SPUD

This is an easy, addictive, and low equipment game that has never left a group unhappy. I have no idea where this game came from, but SPUD is something that I find the easiest and the craziest to play. It takes some demonstration, but once you get the hang of it, it is fast paced. 

How to Play

Easiest start to the game is have each player say their name to the group. After everyone is familiar with everyone’s name, have each player group together in a circle around the person holding the ball, placing 1 hand inside the circle. One person starts with the ball in the centre of the circle.

At the beginning of each round, the person with the ball (who is in the centre of the circle) throws the ball upwards to the sky while yelling the name of another player in the circle. Once the ball is in the air everyone runs away in all different directions away from the ball except for the person(s) whose name was called. That person whose name was called must catch the ball and then yells “Spud!” as fast as they can. When they yell “SPUD”, everyone in the room must freeze. The person with the ball then is allowed to take three giant steps toward any player. They then throw the ball and try to hit anyone they can. They can also roll the ball if that is going to work better for them. 

Players frozen cannot dodge the hit. 

If a player is hit the first time, he or she earns the letter “S”, eventually spelling the word S-P-U-D. The person who was hit becomes the new thrower; otherwise, the thrower who missed earns a letter. The next round begins, and play continues. Whoever spells the letter S-P-U-D is out of the game; alternatively, if you do not wish to eliminate players, you can set a time limit and whoever has the least number of letters when time expires is the winner.

The Mods

• They are not allowed to move any part of their body when SPUD is called. If they do, they earn a letter.
• If the person throwing the ball misses, they collect a letter. The person that collected the letter throws the next ball.
• If more than 3 people see a person move, they collect a letter.

Colour Catch:

Instead of using kids’ names use the colour they are wearing, the “it” person must call one of the colours that are in the circle. Anyone wearing that colour can catch the ball and yell Spud. Kids wearing the same colours can team up and work together to get other colours out