Limbo

Set up

Two people hold the bar level at about shoulder height, resting it on open palms so it drops if anyone knocks it. Everyone else lines up. Put on music with a steady beat. Play on grass, carpet or a mat, not on a hard or slippery floor.

How to play

1. One at a time, players walk under the bar leaning backward, with their chest facing up.
2. A player is out if they touch the bar, touch the ground with their hands, or fall.
3. Ducking forward or going under sideways does not count.
4. When everyone has had a turn, lower the bar a little.
5. Keep going until one player is left. That player is the winner.

Keeping it safe

Limbo asks a lot of the lower back and knees. Nobody should be pushed to go lower than is comfortable; let players step out of the line at any height. Bare feet or shoes with grip are safer than socks. Have the bar holders let go the moment it is touched.

Ways to change it

• Any way under: for small children, anything goes: crawling, sliding, rolling. The only rule is not to touch the bar.
• Team limbo: teams link hands and all go under together. If one touches, the team is out.
• Low and high: alternate between going under the bar and jumping over it as it gets lower.
• Water limbo: outdoors, replace the bar with the stream from a garden hose.
• Carry something: go under while balancing a paper plate on your forehead.

Who it suits, and who it doesn’t

Limbo is a strong choice for mixed ages outdoors, because small children have an advantage and enjoy beating the adults. It takes a minute to set up and makes good entertainment for the people watching. It is not suitable for anyone with back or knee trouble, or later in a party when adults have been drinking.