Zoogle

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Requirements

• Age 10+
• Players 4-12
• Time 3-5 min rounds
• Location Small clear area
• Energy Low (sitting, standing)
• Materials Zoogle stick
• Lead by Pathfinder
• Guides 1

Story

Zoogle is a fun, addictive game that involves throwing, catching, and balancing skills. According to legend, the game of Zoogle comes from ancient traditions of warrior training. Let's say that a warrior had lost their sword in battle, needed one immediately, and a comrade was standing a short distance away with a spare sword. The comrade could throw the spare sword, and the warrior could, in theory, catch it - but of course they would want to catch the sword by the HANDLE only, not the sharp blade! Zoogle turns this situation into a game by using a special stick and specific rules about throwing and catching.

Action Call

Can you throw the Zoogle stick with skill and accuracy? Can you catch it with precision, speed, and timing? Can you Pay Attention to where the Zoogle stick is at all times and anticipate when it will be thrown to you?

Game

Safety

• Scout playing area for hazards: tripping objects, stinging insects, trash, and much more.
• Make sure the Zoogle stick isn't too big, heavy, or dense.

• Make sure the Zoogle stick is smooth and splinter-free.
• Emphasize that the Zoogle stick must be thrown with control. No throws that are too fast, "spears," or "spins."
• Make sure the Zoogle game is not taking place near any non-player bystanders.

Mission

• You need a Zoogle stick to play Zoogle. A good Zoogle stick is a straight, smooth, non-splintery stick that's about 18 to 24 inches long and a little thicker than your thumb. Carve the ends so they are smooth and a little bit rounded, and smooth any branch nodes or rough spots. 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 duct or 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 "hawk 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 or force. Dangerous throws are grounds for immediate expulsion from the game.
• 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) with one hand, c) by the handle only, then d) throw it accurately to another player without moving the position of their feet or their hand grip on the Zoogle stick. If they fail at any of these tasks, they are penalized. For instance: if a player tries to catch the stick but drops it, or if they catch the stick but a part of their hand is touching some part of the "blade," or if they move their feet while holding the stick, or if they reposition their hand grip on the stick after catching it, they are penalized. Penalties are as follows. First penalty: lose a hand (put one hand behind your back). Second penalty: lose a foot (balance 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.
• For a group of players who is learning Zoogle for the first time, warm up for a few minutes by simply tossing the Zoogle stick around the circle, with players trying to throw the stick so it can be easily caught, and with no penalties. As the group's skill improves, introduce the rules.
• 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.

Modify

Looking elsewhere. For older players (at least 12 years old) who have played several rounds of Zoogle, introduce the idea of deception: while looking at one player across the circle, make an accurate throw to a DIFFERENT person in the circle. This challenges the awareness of all players.