Kerby
For 2 players
This game requires a ball. Various sized balls can be used but a football or basketball produces the best results.
A player stands at each edge of a kerb facing each other. Each player takes turns with to hit the kerb.
The first player takes aim at the kerb and throws the ball.
If they miss the kerb then the second player takes possession of the ball and procedes to take their go.
If the ball hits the kerb cleanly and bounes back to the player then they score a point.
Having scored they keep the ball and move to the middle of the road and attempt the same again.
Each bounce from the middle counts as one point as well and this continues until that player misses.
ALTERNATIVE RULES
Posted by Anon
if the ball bounces in the middle when both people are on their sides of the path its the first person who gets to it has a free throw in from the middle.
ALTERNATIVE RULES
Posted by Paul Kershaw
You try to hit to opposite curb, if you do and the ball bounces/rolls to your side of the curb you score one point. If the ball hits the curb and bounces up and you can catch it, you score five points.
First to twenty wins.
ALTERNATIVE RULES
Posted by: Boberto
How we score:
Hit the kerb = 1 point and move to the centre for centre shot.
From Centre:
Hit = 1 point and another shot from the centre.
Miss = move back to the kerb and game resumes with opponents standard shot.
Catch your own shot from a "bounce back" = 1 extra point ( standard move to the centre).
Catch an opponents shot from a "bounce up" = 1 point for catcher, none for shooter, no one moves to centre. Game resumes with catchers shot from his/her own kerb.
First to 5 wins.
ALTERNATIVE RULES
Posted by: Natalie
Kirby is whereby a players stand on the curb opposite each other with the road in the middle. One player throws the ball preferably a football or basket ball and tries to get the ball to bounce off the curb and come back to them.
Each player takes it in turn until they get the ball to come back to them. When this happens the player that got it to hit of the curb gets 10 points.
They then stand in the middle of the road and try at close range to hit it off the curb for each of these they score 5 points.
If they miss the other person grabs the ball and as the misser is running back to the curb they try and hit them below the waist with the ball if they suceed they steal all there points.
The winner is the first person to a set amount of points which is decded at the start of the game
ALTERNATIVE RULES
Posted by: Natalie
You can change the amount of points to get. Also you can set the amount of bounces the ball is allowed before it gets to the curb for younger players who arent as good at throwing the ball.
Different types of throws:
Basket: Two hands on ball over the head.
Poop-a-scoop: Facing backwards onto the road and throwing it through the legs.
One Two: Holding the ball in one hand and throwing it over arm.
ALTERNATE RULES
Posted by: rachael
After hitting the kerb you run back and forth between the two kerbs scoring 1 point each time until your opponent can hit you with the ball to stop your running. It then changes turn and the same happens. If failure to hit the kerb it goes to the oppositions turn.
ALTERNATE RULES
Posted by: steve
If the ball bounces back and hits the other curb it is called a double curby the person who threw that ball gets to move to the middle of the road and try and hit the curb as many times as possible.
ALTERNATE RULES
Posted by: dominic
When you have the ball you have to throw the ball to the kerb and if it hits it might come back or it will be your oponents turn and the first one to 5 wins the game however when you score a goal and its coming back but it goes to your oponents side its no point but if it goes to hit the curb and it comes back its 1 point there is 2 pointers and to get 2 pointers you need to not face the curb and throw it that means you turn round and you throw the ball from where you are if you get it in which will be hard you get the 2 points and you can play a tournemant that means that you have to score 1 point and your oponent is out and you go to the next round.
ALTERNATE RULES
Posted by: andy s
If the set score is 15, then once a player has reached a score of 8 then the sides of the road, at which the players are standing, should be switched.
Strachalele: This is when you beat your opponent without them scoring a single point (also known as a granny).
ALTERNATE RULES
Posted by: anon
Changing the scoring by introducing random events, so that by throwing the ball at the opposite kerb and it then returning OVER a passing car would be 15 points. We called this 'French Kerby'.
ALTERNATE RULES
Posted by: Dave
As above for the most part but we also developed a variety of different ways to throw the ball and assigned different points value depending on their supposed difficulty. After a few years the list got extensive (and increasingly over the top!) but sadly I can't remember many of them. Highlights include, 'eyes closed', facing the other way and throwing it over your head, one handed under one leg. These were often fruitless but the lure of those extra points was impossible to resist as a child! Due to the freeform nature of street games different ways to throw got invented all the time.
ALTERNATE RULES
Posted by: Tony
We used to play that you have to catch the ball from the kerb to be allowed to throw from the middle. If you miss when in the middle your opponent can throw to hit you before you make it back. If they do this they automattically throw from the middle.
