HOW TO PLAY
STEP 1
When you say "go", the Jailbirds move around, handballing to each other.
when the Jailbirds see a gap in the Guards, the player who has the ball attempts to "break out of jail" by running through the gap to the outside of the playing area, without being tagged by the Guards.
Once a Jailbird makes a break for it, all Guards can leave their designated side of the jail and chase the Jailbird.
STEP 2
Once players have escaped through one side of the jail they can't break out of it again.
Keep going until there are no sides left to escape from.
Then, the teams swap.
TIPS
Download The Handy Hints below for more technique tips!
HOW TO SET UP
Set up a large square in the middle of the playing area: this is the "Jail".
Divide the players into two teams, with one team inside the inner square (the "Jailbirds") and one team outside it wearing bibs (the "Guards").
Spread the Guards out evenly around the four sides of the jail. Each Guard can only patrol one side of the jail.
VARIATION 1
Try having a minimum number of handballs before a jail break.
VARIATION 2
Don't limit the Guards to standing on a given side of the jail.
VARIATION 3
Have two balls in action at once.
