I played elastics at school in Wellington NZ in the early 90s.

We had quite a complicated system. The elastic began at ankle height and shoulder width. If the jumper completed the rhyme at a certain height, the elastics were moved up from knees, to "under-bums", to hips, waists, under-arms, necks and even "sky" or "tree-tops" if we were really keen, which is as high as the holders can reach. When the rhyme has been completed at all levels, the game is made more difficult: skinny (using only one foot to hold the elastics), wide (legs as far apart as possible), blind (jumper's eyes closed), cross-over (the elastic closest to the jumper is crossed over the far elastic and the rhyme completed in the resulting triangle of elastic), running (when you take two steps instead of a jump), double jumps etc. The game was also played in teams, where, if the first jumper makes a mistake, the second jumper must complete the rhyme twice, and if they make a mistake the third jumper completes the rhyme 3 times etc. This makes it even more exciting.

The main rhymes we used were:

England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Inside, Outside, Puppy Dogs Tails

(jump for each word: left foot in and right foot out, right foot in and left foot out, left foot in and right foot out, right foot in and left foot out, both feet inside, both feet outside, both feed ON the elastics.)

Jingle Jangle Spingle Spangle Inside Outside On

(jump for each word: left foot in and right foot out, right foot in and left foot out, both feet inside, both feet outside, both feed ON the elastics.)

Cut the Cabbage with a knife

(jump for each word: right foot in and left foot out, both feet inside, left foot in and right foot out, both feet out (on RHS of elastics) repeat going back the other way)

I hope this game doesn't die, I used to play every lunch break, morning tea, after school, any time I could find someone or something to hold the elastics, and I was SO fit then!! Maybe this is the answer to childhood obesity!

Good luck and keep passing on the game.

Cheers, Liz