Come Out and Play – Queimada
Queimada is a game popular all over South America. It is similar to the popular American game dodge ball and has variations played all over the world. It is a simple game that can be played with just a few or many friends. It is easy and fun to play, which is why variations of it are so popular all around the globe. Here are a few names that it may be called: Prisonball, Battleball, Jail Ball, Trench, Crossfire, Warball and Nationball. There are slight changes in rules depending on where the game is played, but here we will look at the South American version —Queimada.
Here is how to play:
• First, get together a group of friends. You need enough for two teams. There is no limit to how many, but you should have at least eight players.
• The game needs to be played in a large open space, outside is best.
• Divide the playing field in half. At the end of each side of the field there should be a small zone called a cemetery for
players that are not currently in the game.
• The equipment needed is large soft balls.
• Spit players into two teams. Each team should start on one side of the field.
• One player from each team should start in the cemetery on the opposite side
of the field with the balls evenly divided among both sides.
• The cemetery player should throw the balls to his team on the other side
of the field.
• The team members have to catch the balls then try to hit the
other team with them.
• If someone on the opposite team is hit with a ball, they must go
to their team’s cemetery.
• The game is over when an entire team is in the cemetery.
• The team with players still on the field wins.