Silent ball
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Silent ball is a popular children's game in which a ball is thrown from player to player while everyone remains silent.
The game only requires a single ball and participants will almost always sit on some kind of elevated platform, usually a desk since the game is a favorite to play in the classroom. Once the game starts, the players must remain absolutely silent (with the exceptions of sneezing, coughing, etc.) or else they lose and must sit down. Players continue to toss the ball until there is only one player left; the winner.
To lose, or to be out, usually signified by the act of sitting down, a player must basically:
- talk, whisper or otherwise make a sound
- stand up or radically shift to catch a throw
- miss (usually defined as when the ball touches the ground) a reasonable throw
Variations and additions to these rules are often made. To make gameplay easier or to ensure that the game is fair to everyone, it is sometimes required to establish eye contact with the person that will receive a throw before throwing it. Also, if the ball is tossed inaccurately or in an aggressive manner, the person who threw the ball is out (sometimes only if the receiver does not catch the throw). This is usually taken care of by only allowing underhanded throws. Other adaptations include disallowing a player to throw the ball back to the person who they received it from (unless there are only two players left) and a time limit on how long a player can hold the ball before having to pass it.
This game is frequently used by substitute teachers and regular teachers to give themselves, and the class, some quiet, relaxing time away from work.
