bounds, a Do-Over will transpire.

Interceptions: Except on a serve, players may intercept a hit that is over another square and hit the ball into any other square except their own, as long as they do not step into another square. However, the person whose square a ball bounces in may travel anywhere to return the hit. You do not need to let the serve bounce to return it. Reasonable judgement is required to decide whose square the ball would have ended up in had it bounced before it was hit.

Saves: Players may "save" a ball that has bounced in another square and was missed by that square’s player. The ball is then hit into any square except their own. Once a player touches the ball, in this situation, the continuance of play becomes that player’s responsibility, and not the responsibility of the player in whose square the ball originally bounced in. If a player touches the ball with the intention of catching it or blocking it from rolling away at the end of play, the play is considered out-of-bounds and does not count as a save. Reasonable judgment applies.

Disputes: If disputes cannot be agreed upon by the current players, the conflict will fall on the players in line (that know 4-square). If the linees cannot decide, a Do-Over will commence. Do-Overs are not to become commonplace, but exist as only a last resort.

Lines: Exterior lines are considered part of the square. If a ball is hit on an interior line, it is the responsibility of the adjoining players to go after the play. If neither player plays the ball, the person who’s square the ball bounced mostly into, is out. If the ball hits exactly on the center juncture of lines and no one plays it, a Do-Over is in order.

Getting Out: This list is not all-inclusive. The aforementioned rules apply. A player is out if:
1) the ball hits in their own square after s/he touches it (no saving)
2) the ball is hit out-of-bounds
3) the ball bounces in his/her square and then bounces a second time in any square or out-of-bounds. There is no saving a ball that bounces out-of-bounds.
(a) Another player or on-looker may catch the ball to stop play as long as the potentially-out-player would not have reasonably been able to return the ball in play and/or doesn’t attempt to play the ball.
(b) A Save cannot be a scapegoat for another player to be out. In other words, if a player attempts to legally save another player and fails, the saver is out. Claiming the savee’s potential out as an argument for the attempted-saver to not be out - is prohibited.
4) the ball travels to an unreachable/irretrievable location due to player’s avoidable play.

Chasing the ball at the end of play: In general, the player now out shall chase the ball, although bystanders and other players may do so.

Penalties: If the ball cannot be recovered, the penalty is buying a new ball as soon as possible.

Referee: Consensus of players with a working understanding of the rules will regulate all rules. Upon dispute, the consensus of those players in line that have a working knowledge of the rules shall decide. Members of the Board of Trustee’s shall decide on disputes. In the rare event where a member of the Board of Trustee’s is not present, the first player in line will act as the referee in case of disputes. They may make one of two calls: 1) calling a player out or 2) calling for Do Overs. The referee's decision is final, but is also subject to retribution on the court in the course of play.



The Rules: ALL rules are subject to change in the name of fun. Fun is paramount in 4-square. If a proposition to maximize 4-square player’s utility is proposed, The Board will vote. 2/3 majority puts propositions into action. Game on!