Red Rover

Red Rover (also known as Forcing the City Gates and Octopus Tag) is an outdoor game played primarily by children on playgrounds. This 19th century children’s group game (requiring around 10 or more players total) is thought to have originated in Britain and then spread to Australia, Canada and the United States.

Røver is a Norwegian word for “pirate”, so perhaps the early British were showing bravery by daring the Viking raiders to “come over”. The 1829 book titled “The Red Rover: A Tale” by James Fenimore Cooper describes the exploits of a pirate called “Red Rover”.

3 Comments to Red Rover

1. 

   Kids aren’t allowed to play this on most playgrounds now because it’s supposed to cause arm injuries. Reminds me of the time we couldn’t play tag on my playground in elementary school because the principal thought we were going to… run into poles.
Mbee on September 30th, 2011
2. 

   Ah yes, I remember this game. I could never get through the other team, but meh. Kids can’t play a lot of the fun games anymore for various reasons, not all of them sensible if you ask me…
Kendall on October 2nd, 2011
3. 

   I remember this game, there are a lot of games we used to play growing up that I’m sure most can’t play together because of some dumb reasons…
Jerica on April 25th, 2012

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