“Buck buck” is a popular children’s street game. It has various versions across the world and, therefore, different names. Some people also call it “Johnny-on-the-Pony” or “Johnny-on-a-Pony.”
The popular variation includes one group of people climbing on the backs of another group to form a long pile or make the supporting line collapse.
This post will discuss this famous game’s rules, goals, and variants.
Let’s read on to discover!
Requirements For the Game
Many children play “Buck Buck,” an endurance and strength game. It does not require anything more than a strong back and a solid will.
Time
The game usually lasts no more than 30 minutes since you can’t take much more of a beating.
Number of players
Because the players will form two teams, the number of players should be even to have an equal chance to win.
Moreover, each team will make a line. Hence, make sure that there are enough players. Otherwise, the line will be too long or too short.
Ideally, there should be eight to ten players. Then, each team has four to five members.
Playground
“Buck Buck” is best when you play it outside. You will have enough space to run, climb, and laugh out loud.
How To Play The Buck Buck Game?
This outdoor activity is excellent for boys and girls who enjoy roughhousing. For reckless teenage groups, it’s even more fun.
Before starting the game, check these steps first:
Set up
The traditional version of “Buck Buck” doesn’t require any tools. All you have to do is find an open space that can accommodate all the players.
Then, divide the participants into two teams. Make sure that the number of members in the teams is equal.
Also, consider the ability of the players so that you have a fair game. For example, each team should have both strong and weak members.
Goal
The team must pile as many players on top of the other squad to win the game as possible.
The team may also win if their players succeed in making the supporting players below them fall.
How to play
Make two teams of seven to ten players each.
Team A chooses a member to be the “post.” He would stand his back to a wall.
The other players in team A stand in a straight line, known as a ‘horse,’ parallel to the ground.
Each player grabs the waist of the person standing in front of them and leaning forward.
For safety, the participants should hug tightly against the other and tuck their heads in.
The other group (Team B) should take a step back, about 15 feet (or farther for an excellent start).
One player of team B runs forward the horse and jumps. He will land in a straddling position on team A, as near to the front as feasible.
When team B lands, he should lean flat and forward the people below.
Then, the next player goes, and so on. It ends when the horse collapses.
The two teams then switch sides and continue another round. The squad with more members on top will win.
Strategy
If it is your team’s turn to climb, it is essential to allocate the climbers in the proper order.
It would be best to let the heaviest member of your team go first. He can break the line of the opponent.
Keep in mind that the more pressure they have to endure early on, the more likely your opponent is to break down.
If it is your team’s turn to form the supporting line, put effort into building it as robust as possible. The biggest and strongest member should stand close to the post.
On the other hand, let the smallest and weakest member stand at the end of the line. Then, he won’t have to bear a lot of weight.
How To Make The Game Funnier?
“Buck Buck” is fun, but you can make it funnier in two ways:
Make it harder
If the horse manages to keep the shape intact, the last jumper will raise some of his fingers and say, “Buck Buck, how many fingers up?”
If the horse guesses the correct number, you will swap places. Otherwise, the jumping players will have another round to jump on the horse.
The game can also be harder if there are more players. Then, the horse has to endure for longer.
Punishment and rewards
It’s fair if the winners get something for their triumph. On the other hand, the losers have to take punishment so that they feel more motivated next time.
We will discuss the punishment part in the section below because this part is essential and exciting.
When it comes to rewards, treats must be the best for kids. The players may raise a budget before the game starts. Then, it belongs to the winner at the end.
If you don’t have money for such a purpose, the right to punish the losers can also be a good idea.
How To Choose “The Post” Person?
As described above, the post is the first person to form a horse. Hence, we can call him the “head.”
The head plays a vital role in the whole game. Choosing the right person for this responsibility is therefore important.
Strength
The post stands in front of the line and is the one that suffers the weight of the jumpers longest. Once the post is strong, the horse can remain in shape longer.
Leadership
No one in the horse knows what is happening except for the host. The others are busy holding the person in front of them tightly.
As a result, the post should lead his team well, like adjusting the position of any player to strengthen the connection.
Safety Tips
We don’t often see someone badly injured, other than having bruises, bumps, or a sore back. However, safety should still be the top concern.
Play in a large space
Make sure that the playground is big enough so that everyone feels free to run and jump. The limited space makes it hard for players to maintain their posture correctly.
Do not fool around
You can do whatever you want before jumping on the horse. However, once you are on someone’s back, stay still.
Your slight movement can make them hurt. The more you joke around, the worse the horse suffers.
Punishment Of the Game
As aforementioned, punishment can make your game ten times funnier. Here are some options you can choose from, such as:
- Swap clothes with the person standing on your right.
- Put on a swimsuit and pretend to swim.
- Imitate an animal.
- Let the winners style your hair.
- Eat a teaspoon of salt or mustard.
- Sing a song with your mouth filled with water.
Wheel of punishment is also an excellent idea. You can learn more about it from this video.
National Variations
The game rules change according to the country. Variants from South Korea and Turkey may be the most popular games.
South Korea
Malttukbakgi is the Korean version of this game, played by Korean boys and girls until high school.
Team A has one player stand against the wall while the others get all of their heads up in the butt or crotch of the one standing in front of them.
The members of Team B climb up onto the horse one by one. Any team that has a player fall to the ground loses.
If everyone is still up, the post and the person in front will play “Rock, Scissors, Paper” to see who will win.
Turkey
Turkey has Uzun Eşek, which means “Long Donkey.”
The referee, sometimes known as the “cushion,” is the one who stands up. Other players from the same team bend over while the other team leaps on the “donkey.”
If the donkey can endure the load, the first member in the leaping team raises one or two of his fingers.
If the donkey correctly guesses the number, they can jump.
If the jumpers collapse, it’s the donkey’s time to jump.
Conclusion
When the game ends, you may see a lot of bruises or bumps. A sore back can also be a consequence. However, you will forget it soon because you just had a great time with your friends.
Hopefully, you will find this article helpful. For any further information, please feel free to ask. Thank you for your interest in the article!
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