The play is relatively simple, or so it appears at first.  The popular 70s playground game of Red Rover is best with a lot of kids (and/or adults – hey, we can play too!)  Players line up in two equally-populated lines that are both parallel and facing one another.  There should be a good distance between the two lines; thirty feet is usually pretty good.  After everyone has linked hands (no arm holding is allowed), one line starts off as the ‘calling’ team, choosing a member of the opposite team call out by shouting as a group, “Red Rover, Red Rover, send [insert player name here] right over!”  The player called has to run over to the other line and try to break through it.  If that player is successful, he or she chooses either side of the broken link to come back to his team.  However, if the run doesn’t find success, the runner joins the opposition.  The game ends when all players are in a single super-line.

Sounds simple, right?  Well, a successful round of Red Rover is made all the better with organized leadership and teamwork skills.  Think I’m taking this too seriously?  Think again… [insert threatening sound].  The idea is to call out for the “weakest” member of the opposing team first, so that they won’t be able to break the line.  It’s best to choose a leader to confer with, someone experienced in the ways of strategic planning within the game of Red Rover.  If you’ve been called out – this is where decision making is at its finest.  As the runner, you can choose from any link to break.  Choose the one with the skinny arms… or someone with a track-record of weak linking.  Additionally, if there are two weak links in the opposing line, the runner can use a little cunning, feigning a run toward one link and switching at the last minute, when the new link has the least time to prepare.  With these tips in mind, you will be in prime position to take one of your opponents.  Then, hopefully you’ll induce a little Stockholm syndrome on him or her.  Voila!  Success looms ahead!  [insert evil laughter]

All kidding aside, Red Rover has been a classic game for kids through the decades, and fun for everyone… unless someone breaks through your link a little too hard.  Ouch.  Well, maybe you’ll be the next one sent over.