by L Wiles - 2008-08-01
Kick The Can is an active tagging and hiding game played outside with a group of players and a can.
To start kick the can, one player is selected as IT (also called the seeker or can guard). This player stands in a selected area, guarding the can, eyes closed and counts to 100. All other players hide and when the player who is IT is done counting he or she starts searching for the hiding players. When the seeker finds a hider, he or she calls out the hider's name and the location (“I see Tommy behind the blackberry bush”, for example), both players run for the can. The seeker is trying to tag the hider before he or she can reach the can and kick it over (spilling the optional rocks).
If, when the seeker calls out the name and location of the hider, they call the wrong name, then the hider remains still until they are called by the right name.
Usually Kick The Can is played within certain physical game boundaries.
You may also substitute the “can” with a home base. Then players race to base rather than racing to kick the can.