by L Wiles - 2008-08-01
Keep away is an active, chasing and throwing game played with 3 or more players, sometimes in a designated layout, but often outside in a large, kid safe area.
Rules for playing Keep Away vary from very structured games played on designated Keep Away layouts to very relaxed games with no real layout. I've chosen a structured Keep Away game as my standard and a more relaxed version of Keep Away is outlined in the Optional Rules For Keep Away section of these instructions.
This version of Keep Away is played on a circle layout. The size of the Keep Away layout depends on the number of players and their skill level. One player stands in the middle of the circle layout and all other players stand on the outside perimeter of the circle, roughly equal distances apart. The perimeter players throw a ball (frisbie, beanbag, etc.) across the circle to a player on the other side. The middle player tries to catch the ball as it passes through the circle. When the middle player catches the ball he or she trades places with the player who threw it and the next round starts.
The only player allowed to move freely is the middle player. The perimeter players are not allowed to run around or change positions. They can reach with their arms to catch the ball and they are allowed to take one step (for balance). If a perimeter player is caught moving excessively he or she will be penalized and forced to trade places with the middle player.
Perimeter players must throw the ball across the circle, they can not throw the ball to a player directly next to them (unless of course there are so few players that it is necessary).
A more relaxed version of Keep Away is played without the use of an official layout. The rules are basically the same as the standard version of Keep Away (see the Rules For Playing Keep Away section of these instructions) except the playing area is typically larger and not as defined (like a yard or park), all players are allowed to move freely, and the person the ball is being kept from only has to touch or tag the ball instead of catching it.
Another variation that is fun to play inside on a rainy day is balloon keep away. All players (except IT) find a comfortable place to sit in a designated room (living room, family room, etc) and start floating a balloon across the room to each other. The player who is IT tries to intercept the balloon – the catch is they must stay on their knees.