Hobbies And Interests
Organizing the Game
Water balloon jousting works best with at least four boys organized into two teams, and at least one adult to supervise and officiate. Each boy will need a bicycle helmet and bicycle (or members of one team may share a bicycle). The game should be played in a large, flat, open area like a field. Players will need balloons and access to a pressurized water source such as a hose or faucet that will enable them to fill the balloons with water.
Background and Rules
In this game, one boy from each team will be the knight and all other team members will be his squires. An adult supervisor teaching the game may want to take the opportunity to explain to the boys how, during medieval times, squires were knights-in-training who learned from, and assisted, fully trained knights. Then explain how medieval knights were highly skilled soldiers who protected and served specific courts, referring to a king and all the land he controlled. Describe how knights from different courts would sometimes compete in jousting tournaments. In those tournaments, knights on horseback would run toward each other, each carrying a spear called a lance. Each knight would try to hit the other with his lance. In water balloon jousting, opposing knights will try to do the same thing. In this case, the knights will be riding bicycles and trying to hit one another with water balloons.
Playing the Game
The designated knight for each team will mount his bicycle. Opposing knights will begin on opposite sides of the playing field. Squires will be in charge of filling water balloons. During play, squires must stay within their designated team rallying area. Each knight will begin with one water balloon. At the designated signal, knights will ride toward one another and attempt to hit one another with their balloons, without stopping the bicycle. Once a knight has reached the opposite side of the field and released his balloon, he must turn around and return to his squires to receive another balloon. After the knight has thrown five balloons, he should switch places with one of the squires. The game is over once every person on each team has completed his turn as knight. The team with the most balloon strikes wins.