A mixed sex game - sound good already - described in the second half of the 1600's but maybe earlier than that. It is a kind of old version of British Bulldog or Piggy in the Middle.

Summary: Three couples stand in a row, a reasonable distance between them. The couples at either end race towards each other. If they can meet before the middle couple catch them, then the middle couple stay in the middle. If caught the couple caught becomes the new middle couple.

So, let's take our three couples and call them Barleys, Hells and Breaks, for the top end, middle and bottom end. Each couple must hold hands.

Then to start, the Barleys calls out "Barley!", and the Breaks call out "Break!" and both break hands and run towards each other.

If the Hells can catch any one person, then that couple becomes the new Hells next time. Both of the Hells must catch their target or it does not count (so both people in the couple must go for the same player).

If a Barley meets a Break, then they become a new couple and go to the end of the field.

Options

You can put bags, posts, clothes whatever in the centre of the field by the Hells and make the running couples run round them.