School Kubb: Swedish Lawn Game

A traditional game from the Swedish island of Gotland, sometimes called Viking chess: two teams throw sticks to knock down the other team's blocks and, at the end, the king in the middle. At school it is played with recycled bottles and relay batons. Students work on accuracy and team strategy.

How to play

1. Set up 4 fields of 6 x 4 yards. On each baseline stand 5 bottles with a little sand (the kubbs), and in the center a bigger bottle with a pinnie (the king). Teams of 3 (3 min).
2. Team A throws its 6 batons from its baseline to knock down team B's kubbs, underhand and spinning end over end.
3. Team B tosses its knocked-down kubbs by hand into team A's half, where they are stood up where they land: these are field kubbs.
4. Team B throws: it must knock down the field kubbs first and then the baseline kubbs. If a field kubb is still standing, the other team throws from that closer spot.
5. A team that knocks down all the other team's kubbs may throw at the king from its baseline: toppling it wins. Toppling it too early loses.
6. Games last about 10 minutes; then winners move to another field (20 min).

Rules

• No one steps onto the field while the other team is throwing.
• Always throw underhand with the baton spinning vertically.
• Teammates take turns so everyone throws the same number of batons.
• All fields throw in parallel.

Variations

Adaptations

• Limited mobility: the student throws seated from a closer line, and a teammate brings the batons back.
• Visual impairment: use brightly colored bottles, and a teammate taps the target bottle before each throw.
• Autism or shyness: a card showing the throwing order tells everyone when their turn is.

Learning goals

• Throw accurately while controlling spin and distance.
• Plan as a team where to place kubbs and which one to aim at.
• Learn about a traditional Swedish game with very old roots.

Equipment for a class of 25

• recycled bottles: 44
• batons: 24
• cones: 16

Teacher tip

Put an inch of sand in the bottles before class so the wind does not knock them over. Field kubbs are the hardest part: play a demo round with everyone watching.

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