Suicide (game)
Encyclopedia
Suicide or otherwise referred to as "wall-ball", is a game
typically played by children and teenagers. The rules vary widely from place to place; those given below are not necessarily a "standard" form of the rules.
, and a large, flat wall
, and is usually outdoors. The game also requires a rubber ball or a tennis ball
. A racquetball
is preferable when available.
Suicide may be played in teams, but is most commonly played individually.
When the game begins, a player throws the ball against the wall. If the ball bounces off the wall and then hits the ground, other players are free to grab the ball and re-throw. If the ball is caught by another player before it hits the ground, the player who threw the ball must run and touch the wall. Until he touches the wall, he is "open" to be "pegged" (i.e. struck hard with a thrown ball) by the player who caught it.
Note: for games featuring more sensitive players, it may be acceptable, instead of pegging a player who is open to get him out, to throw the ball at the wall before the player "tags up." The no-pegging rule must be stated before the game begins. If someone is pegged with the ball when the no-pegging rule is in effect then it would be the same as if the player had simply missed the wall on the return.
. Also, fighting and overly rough play may also draw a penalty.
The no-pegging rule may be waived for penalties, but if it's not, then a player who receives a penalty gets an automatic out.
Another penalty is called "wall-hugging." Wall-hugging, in its purest form, means a player who positions himself so that he is in constant contact with the wall. Therefore, in theory, if the ball hits him, he's automatically safe since he's already touching the wall. This is considered unfair and is dealt with accordingly.
A player who wall-hugs, which is officially called if a player stands against the wall when the ball hits it (unless he is touching the wall to save himself), is considered open. In order to save himself, he has to run to the other side of the court (usually to the opposite wall if it's there, else an arbitrary marker can be set up) and then run back and touch the wall.
Wall-hugging can be modified to some arbitrary point before the wall (usually at a foot) where if a player stands too close to the wall, even without touching, he may still be called for wall-hugging.
In some games that allow pegging, a player who is pegged for three outs is forced to stand facing the wall with his hands on the wall, in a position similar to a police 'pat-down' stance often referred to as "Bottoms Up". The player who pegged him last is then allowed to peg him from any distance as hard as possible either one or three times depending on the severity of the rules. Variations of this rule are that three players are mutually selected to peg the victim once each, that the punishing player can choose to give one or more of his three pegs to other players, or that all players are allowed one peg each at the victim, which can include 10 or more players in a larger game. The punishing players often aim for the head or buttocks of the victim. Headhunting may be allowed in this punishment ritual even when it is not allowed in normal play.
In general, players should avoid throwing the ball so that it comes off the wall either as a roller or a line drive. The harder the ball is to catch, the better the throw. Balls that fly high in the air are dangerous for they may be caught on the fly.
There is also a "reach" rule in some occasions ( in some places it's renamed "challenge"), when a person catches the ball and is far away, any other player may call "reach" meaning the person who has caught the ball must stop where they stand throw the ball and "reach" the wall; this rule originated in New York. When reaching the wall is impossible for the player, some games allow for the player to call 'relay' and pass the ball to a player within reach of the wall. An American variation of this is the person has 2 options, throw the ball and risk a life on if it hits the wall or drop it and run. Backwards dropping is frowned upon but is used.
Game
A game is structured playing, usually undertaken for enjoyment and sometimes used as an educational tool. Games are distinct from work, which is usually carried out for remuneration, and from art, which is more often an expression of aesthetic or ideological elements...
typically played by children and teenagers. The rules vary widely from place to place; those given below are not necessarily a "standard" form of the rules.
Setup
Suicide requires at least two players, and can have as many as can be accommodated by the playing area. The playing area must have a hard surface, such as concreteConcrete
Concrete is a composite construction material, composed of cement and other cementitious materials such as fly ash and slag cement, aggregate , water and chemical admixtures.The word concrete comes from the Latin word...
, and a large, flat wall
Wall
A wall is a usually solid structure that defines and sometimes protects an area. Most commonly, a wall delineates a building and supports its superstructure, separates space in buildings into rooms, or protects or delineates a space in the open air...
, and is usually outdoors. The game also requires a rubber ball or a tennis ball
Tennis ball
A tennis ball is a ball designed for the sport of tennis,approximately 6.7 cm in diameter. Tennis balls are generally bright green, but in recreational play can be virtually any color. Tennis balls are covered in a fibrous fluffy felt which modifies their aerodynamic properties...
. A racquetball
Racquetball
For other sports often called "paddleball", see Paddleball .Racquetball is a racquet sport played with a hollow rubber ball in an indoor or outdoor court...
is preferable when available.
Suicide may be played in teams, but is most commonly played individually.
Gameplay
The object of the game is to be the last remaining player. In order to stay in the game, players have to avoid being "pegged" out.When the game begins, a player throws the ball against the wall. If the ball bounces off the wall and then hits the ground, other players are free to grab the ball and re-throw. If the ball is caught by another player before it hits the ground, the player who threw the ball must run and touch the wall. Until he touches the wall, he is "open" to be "pegged" (i.e. struck hard with a thrown ball) by the player who caught it.
