British Bulldog

[ghoti_mhic_uait]

This is the game where lots of children line up in two lines, then a child from one team runs at the other line with an aim to breaking it. If you break through the line, then you rejoin your team, and your team gets another go. If the line holds firm, you join the other team, and it's their go. Many schools have banned this, and had when we were at school, but I think from anecdotal evidence that it was mainly C of E/other protestant schools that did this, whereas RC schools still allow the game. So, a test:[Poll #271314]

Comments

[bopeepsheep.livejournal.com]

We called that Red Rover mostly, British Bulldog was what the teachers called it. What we called British Bulldog was a different game, involving 'freezing' and going under teammates' legs to free them, it had elements of tag and elements of rugby IIRC!

[valkyriekaren.livejournal.com]

The 'freezing' and going under legs was called 'Sticky in the Mud' at my school.

[sparrowsion]

Certainly the description sounds more like what we called Red Rover. (The person to attempt the crossing being singled out by the defending side with the chant "Red Rover, Red Rover, send <person> right over.") British Bulldog, as played at school and cubs, was IIRC, one entire side trying to get past the other, with just tackling and not the linked-hands thing.

"Primary school" isn't well defined. To me, "primary" would be "infants" (Years 1, 2 and 3 in modern parlance, I think) and I don't recall either game from there (but then no-one wanted me playing with them anyway). I do recall on at least one occasion it being banned (the ban must have lapsed, or been forgotten and a reminder was required) at juniors, due to the playground being tarmac. Infants was explicitly CofE (likewise cubs), juniors just woolly state.

[ghoti.livejournal.com]

I did mean ;juniors' rather than primary, hich as far as 'm concerned is infants+juniors.

Sorry

[ghoti.livejournal.com]

We called that stuck-in-the-mud, and so does Benedict