As my nephew told me, these must be old skool kerby rules!!!
ALTERNATE RULES
Posted by: Greg
players stand on opposites sides and try to bounce the ball off each others kerb. when this happens you reciev ten points. you then move tot the middle of the road and bounce the ball from a closer distance. (these shots are only 5 points) if you get a double kerb you get double your points
ALTERNATE RULES
Posted by: Canis
The ball does not have to bounce back but just to make a clean bounce off the kerb. When the players are in the middle, if they miss a shot the person who didn't miss can throw the ball at the person trying to return to his kerb, if he hits the person who's hit loses all the points they gained in the middle. Extra points: Facing backword=5 points. If the ball bounces off the opponents kerb, then bounces of your kerb = 5 points.
ALTERNATIVE NAMES
KIRBY
CURBY
GUTTERS
ORIGINS
Do you know the origins of this game! If you have any ideas or suggestions then please post them using the form on the right. Thank you.
This game requires a ball. Various sized balls can be used but a football or basketball produces the best results.
A player stands at each edge of a kerb facing each other. Each player takes turns with to hit the kerb.
The first player takes aim at the kerb and throws the ball.
If they miss the kerb then the second player takes possession of the ball and procedes to take their go.
If the ball hits the kerb cleanly and bounes back to the player then they score a point.
Having scored they keep the ball and move to the middle of the road and attempt the same again.
Each bounce from the middle counts as one point as well and this continues until that player misses.
ALTERNATIVE RULES
Posted by Anon
if the ball bounces in the middle when both people are on their sides of the path its the first person who gets to it has a free throw in from the middle.
ALTERNATIVE RULES
Posted by Paul Kershaw
You try to hit to opposite curb, if you do and the ball bounces/rolls to your side of the curb you score one point. If the ball hits the curb and bounces up and you can catch it, you score five points.
First to twenty wins.
ALTERNATIVE RULES
Posted by: Boberto
How we score:
Hit the kerb = 1 point and move to the centre for centre shot.
From Centre:
Hit = 1 point and another shot from the centre.
Miss = move back to the kerb and game resumes with opponents standard shot.
Catch your own shot from a "bounce back" = 1 extra point ( standard move to the centre).
Catch an opponents shot from a "bounce up" = 1 point for catcher, none for shooter, no one moves to centre. Game resumes with catchers shot from his/her own kerb.
First to 5 wins.
ALTERNATIVE RULES
Posted by: Natalie
Kirby is whereby a players stand on the curb opposite each other with the road in the middle. One player throws the ball preferably a football or basket ball and tries to get the ball to bounce off the curb and come back to them.
Each player takes it in turn until they get the ball to come back to them. When this happens the player that got it to hit of the curb gets 10 points.
They then stand in the middle of the road and try at close range to hit it off the curb for each of these they score 5 points.
If they miss the other person grabs the ball and as the misser is running back to the curb they try and hit them below the waist with the ball if they suceed they steal all there points.
The winner is the first person to a set amount of points which is decded at the start of the game
ALTERNATIVE RULES
Posted by: Natalie
You can change the amount of points to get. Also you can set the amount of bounces the ball is allowed before it gets to the curb for younger players who arent as good at throwing the ball.
Different types of throws:
Basket: Two hands on ball over the head.
Poop-a-scoop: Facing backwards onto the road and throwing it through the legs.
One Two: Holding the ball in one hand and throwing it over arm.
ALTERNATE RULES
Posted by: rachael
After hitting the kerb you run back and forth between the two kerbs scoring 1 point each time until your opponent can hit you with the ball to stop your running. It then changes turn and the same happens. If failure to hit the kerb it goes to the oppositions turn.
ALTERNATE RULES
Posted by: steve
If the ball bounces back and hits the other curb it is called a double curby the person who threw that ball gets to move to the middle of the road and try and hit the curb as many times as possible.
ALTERNATE RULES
Posted by: dominic
When you have the ball you have to throw the ball to the kerb and if it hits it might come back or it will be your oponents turn and the first one to 5 wins the game however when you score a goal and its coming back but it goes to your oponents side its no point but if it goes to hit the curb and it comes back its 1 point there is 2 pointers and to get 2 pointers you need to not face the curb and throw it that means you turn round and you throw the ball from where you are if you get it in which will be hard you get the 2 points and you can play a tournemant that means that you have to score 1 point and your oponent is out and you go to the next round.
ALTERNATE RULES
Posted by: andy s
If the set score is 15, then once a player has reached a score of 8 then the sides of the road, at which the players are standing, should be switched.
