Game Overview

“I Declare War on…” is an exciting outdoor game of strategy and agility, perfect for groups of children. The game revolves around conquering territories by declaring war on other players’ countries and attempting to hit them with a ball. The goal is to be the last player standing with all the territories under their control.

Objective

The objective of the game is to conquer all the territories by declaring war on other players and successfully hitting them with the ball to claim their land.

Setup

1. Draw the Earth:
   • Find a suitable patch of dirt or sand.
   • Draw a large circle on the ground and divide it into as many equal sections as there are players. Each section represents a territory.
2. Choose Countries:
   • Each player chooses a country name to represent their territory.
   • Write the names of the countries in each section.

How to Play

1. Starting the Game:
   • Players stand around the circle, each in their designated territory.
2. Declaring War:
   • The first player starts by throwing the ball high into the air and loudly declaring, “I declare war on (country name)!” (e.g., “I declare war on Spain!”).
3. Defending and Running:
   • The player whose country was declared must quickly run to grab the ball while shouting “stop” as soon as they have it.
   • All other players must run away as far as they can from the ball holder during this time.
4. Stopping and Attacking:
   • Once the ball holder shouts “stop,” all players must freeze in their positions.
   • The ball holder can then take three giant steps towards any player and attempt to hit them with the ball.
5. Hitting and Conquering:
   • If the ball hits another player, the thrower gets to take a portion of that player’s territory.
   • Mark the new boundaries of the territories accordingly.
   • If the throw misses or the player dodges it, the game continues with no changes in territory.
6. Continuing the Game:
   • The game continues with the next player taking their turn to declare war.
   • Repeat the steps of declaring war, grabbing the ball, and attempting to hit other players.

Winning the Game

• The game continues until one player has successfully conquered all the territories or until a predetermined time limit is reached.
• The player who conquers all territories or has the most territories at the end of the game is declared the winner.

Rules

1. Players must freeze immediately when “stop” is called.
2. The ball holder can only take three steps before throwing the ball.
3. Players cannot move after freezing until the ball is thrown.
4. If a player is hit by the ball, they must relinquish a portion of their territory.
5. The game can be paused if needed and resumed from the same point.

Safety Tips

• Ensure the playing area is free from obstacles and hazards.
• Players should not throw the ball with excessive force to prevent injuries.