The Power of Four

Four Square and Seven Years ago I was a peppy young fifth grader who enjoyed his recess just as much as any elementary school student. I rotated activities from day to day; playing everything from basketball to tag to kickball to football. Since the end of my elementary school days though, and with them the end of recess, I've played each of those games numerous more times. The one game that was left in the dust, obscured by time and lack of resources, was foursquare.

This was ashame. Foursquare was a blast. It took only a few people and was probably the least decimated by overcompetitive children as there are no clear cut winners. Despite this, my brother and I had often talked through the years about how foursquare was the coolest part of our school. There were different recognized rules variations of how to play, one specific to our playground. Everyone knew this, and it was up to the people who started the square to decide what rules they would follow. When looking for a square to join, you would ask, "are you playing Colwell rules or regular?" That was unique to our school, it was special to us, foursquare gave our playground an identity. So when middle school came around, and I thought I'd forever given up the sport, it was a little sad. This middle-school meddling wiped away a trait that could have been carried on to help fellow members of my fifth-grade class embrace their background; their Hornet Heritage, if you will. Unfortunately, no such thing would happen. It was time for us students to focus on studies, not our personal cultures and backgrounds.

As the years came and went, sorrow for my loss predictably waned to near-nothing. When I heard there was going to be a new foursquare club at my school last fall, the main reason I went was because I thought it would just be some funny, random thing I do with my friends as a joke. Once we started playing again though, it became better than any version I could have hoped to play in elementary school. We were stronger, faster, more agile, and more fearless than we had been as fifth-graders. The game pace was quick and intense. I was falling in love all over again, and harder than before. The best part of all though was that it brought people together.

The game and more specifically the club have become known more for their social benefits than any physical ones they may provide. Foursquare Club has allowed members a chance to build a sport up from scratch. To adapt it to their liking and to changing skill levels of play. It has given people the oppurtunity to connect and meet people that they previously never would have in a laidback environment and reconnect with some of those people they may have lost touch with or bring together groups of friends previously at odds with some common ground. People can express their creative side on the developing club and the game itself.

An entire new language of slang words, terms, rules, and styles of play have already come to fruition, giving it a personalized feel to those involved. A book of rules, website, shirts, constitution, newspaper articles, equipment updates, and many other small works are already under construction or have already been completed. The club is even teaming up to hold a tournament for charity. All this in just over three months. I've never seen something that has made people so eager to work together.

In fact, there have already been legendary games, plays, and players marked down. A history of lore has quickly been developed. Most notably, a game played on the roof of a parking ramp at night. More extreme locale matches are already on the drawing board. Foursquare has even gone underground, literally. It's not uncommon to see players flowing in and out of basements to play in the winter. It truly has become a year-round sport.

My biggest concern is simply that not everyone plays. There are many of those who feel that stooping to such a level would reflect poorly on their reputation. I say just shut up and play. Don't hate the player, love the game. I haven't seen a person yet who didn't enjoy the game the instant they started playing it. It's people like those who miss out on oppurtunities and let life slip by. It's been said that every senior member of the club will bring the game to their respective college next year. Early indications are that its collegiate popularity is already picking up and that there's even an league for adult's out east. If this continues, it is my sincere belief that we can do everyone a favor and make Foursquare truly universal. Here's to Foursquare Club becoming a mainstay at my high school til it crumbles, it would be a favor to everyone.