Strachalele: This is when you beat your opponent without them scoring a single point (also known as a granny).
ALTERNATE RULES
Posted by: anon
Changing the scoring by introducing random events, so that by throwing the ball at the opposite kerb and it then returning OVER a passing car would be 15 points. We called this 'French Kerby'.
ALTERNATE RULES
Posted by: Dave
As above for the most part but we also developed a variety of different ways to throw the ball and assigned different points value depending on their supposed difficulty. After a few years the list got extensive (and increasingly over the top!) but sadly I can't remember many of them. Highlights include, 'eyes closed', facing the other way and throwing it over your head, one handed under one leg. These were often fruitless but the lure of those extra points was impossible to resist as a child! Due to the freeform nature of street games different ways to throw got invented all the time.
ALTERNATE RULES
Posted by: Tony
We used to play that you have to catch the ball from the kerb to be allowed to throw from the middle. If you miss when in the middle your opponent can throw to hit you before you make it back. If they do this they automattically throw from the middle.
As my nephew told me, these must be old skool kerby rules!!!
ALTERNATE RULES
Posted by: Greg
players stand on opposites sides and try to bounce the ball off each others kerb. when this happens you reciev ten points. you then move tot the middle of the road and bounce the ball from a closer distance. (these shots are only 5 points) if you get a double kerb you get double your points
ALTERNATE RULES
Posted by: Canis
The ball does not have to bounce back but just to make a clean bounce off the kerb. When the players are in the middle, if they miss a shot the person who didn't miss can throw the ball at the person trying to return to his kerb, if he hits the person who's hit loses all the points they gained in the middle. Extra points: Facing backword=5 points. If the ball bounces off the opponents kerb, then bounces of your kerb = 5 points.
ALTERNATIVE NAMES
KIRBY
CURBY
GUTTERS
ORIGINS
Do you know the origins of this game! If you have any ideas or suggestions then please post them using the form on the right. Thank you.
COMMENTS
| B Ramsay |  |
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| As avid Kerby ball players will know: "Water Kerby / Kirby / Curby" world champions can not be dethrowned unles beaten in open play. (B Ramsay - Reigning Water Kerby / Kirby / Curby World Champion) |
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20 JAN 09:58:08 |
Daniel | |
| I'd just like to state for the record that I am Global Kerby (Kirby & Curby) Champion. This includes the 'in Pool' version, for which I have a fierce-some reputation that stretches the length of the Mediterranean. |
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16 JAN 15:08:42 |
Jim from Totty | |
| How we used to play to get more people involved was using knockout rounds. An unlimited number of people stand on one kerb and throw it at the next, then if you catch it you go through - each round one person goes out, or it gets a replay if everyone goes through on the same throw. |
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8 AUG 21:05:05 |
Dave Marlow | |
| We used to play this in the late '70s in Billinge (between St Helens and Wigan), with 1 important difference. Once the ball came back from the kerb you tried to keep it up, with 3 pts for a kick, 5 for a knee and 10 for a head. Get a load of points and pop it back onto the kerb for double points. Come into the road in anticipation and miss the kerb, you lose all your points if your oponent throws the ball back and hits you. First to 100 wins. Game translates well to swimming pools. Good for diving headers into the water. |
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29 APR 16:58:25 |
Ianto | |
| Me and my kids play in Salisbury - and I'm aged 51 ! Ps.. we found the rules buried near Stonehenge, therefore its clearly a southern game. |
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22 APR 07:34:51 |
andy johnson | |
| ...forgot to say I'm 44 and am still playing! |
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21 APR 08:29:05 |
andy johnson | |
| We have played Kerby for years and strangely used to call it Fish & Chips when we were kids! We have our own tried and tested simple rules which makes for an exciting game but doesn't involve stepping in to the middle of the road. Kerb hit and roll back - 2 points, kerb hit and catch - 5 points. Kerb hit which goes straight up and is caught by opposite player - 1 point to the opposite player. First to 51 and when you get close you have to be careful not to be left needing 1 or 3 or you get stuck and will need a '1' from your opponent |
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31 OCT 11:20:22 |
Dan | |
| Barking Rules (played in Barking, East London) aka 'Battle Kerby' Each player takes it in turns to try and hit the opposing player's kerb. If the ball strikes the kerb and the thrower catches the ball, he/she scores a point. If the ball strikes the kerb and the other player catches the ball, they score a point. If nobody catches the ball after it strikes a kerb, no points are scored. Hence the name 'Battle Kerby' as both players will often charge to catch the ball once it strikes a kerb, usually ending in a collision :D |
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16 OCT 10:37:36 |
Mibo | |
