A house, a ball, and fleet feet

That is what you needed to play Anti-I-over.

It is a game we spent much time playing when I was growing up, and we got plenty of exercise because of it.

If you're not familiar, here's the Cliff's Notes version of the game.

You need a ball that bounces somewhat, but should be medium-sized, so you can grip it with your hand (like a dodgeball).

Next you need at least two participants. The more the merrier, though, as chaos ensues more often than not.

Finally, you need a building with a sloped roof. Houses work fine, but on the farm we had a large building that housed our shop, and it had plenty of room to run on all sides.

Once you decide which team will throw the ball over the building, and which team will receive, the game is on. The throwing team, on one end of the sloped roof, throws the ball over the building and throwing team members can run around the house on either side.

Meanwhile, the receiving team catches the ball and can pass it to anyone on the team, if they are so willing. The team members then also take off and run in either direction around the building.

The person with the ball tries to hit someone from the other team before they reach the other side of the house. Any team members from the throwing team that reach the receiving team's side of the building without being hit are "safe." Anyone hit before he/she reaches the other side must switch over and be a part of the other team. This continues until one person is left on one team, and if he/she is hit on the next sequence, the game is over.

The game's origins date back to the 1880s, when it was played around one-room schoolhouses back east. It was played under many variations of the name (Andy-over, Annie-over, Anti-over and many others).

I remember having as many as 10 people playing at times, and the best move was what we referred to as the "fullback fake." When your team caught the ball, it divided up and half went each way around the building, everyone doubled over like a fullback carrying the football.

The other team had to consider everyone a threat, since they had no clue who had the ball. That made them slow down and almost inevitably, someone would get too close, out would pop the ball, and wham! Yep - our team gets another member.

If you were fast on your feet, and had some impressive moves, you could avoid getting hit, but at some point in the game you probably got too close and the "fullback fake" reigned you in.

Also a fast player who could throw the ball a mile in the air had an advantage, because by the time the ball went up and came down, bounced off the roof once or twice, the swifty might just be rounding the corner already.

It was common for you to switch sides a few times before the game was over. I found out quickly that he who hesitates is lost. Don't stand there wondering, "which way do I go?" - just run! If you weren't throwing, you'd better be on the move already.

Regardless of who won and who lost, it was great exercise, and the fitter you were, the better your chances were of staying with one side for the whole game.

But that didn't really matter. The whole point of the game was just to have fun. My dad and mom played, and we'd have friends drop by and get drafted into the game as well.

In the end, there weren't too many better ways to spend a summer evening.

We just hoped that a winner was declared before the yard lights turned on and it was time to hit the hay.

And yes, there were times I would lay in bed with the recurring sound of a ball dribbling down the roof.

Whoops - which way do I go?

You can attempt to reach Jerry Hitchcock at 664-8176, Ext. 2017, or via email at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at HitchTheWriter.