1. Gather equipment: To play Four Square, you will need a playground ball (a standard red rubber ball works great) and a flat, open space with a four-square court-drawn or painted on it.

2. Set up the court: The court consists of four equal-size squares arranged in a 2×2 grid, with each square numbered 1 through 4. The total size of the court should be around 16 feet by 16 feet (each square being approximately 8 feet by 8 feet). Ensure that the lines are visible and clearly marked.

3. Know the player positions: Each corner of the court has a designated position for a player. Players will always start at square 1 and work their way up through the numbers. The highest-ranking square is number 4, which is considered the “king” or “queen” square.

4. Understand the rules of serving: The game begins with the player in square 4 serving the ball into another square. To serve, they must bounce the ball once in their square and then hit it underhand into any other square.

5. Establish an order of play: After the first serve, players continue taking turns hitting the ball clockwise in numerical order (1, 2, 3, 4).

6. Keep one foot in your square: Players must keep at least one foot in their designated square while playing.

7. Bounce the ball properly: When playing, players must allow the ball to bounce once in their own square before hitting it into another player’s square.

8. Aim low: To successfully hit the ball into another player’s square and not have it called as an “out,” keep your hits low and within their designated area.

9. Eliminate out-of-bounds hits: If a player hits the ball out of bounds or fails to hit it into another square, they are considered “out” and must move to square 1.

10. Rotate when a player is out: When a player is called “out,” they must move to square 1 and all other players rotate up one square to fill the vacancy.

11. Enter new players: If there are more than four players, a line should form next to square 1. When a spot opens up, the person at the front of the line will join the game in square 1 and all other players in line will move up one spot.

12. Win by staying in higher squares: To win Four Square, players must consistently stay in the higher squares (3 and 4), since these are ranked higher and typically grant more control over the game.

13. Use various strategies: Develop different techniques and strategies for playing, such as putting spin on your hits, making unpredictable hits, or using sudden speed changes.

14. Observe good sportsmanship: Keep the game friendly by adhering to good sportsmanship rules, like being courteous to other players and not gloating if you win or become upset if you lose.

15. Have fun: Lastly, remember that Four Square is ultimately about having fun while being physically active, so enjoy the camaraderie with your fellow players and make the most of your time on the court!