| I live in a suburb of Liverpool (UK) (funnily enough called Kirkby and pronounced Kirby) and we used to play this game, which we just called "Kerb", in the sixties. We often used a tennis ball, which made it really difficult. And we never used the rule about moving to the middle of the road, but we might've let younger kids throw from the middle to make it easier for them. The last time I played it was about 5 years ago, with my nieces, using a football. We used to play when they came after school and other kids from the street came up and joined in which also led to a whole gang of us regularly playing dodge ball in our front garden. Though I don't remember having these rules when I was a kid, when I played it with my nieces I added the rules about an extra point for catching your own bounce and an extra two points if you caught a bounce off your opponent's ball. A catch didn't count if you had to step off the side into the road to make it. |
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10 SEP 01:43:51 |
Becky | |
| Adi, I used to play this game as a kid and I'm from Hull. Further north then Norwich. All the kids in the street used to play it. We used to make our parents move there cars around so we had room to play. Was awesome. |
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8 AUG 20:56:12 |
uby don | |
| denville crescent are the champions through out birmz and i am the champ... brapppppp b9 mandemz |
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15 JUN 18:53:39 |
Nathan Croucher | |
| I used to play this as a child,I had assumptions it was a Northern sport but it might not be. None of my friends outside of Wigan know what I am talking about when I mention it. I won't claim to have invented it though haha. |
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15 MAY 12:21:52 |
JB | |
| This game was always open to cheating with smart-arsed players claiming bonus points for hitting the kerb from a ball thrown over the back of the head or left-handed etc. Great memories of childhood though. Our rule was to move to the middle only if you caught the ball as it was assumed easier to hit fromthere. Also if the opponent hit your kerb whilst you were moving back to your side then you lost a point |
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17 FEB 12:24:08 |
danny cleworth | |
| i invented the game in 1972 in old trafford greater manchester. a roll back is worth 1 point. a two-handed catch 2, a two-hander from your kerb 3, a one-hander anywhere 4 and a one-hander from your kerb 5. |
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14 JAN 13:13:17 |
c newcombe | |
| Myself aged 10 or 11, my sister Rowena and about six others aged 8 to 15 years invented Kerby in Marston Lane, Nuneaton, England, on a school holiday summers day about 1960. We were sitting on the kerbs each side of the street (a cul-de-sac). Someone said throw me the ball. They did and it hit the kerb by chance and rebounded back to the thrower. The others said I bet you can't do that again - and the game was borne. We called it Kirby. In a few days the game was play in the next street and in a week it was all over our estate and even Caldwell and Hill Top, Nuneaton. It was invented because of boredom when we sat down on a hot day wondering what to do. |
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17 JUL 11:14:34 |
Meister | |
| This is an amazing game. The Blackhall Bulldogs have played this for years - we're reigning champions of Edinburgh and the Lothians. We have some other Alternate rules - there's one with a rugby ball, and involves a third player.....basically, if you hit the kerby ball with the rugby ball while its in the air, the guy that threw it is out, and the guy that threw the rugby ball is in....its brilliant. Got a few others...will post later. We think it should be in London 2012... |
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12 JUL 21:16:02 |
sean duggan | |
| is kerby legal to play any where |
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22 MAY 21:31:19 |
Debbie NC, USA | |
| We Love this game! The kids play it every night! Friend of ours from Blackwood Wales introduced it to us and we're hooked! Tournament this weekend :) |
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27 FEB 14:48:33 |
Adi | |
| The game was originally invented in Histon, but has been played as far and wide as Norwich. Kerby Ltd. has recenty gone into administration but its well known inventor, a Mr A. Searle is spreading the word of this once great game. |
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28 MAY 19:36:33 |
C. Girling | |
| I played kerby, but also played a variation. On some victorian building the walls were a brick thicker up to 3 or 4 feet. This created a ledge which was often chamfered. It was this ledge that we threw the ball at. We called this game, obviously, Ledgers. |
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1 MAY 13:21:31 |
kitty | |
| After 30 years Kerby was taken up again. Rules remembered thusly: 1 point scored for a roll back (ball rolls across the road) 3 points scored for a clean two handed catch (ball does not touch the road on return to thrower) 3 points scored for a clean one handed catch and bonus go from the middle of the road If the ball does not cross the middle line of the road it is the opponent's ball and no points are scored. No points can be scored from a foul shot (shooters feet must be behind the kerb) *my arms and legs ache from hours of kerby yesterday* |
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JAN
10:01:58