Calvinball!

Image courtesy User FlameDarkfire on Photobucket

I have recently been shocked by the incredibly high percentage of the population who looks at my like a mad man upon the mention of Calvinball. Apparently some poor under privileged youngsters out there were raised without even the merest mention of the sport. So for those of you out there who are lacking in Calvinball experience come and get your knowledge.


Beginning on November 18, 1985 and running until December 31, 1995 Bill Watterson published his phenomenally successful comic Calvin and Hobbes in syndication across the world. The star characters were an imaginative 6 year old boy named Calvin and his pet "stuffed" tiger Hobbes. It is no stretch to say that even discounting Calvinball that the comic strip has inspired more people to play than maybe any other piece of mas media. The comics unabashedly promotes the importance of childhood activities and emphasizes that children must and will be free to be children,but all of this is worth another post all together at a later date.

Calvinball is a game unlike any other namely because it contains only one immutable rule,

"You cannot use the same rule twice"

Other than this anything goes. What makes Calvinball unique is that it is an innately physical game that places equal importance on creativity as on physical prowess and requires an inherent good sportsmanship that is lacking in many rule based games. Since rules can be made up by any player at any time, even contradicting preexisting rules, the players must learn to take creative loss in stride. This feature makes the game excellent for both children and well adjusted adults. Children can learn creativity and constructive argument skills as well as fair play in an environment that also keeps them physically active it also fosters the cliched "outside the box" thinking. As or adults it allows an excellent release from a society that is already governed by thousands of unquestionable rules.

In closing I'd like to leave you with The Calvinball theme song

Other kids' games are all such a bore!
They've gotta have rules and they gotta keep score!
Calvinball is better by far!
It's never the same! It's always bizarre!
You don't need a team or a referee!
You know that it's great, 'cause it's named after me!