Note: for games featuring more sensitive players, it may be acceptable, instead of pegging a player who is open to get him out, to throw the ball at the wall before the player "tags up." The no-pegging rule must be stated before the game begins. If someone is pegged with the ball when the no-pegging rule is in effect then it would be the same as if the player had simply missed the wall on the return.
Penalties
Roughhousing is acceptable in most games, including setting picks and tripping up players attempting to go for the ball or go for the wall. It is not permissible, however, to physically interfere with a player who is throwing the ball, nor is it permissible to stand against the wall and prevent other players from touching it when they need to. Doing either of those constitutes a penaltyFoul
-In sports:*Foul , an unfair or illegal sports act, including:**Foul , in football , an unfair act by a player as deemed by the referee...
. Also, fighting and overly rough play may also draw a penalty.
The no-pegging rule may be waived for penalties, but if it's not, then a player who receives a penalty gets an automatic out.
Another penalty is called "wall-hugging." Wall-hugging, in its purest form, means a player who positions himself so that he is in constant contact with the wall. Therefore, in theory, if the ball hits him, he's automatically safe since he's already touching the wall. This is considered unfair and is dealt with accordingly.
A player who wall-hugs, which is officially called if a player stands against the wall when the ball hits it (unless he is touching the wall to save himself), is considered open. In order to save himself, he has to run to the other side of the court (usually to the opposite wall if it's there, else an arbitrary marker can be set up) and then run back and touch the wall.
Wall-hugging can be modified to some arbitrary point before the wall (usually at a foot) where if a player stands too close to the wall, even without touching, he may still be called for wall-hugging.
In some games that allow pegging, a player who is pegged for three outs is forced to stand facing the wall with his hands on the wall, in a position similar to a police 'pat-down' stance often referred to as "Bottoms Up". The player who pegged him last is then allowed to peg him from any distance as hard as possible either one or three times depending on the severity of the rules. Variations of this rule are that three players are mutually selected to peg the victim once each, that the punishing player can choose to give one or more of his three pegs to other players, or that all players are allowed one peg each at the victim, which can include 10 or more players in a larger game. The punishing players often aim for the head or buttocks of the victim. Headhunting may be allowed in this punishment ritual even when it is not allowed in normal play.
Strategies
Suicide games are usually won by those who have expert dexterity and the ability to run and throw the ball fast. There are a number of offensive and defensive strategies that players can employ.- Some players deliberately avoid the ball at all costs. While this is looked down upon, it is a legal strategy. The goal for these players is to simply stay out of trouble. The problem usually arises when others notice their behavior (made blatant by allowing ball to roll through their legs without any attempt to stop it) and begin to target them specifically. The best way to avoid the ball is to stand as far back from the wall as possible, behind all the other players if possible. Not only is this technically the safest place to be but it also allows them to be the last man back, who may peg anyone he wishes if the ball trickles back far enough.
- Cunning players may rely on "striking," which is deliberately pegging another player with the ball even when they aren't open. Although the player who strikes is putting themselves in the open, the goal is to catch another player unawares and, in the confusion, touch the wall before the victim can. The victim hopefully will be the target of whoever catches the ball.
- Wall-huggers are players who stand as close as possible to the wall without actually committing wall-hugging. The goal for them is to try to grab the ball whenever convenient and quickly send it back into play. If they are open, they rely on their close proximity to the wall to become safe immediately. A method which is usually employed by wall-huggers is to "sky" the ball, meaning they throw the ball very hard against the wall in an upward direction so that it will balloon in the air over the other players. Though this makes it easier for other players to catch the ball, it allows adequate time for the wall-hugger to race to the wall to become safe; usually they reach the wall before the ball is even caught. The downside to the wall-hugger strategy is that it is less effective if the no-pegging rule is in effect. Also, wall-huggers have a greater tendency to double-touch or be "struck" by strikers.
In general, players should avoid throwing the ball so that it comes off the wall either as a roller or a line drive. The harder the ball is to catch, the better the throw. Balls that fly high in the air are dangerous for they may be caught on the fly.
Lives
One variant allows "lives" as a means to lengthen each player's turn and by extension overall game-play time. The number of lives that constitute an "out" must be decided at the start of each game.Watermelon
If the game is played with a fence behind the court watermelon can be used. If the ball is going to go over the fence any player can call watermelon. If the ball goes over the fence those players gain a life. If it doesn't they lose one. Watermelon must be called before the ball is within five feet of the fence.There is also a "reach" rule in some occasions ( in some places it's renamed "challenge"), when a person catches the ball and is far away, any other player may call "reach" meaning the person who has caught the ball must stop where they stand throw the ball and "reach" the wall; this rule originated in New York. When reaching the wall is impossible for the player, some games allow for the player to call 'relay' and pass the ball to a player within reach of the wall. An American variation of this is the person has 2 options, throw the ball and risk a life on if it hits the wall or drop it and run. Backwards dropping is frowned upon but is used.
- American handballAmerican handballAmerican handball is a sport in which players hit a small rubber ball against a wall using their hands.- History :...
- Wall ball