Last Updated on April 16, 2025 by Matt Staff
Playgrounds used to be filled to the brim with all manners of chaotic and overexcited kids who were doing their very best to unleash wild games freed from the rigid confines of classrooms. The 1970s especially, were a golden era for classic outdoor fun. We’ll take a look at 15 playground games in particular that are from the 70s that are now pretty much irrelevant.
1. Red Rover
Players would proceed to line up in two teams. They would then dare someone to run through linked arms. Even though fun, it was also notorious for leading to all manners of bruises as well as broken bones. This resulted in its ultimate ban from numerous, safety-conscious schools.
2. Dodgeball (Hardball Style)
Much unlike today’s foam-ball version, dodgeball back in the 70s would incorporate harder rubber balls. Getting hit in places like your face or stomach was all a part of the game. You can imagine how much of a problem that would end up being.
3. British Bulldog
British Bulldog isn’t just an intense name for a game. This involved a full-contact chase game that often resulted in pileups as well as injuries. Numerous schools eventually prohibited it for being too rough altogether.
4. Jarts (Lawn Darts)
These metal-tipped darts were chucked into plastic rings on the ground. Injuries led to their ultimate ban in the U.S. in the late 80s, but they were a staple of 70s yard games.
5. Tetherball
Tetherball might still be found in a few places out there, but otherwise, it’s all but vanished. It’s no wonder. The game resulted in numerous broken fingers as well as painful rope burns.
6. Metal Monkey Bars
Metal monkey bars weren’t exactly a “game” per se, but they were a common structure that was used for all manners of daring stunts. Both their height as well as the hard surfaces located below them were especially dangerous.
7. Clackers
Clackers involved two hard acrylic balls on strings that players would then clack together. They would often also shatter mid-swing, which resulted in many eye injuries and an ultimate, necessary recall.
8. King of the Hill
King of the Hill included one child who would go about defending the top of a structure while the others worked at pushing them off. What could go wrong right? The game was naturally wildly chaotic and also led to numerous injuries.
9. Red Light, Green Light
Even though it wasn’t textbook dangerous, the game itself has faded from modern recess due to its shifting play styles, as well as kids’ diminished attention spans.
10. Marbles
Marbles held it down in the popular category for decades on end. They ultimately would lose favor though when digital entertainment fully took over. The game’s rules were just too complex and often resulted in disputes.
11. Jump Rope Rhymes
Jump rope rhymes used to be all the rage. Even though jumping rope itself is still common, the crazily elaborate rhyming games as well as group activities around it have fallen off significantly.
12. Hopscotch on Asphalt
It sounds sketchy right off the bat. Chalk-drawn games that were mapped out on asphalt were common enough, but many schools moved away from them due to all of the injury risks.
13. Wall Ball
Played by hitting a ball against a wall with bare hands. Over time, it was replaced by safer or more structured games.
