I went to school in suburban Brisbane late '90s early '00s. Everyone would line up, except one person, who would stand in the middle as red rover. Red rover would call over someone else, whose goal is to make it to the other side untagged. If tagged, they join the red rover team, making two people the next runner has to avoid. Repeat until nobody is left to run.

But I ask the question because I'm aware of another fairly distinct version of the game.

[–] Catfish@aussie.zone 2 points 16 hours ago

I ended primary school in 88. British bulldogs, crocodile 'golden river' and hot Potato tennis ball tag were all Things

[–] teft@piefed.social 6 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I grew up in northeast US. For us the game was two lines standing opposite with arms linked and someone shouts “red rover, red rover send over” then that person tries to bust through the linked arms. If they don’t bust through they get added to your line. I don’t remember what happens if they do bust through. It’s been too many years.

[–] Zagorath@aussie.zone 2 points 17 hours ago

Thanks for sharing! Yeah, it was hearing an American/British historian explain this version of red rover that got me wondering about it, since that's different from what I knew.

[–] Nath@aussie.zone 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

This is the game I remember from primary school in the 80's on the Gold Coast. Then the family moved to WA and I don't think the game existed here. I haven't thought about this game in over 40 years!

[–] Zagorath@aussie.zone 1 points 17 hours ago

I haven’t thought about this game in over 40 years!

Yeah same (ok, not quite 40 years, but 20 for sure), until a YouTube video about folklore (of all things!) had the presenter talk about what "red rover" was for them, and it was very different from what I knew.