Rules of Play — Hoppy Taw

Ready to have your own hopscotch tournament? Download our free award certificates here.

See written instructions below!

From starting position ( standing on one foot behind baseline, this is the starting position of all turns), toss Hoppy Taw into square 1.

Hop (to land on one foot) into square 1.
Take any number of hops in square without touching any line with hopping foot.
Kick Hoppy Taw out of square over and beyond baseline with hopping foot. Any number of hops may be taken in the square after kick-out.
Finally, hop (do not step) out of square over and beyond the baseline landing on one foot, to exit the court.
NOTE- In each step, when a player hops out beyond the baseline landing on one foot, the player is finished with that step and does not have to remain on one foot. If no error the player continues to the next step.

From starting position, toss Hoppy Taw out into square 2.
Hop into square 1 and then square 2.
Take any number of hops and kick Hoppy Taw in square or directly out beyond baseline with hopping foot.
NOTE- If a Hoppy Taw goes into square 1, hop into 1 and kick Hoppy Taw out beyond baseline.

From starting position, toss Hoppy Taw into triangle 3.
From this position,, hop (not stepping) into squares landing with left foot in 1 and right foot in 2 at the same time.
Jump from both feet (not stepping) and land on either foot in triangle 3.
When ready, after pushing or sliding Hoppy Taw into position with hopping foot, kick Hoppy Taw out beyond baseline.
NOTE- If it stops in a square of smaller number without resting on a line it must be retrieved by kicking it out on the return trip.
Return by hopping into squares 1 and 2 with left foot with left foot in 2 and right foot in 1 at the same time, provided the Hoppy Taw has gone over the baseline. If Hoppy Taw has only reached one of each these squares hop first in 2, then 1, then out, hopping and kicking out the Hoppy Taw from the square in which it landed before hopping to a smaller number. Then,hop out beyond the baseline.

From starting position, toss Hoppy Taw into triangle 6.
Advance as in step No. 3 to triangle 3.
Hop to land with left foot in triangle 4 and right foot in triangle 5 at the same time and jump from both feet to land on one foot in triangle 6.
Kick Hoppy Taw out as before.
Return by hopping to land with left foot in triangle 5 and right foot in triangle 4 at the same time, provided that the Hoppy Taw has not stopped in one of those triangles. Jump into triangle 3 to land on one foot, then jump out beyond baseline to land on one foot.
Note: If Hoppy Taw, on being kicked from triangle 6 has landed in either 5 or 4, then do not hop from 6 into both triangles. Hop first into 5, then in 4, kicking out Hoppy Taw from the area in which it landed, before stopping on a smaller number. If Hoppy Taw has landed in either 2 or 1, the same rules apply.

From starting position, toss Hoppy Taw into rectangle 7.
Advance as in step No. 6, and hop to land on both feet at the same time in rectangle 7.
Walk about in rectangle 7, sliding the Hoppy Taw with one foot at a time until it is in a position to retrieve br kicking it out over the baseline or into a space of a smaller number.
To kick the Taw out, raise one foot kicking the Taw out with the hopping foot. Return by hopping into triangle 6 and continue as before.

From Starting Position, toss Hoppy Taw into semi-circle 8.
Advance as in step No. 7 and when ready to progress to semi-circle 8 landing on one foot.
Kick Hoppy Taw out as in Step No. 1 through Step No. 6 by kicking Hoppy Taw with hopping foot.
Return by hopping, to land on both feet at the same time in rectangle 7, and when ready continue on as in Step No. 7 remembering to hop, not step, out of 7.

From starting position, toss Hoppy Taw into arc 9.
Advance as in step No. 8 then hop into arc 9 and kick hoppy taw out with hopping foot as previously done in Step No. 1 through step No. 6.
Return by hopping into semi-circle 8, then hop into rectangle 7 landing on both feet at the same time. Continue as before.

From starting position, toss Hoppy Taw into arc 10.
Advance as in step 9 and then hop into arc 10 and kick Hoppy Taw out with hopping foot as previously done in step No. 1 through step No. 6
Return by hopping into arc 9 and continue as in step 9.

From the starting position, drop the Hoppy Taw behind the baseline, then advance up into semi-circle 8.
Hop to land on both feet at the same time in with left foot in arc 9 and right foot in arc 10.
Do about face and reverse position of feet by jumping in the air do one half turn (180 degrees) with the the body with left foot landing in arc 10 and right foot in arc 9.
Return by jumping to land on one foot in semi-circle 8. Then continue out of the court as before.

FOULS, ERRORS OR MISSES

For tossing the Hoppy Taw while not in proper starting position behind the baseline.
If Hoppy Taw when thrown comes to rest touching any line of the court, or does not stop completely within the space that the player is aiming for.
If the Hoppy Taw is not kicked completely out of the court beyond the baseline before the player leaves the court.
If the Hoppy taw passes out of the court over the side lines when kicked.
If player touches any court line with footwear or any part of the body.
For any irregularity in progression or deviates from prescribed routing.
If player touches down more than one foot in any one square, triangle, semicircle, or arc. (Rectangle 7 in excluded.)
If player steps from one space to another.
If player lands on both feet when jumping or hopping out of the court.