by L Wiles - 2008-08-01
Many games require a player or players to count as a way to give other players time to do some task, such as hide. For example, in Hide and Seek the player who is IT typically counts from 1 to 100 to allow time for the other players to hide. However, there are many variations on counting techniques and many variation on signaling other players that the counting is complete. Here are just a few variations.
The standard counting practice is to count from 1 to 100 at a rate of approximately one number per second. When the counting is complete the counter calls our "ready or not here I come" and play begins.
Of course, you can change the counting in many ways. For smaller areas or less experienced players the count can be from 1 to 20, or 1 to 50, etc. A fun variation on counting, especially for games played in the dark, is to count 1 o'clock, 2 o'clock, etc up to 12 o'clock. At 12 o'clock the counter calls out "Midnight" and play begins.
Another option is to count by some factor, like"2s" (2-4-6-8...) or "5s" (5-10-15-20-25...) up to whatever number is appropriate for the game area, say 100 or even 500. For a real challenge try counting by prime numbers.
The timing of the counting is important. You want to count slow enough to give all players an appropriate amount of time. Your tempo should be about 1 second for every number counted. One way to meter your counting is to add "one thousand" after every number. For example: 1 one-thousand, 2 one-thousand, 3 one-thousand, etc.
"Ready or not" is the standard way the counter lets other players know that time is up. However, it's also quite common for the counter to ask if all players are ready. If another player or players shout out that they are not ready the counter continues counting another 20 numbers or so and then asks again.
Another fun way to to determine if all hiders are ready is to recite "Apples, peaches, pumpkin pie. Who's not ready holler I". Of course if someone hollers "I" the counter keeps counting.