Pitthu (Seven Stones)

Players

6 to 12, in two teams

Time

20 to 30 minutes

You need

Seven flat stones, a soft ball

Ages

7 and above

Type

Traditional Indian games

Who it suits and when to play

Pitthu suits children and teenagers of seven and above who have an open ground, a lane without traffic or a school field, in two teams. It mixes aiming, running and teamwork, and one game teaches children more about planning together than a week of talk. Rules differ from town to town, so agree on yours before the first throw.

How to play

1. Stack seven flat stones in a pile, biggest at the bottom. Draw a throwing line about five steps away.
2. Make two teams: the hitters and the fielders.
3. A hitter gets three throws to knock down the pile with the ball.
4. When the pile falls, the hitters run in to rebuild it. The fielders collect the ball and try to hit a hitter with it, below the knee.
5. A hitter who is hit is out. Fielders may not run while holding the ball; they pass it to each other.
6. If the hitters rebuild the pile and shout "Pitthu!", they win a point. If all hitters are out first, the fielders win. Then the teams change sides.

Tips and variations

• Use a soft rubber or tennis ball, and allow hits only below the knee.
• Rules differ from lane to lane. Agree on yours before the first throw.

Common problems and how to fix them

• The ball hurts. Use only a soft rubber or sponge ball, and allow hits below the shoulder only.
• Arguments about whether the pile was complete. One player who is not in either team, or one from each, acts as umpire.
• One team has all the older children. Use the team maker, or let the two youngest players choose teams in turn.

More traditional Indian games

• Stapu (Hopscotch) 15 minutes
• Langdi 15 to 20 minutes
• Vish Amrit (Freeze Tag) 15 minutes
• Oonch Neech 15 minutes
• Chain Tag 10 minutes

Need fair teams or someone to go first? Use the team maker. See all 45 games.