Doorkeeper

Doorkeeper is a popular street game played after school by children in Afghanistan.

Age: All ages

No. of players: Large groups

Equipment: A small rubber ball

Time: 10+ minutes

Aim: To prevent the ball from passing through your legs.

1. To play the game, players stand in a circle with their legs spread apart. Each player must have his feet touching the feet of the players next to him.

2. Choose one player to stand in the middle of the circle. That person is given the ball. His job is to roll the ball through the legs of one of the other players.

3. When the player sees the ball coming he must quickly shut his legs to try and stop the ball from going through.

4. A player is out if the ball passes through his legs or if he closes his legs when the ball has not been rolled towards him.

5. The game is finished when all players are out.

6. Then the game can start all over again!

Source: Adapted from "Games Around the World" UNICEF New York