by L Wiles - 2008-08-01
Sardines is a hiding and chasing game played with a group of players, typically outside where there are lots of safe places to hide.
One player is selected as the hider while all other players are the seekers. The seekers close their eyes and count to a set number, usually anywhere from 20 to 100 depending on the size of the play area and the skill level of the players. When the seekers are done counting they yell “ready or not here we come” and start searching for the hiding player. When a seeker finds the hider he or she quietly joins the hider. The last seeker to find the hiders is the hider for the next round.
Usually Sardines is played within certain physical game boundaries.
If the seeker(s) can't find the hider(s) the seeker(s) yell out “oly, oly, oxen free” or other all clear signal and the hider(s) are free to come out of hiding.