Ante Over

Ante Over (also known as Eenie Einie, Auntie Over, Andy Over, Anti-Over, Annie I Over, Ante-I-over, Annie Annie Over, Annie Over the Shanty, and other regional variants) is a children's game played in the United States, dating back to at least the late nineteenth century. The game requires a ball or any other small object and a barrier (usually a small gabled building) between the two teams over which the ball is thrown.

Basic play

There are two teams, one on each side of the barrier. A player on the team that starts with the ball throws the ball over the roof to the other team, yelling some version of "Ante Over" to warn them that it has been thrown. If the other team fails to catch the ball before it hits the ground, then they will yell "Ante Over" and throw it back. If the team that is thrown to catches the ball, then the player holding the ball runs around the building and tries to hit one of the members of the opposing team with the ball. Players are "safe" if they succeed in running around the building without being hit. If a player is hit, they then join the team of the player who hit them with the ball. Gameplay continues until one team has all of the players.[1][2]

Variations

In some areas, if the ball bounces off the wall or rolls back without going over the roof, the thrower will yell "Pig's tail", "pigtails", or "Back, ball" to let the other team know the ball has been thrown but did not go over. They then yell "Ante Over" again and make another attempt to throw the ball over the roof.[1][3][4]

An indoor version of the game uses a curtain instead of a building.[1] Any tall obstacle that obscures the other team works for the game, although a gabled roof is part of traditional play.

In most versions players only have to run to the other side of the building to be "safe", while other versions require them to run all the way around the building.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Kathryn Grover. "Ante Over." Hard at Play: Leisure in America, 1840-1940. University of Massachusetts Press, 1992. Retrieved August 7, 2014.
  2. ↑ Joy Forbes. "Typical Games Played In & Outside One-Room School Houses." The One Room Schoolhouse. Web. Retrieved August 7, 2014.
  3. ↑ Cynthia MacGregor. "Annnie Annie Over". Fun Stuff for Kids...For September. Web. Retrieved August 7, 2014.
  4. ↑ Federal Writers' Project (1937). "Children's Games". Nebraska Folklore Pamphlets. Retrieved August 7, 2014.
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