How to play King Square

Author: Jess Sparks
Updated on: September 20, 2023

Playground markings provide fresh, new activities for children, as well as reliable options when you have to change your original plans due to scheduling conflicts, building maintenance or other issues.

The markings don’t need to be set up or put away for each game, meaning that you don’t have to spend that extra time doing so and you won’t have to spend money on extra equipment to mark out the court. This will leave you with more time for playing games and having fun.

Playground markings are easier to maintain, as there is no grass to cut back or painted line refreshers needed at the start of the year.

Our King Square playground markings

King Square – also known as Four Square – is a fun game that requires coordination and focus so it’s perfect to help your students develop their skills. We have two different sizes available if you are interested in adding King Square to your playground.

Our first option is the King Square 3m Playground Marking, which has a three-by-three metre square, divided into four squares, with each one labelled K, 1, 2 or 3. If you’d like a little more space, we also have our King Square 4m Playground Marking, which works as above but is a four-by-four metre square.

Remember, as these markings will be there all the time, you just need to show up wearing appropriate clothing, and with a ball in order to play.

How to play King Square

In this game, the aim is to make it to the square marked K for king and then hold onto it for as long as possible. To play this game:

• Four people need to take up one space each
• The person in position ‘3’ will bounce and hit the ball to another player
• Players hit the ball to each other so that it will bounce in the other person’s square
• There is no pattern to where a ball should be hit, therefore requires and improves focus
• If someone misses the ball (but it has bounced in their square) they will be out
• If someone hits the ball out of bounds, they will be out
• Everyone moves up one position so that if you were in position ‘3’ you would go to ‘2’ and from ‘2’ to ‘1’ and ‘1’ to ‘K’
• If there are more than four players, someone else joins the game in position ‘3’, else the person who is out moves to position ‘3’.

King Square is adaptable for the players

If the game is too easy, then players can use ‘cherry bomb’ shots, where the ball is hit harder to bounce harder in the other player’s square, making it harder to hit back. It might be a good idea to use a warning first though. You could also pair your players so that every other hit in that square is done by a different player, with them swapping in and out of the square after each hit.

To make the game easier, players could move closer with lighter bounces or call out names to make sure the next person is ready for the ball. Having an order to the bounces may also make the game easier, as players will know in advance where the ball will be coming from.

Order your King Square playground markings today

Get a quote from our team today for your new King Square markings and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible to discuss your requirements.

Interested in something else?

We have lots of other games that you could add to your playground and if you would prefer sports playground markings or trails, we can help you. Take a look at our amazing range to see these other options or contact our team to go through your needs. We can’t wait to make your playground more active and fun!