Many family backyard games originated in the pubs around the world and the game Aunt Sally is no exception. Aunt Sally is a very popular game in and around the Oxford area of England. Playing this game with children should be done with extreme caution as large wooden sticks will be hurled through the air and can get a bit out of control at times.
The Equipment for the Aunt Sally Game
Generally, the equipment for the Aunt Sally game consists of wooden sticks, a metal pole and a skittle called a doll or dolly.
Play requires six wooden sticks that are 18 inches long and 2 inches in diameter, smoothed to prevent splinters by the players. Cut and sanded wooden dowels work well for this. The doll is traditionally a small, stout skittle that measures approximately 5 to 6 inches high and 2 to 3 1/2 inches in diameter, painted white. Anything of this approximate dimension will work for the game. The dolly is placed on a metal pole that holds the dolly up off of the ground at a height of about 30 inches. A small platform can be attached to the pole to set the dolly on, if necessary.
The throwing line – called a hockey or ochee – is located 30 feet from the dolly platform. This throw line can be a wooden stick, a tape line or other visible marking.
For safety reasons a backdrop is usually hung behind the target to catch any wayward sticks after they are thrown. This can be made of rubber sheeting, canvas or any material that will help to block flying sticks.
The Rules of Play for Aunt Sally
The appeal of Aunt Sally is that the rules are easily adapted to accommodate varying house rules that are sometimes adjusted to suit a particular game venue. Although the general rules are followed, house rules should be consulted, if applicable.
Two teams of players are formed. Teams can be as small as one player each or as may people as desired, although games played with teams over 8 people each can start to get long and boring.
Each player throws the six sticks at the doll, trying to knock it off its base. The sticks must be thrown underhanded. If the dolly is knocked off, it is reset for the next throw. For each time a doll is knocked off, a point is scored. The dolly must suffer a direct hit in order to be counted as a point, however; if the dolly falls off because the post was hit, the point does not count. After all players have thrown six sticks, the score is tallied for each person and a winner of that leg (round) is declared. A game usually consists of a designated number of legs; often three to five depending on number of players and the amount of time wishing to be devoted to the game.
If a tie is declared, a sudden death match is played in which each player that is involved in the tie, throws one stick until someone has knocked off the dolly. The first person to cleanly knock off the dolly is declared the winner.
Robin Lewis - A Graphic Designer by day, artist, writer, gardener and researcher by night, Robin "Bodecoa" is eclectic, artistic and on an endless ...
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