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RULES OF FOUR SQUARE

Play fair. Play fast. Play Four Square.
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Welcome to the Official Rules

Whether you're a seasoned pro or just starting out, this guide walks you through how to play, host, or judge Four Square at any level—from recess to world championships.

Referee with Four Square World Championship ball

📘 Table of Contents

📜 Introduction

The rules below represent the official standards used at the Four Square World Championships, held annually in Bridgton, Maine.

For those interested in alternate styles or playground adaptations, we invite you to explore the "Other Rules" section at the bottom of this page.

🔴 Equipment

Ball: An 8.5-inch rubber playground ball inflated to 2 lbs.

  • Four Square requires minimal equipment, making it easy to play almost anywhere.
  • Games can take place on any flat surface—chalk-drawn courts, taped-off indoor/outdoor floors, or professionally painted courts.
  • Any ball that reliably bounces can be used, though a standard playground ball (8.5-inch rubber) is typically preferred for consistency and control.

🟦 Court Specifications

Dimensions: A 16 x 16-foot square divided into four equal 8 x 8-foot squares, numbered 1–4 with 4 and 1 diagonal from each other.

Four Square Court Layout

Lines:

  • All court lines are 1 inch wide.
  • Outside lines are in-bounds; a ball landing on these remains in play.
  • Inside lines (dividing squares) are out-of-bounds; a ball landing on these results in an "out.".

🚫 Out-of-Play Zone

To ensure fairness and promote returnable gameplay—and since overhand and closed-fist strikes are allowed where some Four Square rules allow only underhand hits—an Out-of-Play Zone is used to discourage unreturnable shots.

  • The Out-of-Play Zone is a clearly marked square, extending 10 feet beyond each boundary line of the Four Square court.
  • If a ball is legally hit into another player’s square and then bounces and lands into the Out-of-Play Zone, the player who struck the ball is out.
  • The out-of-play zone line is in-play.
  • This rule is designed to encourage all hits to maintain a level of reasonable and possible returnability. This also encourages safety for competitors and spectators.
  • May only be used during the Championship Round, depending on venue or house regulations.
Out of Play Zone

🎯 Objective

Be the last player standing! The goal is to be the last player remaining after all other players have been eliminated. When play begins, each square contains a player along with the players waiting in line. The player in square 4 serves the ball to square 1 who then hits the ball into a square other than their own. The hits go on until someone gets “out”.

👣 Player Positioning

  • Players may move freely but must not interfere with other players’ ability to play the ball.

🎾 Serving

Adult Divisions (Men + Women)

The server (in Square 4) must place one foot on each of the outer lines of the square

The serve must be made underhand

Adult Serve Diagram

Children Divisions (Boys + Girls)

The server (in Square 4) must have both feet within the designated serving zone

Children Serve Diagram

All Divisions:

The server must bounce the ball once and then hit it with one or both hands into Square 1
The serve must be non-aggressive, with standard rotation, and must not rise above head height at any point as serves are meant to place the ball fairly into play
The receiving player (Square 1) is allowed one do-over by calling “one bad”
The receiving player may announce “one bad” before hitting the ball or after hitting the ball if it resulted in an out
If the serve is illegal (e.g., lands outside Square 1, hits an interior line), the server is out

🖐️ Ball Striking/Hitting

    Only hands and wrists may strike the ball. “Hands” are defined as the area from the wrist to the fingertips, including the backs of the hands.
    The ball may be struck with one or both hands, using either open palms or closed fists, as long as it is one deliberate and clean hit.
    No carrying, catching, holding, or double-hits are allowed at any time.
    Other than the serve, spinning the ball is allowed as long as the hit that produces the spin is not a carry or other illegal hit.
    Kids' divisions require a bounce before hitting (no air balls).
    Any player who strikes the ball illegally is considered out.

⚠️ Interference & Poaching

    Once the ball bounces in a square, only that player may hit it.
    If the ball bounces in a square and another player makes contact with the ball (deliberately or not), and the player whose square the ball bounced in makes an attempt to play the ball and had a realistic chance of getting it, the player who made contact with the ball is out.
    If the player whose square the ball bounced in does not make a legitimate attempt to play the ball and another player makes contact with the ball (deliberate or not), the player whose square the ball bounced in is “out”.
    Boys + Girls/Children’s Divisions: The ball must bounce in a square for a player to hit the ball (no air balls).
    Players are not able to physically impede another player from the ball. Impeding another player from getting the ball is another form of “interference” and results in an out.

❌ Elimination

Each time a player is out, that player leaves the court and enters the line and, if applicable, all players advance to the higher numbered square. Square 1 is then filled with a new player.

    Ways to get out:
    Ball bounces more than once in your square.
    Hitting the ball out-of-bounds, the inside lines, your own square or the out-of-play zone.
    Carrying, poaching, interfering.
    Ball hits you not in hands.

🏟️ Environment

    If the ball bounces in a square and then strikes a wall, play continues.
    If the ball bounces in a square and an obstacle impedes the player from returning the ball (e.g., person, chair, object):
    If the player made an attempt and had a realistic chance of legally returning the ball, the round is declared “dead” and will restart.
    If the player did not attempt or had no realistic chance of returning the ball, that player is out.
    If this scenario happens again in the same round with the same two players, a showdown occurs.
    If it happens again in the same round but with different players, the round is declared dead and will restart.
    Maximum of two “do-overs” per round for this scenario. If it occurs a third time, regardless of which players are involved, a showdown will occur.

⚔️ Showdown

Disputes? Lets have the Four Square Gods settle it with a 1-on-1 showdown using just 2 squares. Higher square serves.

⛔ Prohibited Moves

    Blackjack: Catching the ball outside the squares.
    Spinzies: Using two hands to spin.
    Short-stopping: Hitting ball to self.
    Body Parts/Language: Using body parts other than hands.

👥 Divisions

    Boys 14 & under
    Girls 14 & under
    Men 15+ with Sub-division: Senior Men 40+
    Women 15+ with Sub-division: Senior Women 40+

🏆 Tournament Structure

Round 1 (Scoring Round):

Kids Divisions (Boys + Girls) play together; Adults Divisions (Men + Women) play together.
45 minutes of play across multiple courts.
Each "out" is tallied.

Round 2 (Semifinals):

Players return to where they left off in Round 1 — 25 minutes of play.
Kids Divisions (Boys + Girls) play together; Adults Divisions (Men + Women) play together.
“Outs” continue/carry-over from Round 1.
Top 8 players per division advance.

Championship Round:

Finalists compete in a “10-out” untimed tournament.
Pick-from-hat method to determine where players begin in squares/lines.
Out-of-Play zone utilized (if it wasn't already).
Square 2 is vacated when 3 players left.
When two remaining players: 1v1 in adjacent squares.
Last player standing is crowned champion.