Types of Basketball Horse Games

Perhaps the earliest form of basketball that most of us learn is HORSE - a childhood favorite on playgrounds as early as those in elementary school. It is ideal because it is fun, simple and non-aggressive, while still incorporating the fundamental shoot-in-the-basket goal of traditional basketball. There are a few different varieties of HORSE.

HORSE is a fun and easy basketball-based game, and it can be played with as little as two people, but can easily accomodate more. In the game, the first player chooses any spot on the court and tries to shoot a basket. If he or she succeeds, the next player must try to shoot a basket from the same spot. If he misses, he receives the first letter "H" in the word HORSE. If the second player does make the shot, however, he receives no letter and can then attempt a shot from a new spot on the court. The game follows through all the players in order. The first player to spell all the letters in HORSE loses and is out of the game.

Because of the simplicity of the game and its rules, it lends itself to different variations:

• Control of the ball cycles through everybody until one player gets a letter. When this happens, the person who made the original basket in the first place could potentially receive a letter if he is the first to miss.


• Variations on the actual word can also be used. Shorter ones like OUT, BOB or PIG facilitate shorter, faster games. While adding more letters like in DONKEY can extend a game. The words DIRT and GRASS are also sometimes used in a similar game.


• Once a spot has been used to make a shot, it cannot be used again by either the same or a different player.


• The player who is on his last letter is allowed to try for an "insurance shot." If he succeeds in making the basket, he is allowed to stay in the game with one less letter than the max.


• A player who shoots an airball gets a letter, regardless of his position in the game.