Kubb, which comes from the Nordic 'Kubspell' which means block throwing game, originated about 1000 years ago in Scandinavia and is an outdoor party game that is played by two teams that can be a single person or up to six each side. Think of it as a sort of Viking skittles that can be played on any flat surface, grass, gravel or even snow are all acceptable (Fig 1). There are no balls to throw but the skittles or blocks as they are called are knocked down with throwing sticks. The game is gaining in popularity and spreading outside of the Scandinavian countries.

Kubb Rule

The two teams of up to six players each spin a coin to see who starts. The teams divide and stand at their respective baselines.

The team that is going to start (Team A) has all of the throwing sticks. Team A throws all of the sticks and tries to knock down as many of the blocks on Team B's baseline as possible.

When they have thrown, Team B picks up all of their blocks that have been knocked down and throws them back over the centre line into Team A's half of the pitch. If they fail to get them over the centre line they have to try again. If they fail three times then Team A can place the blocks anywhere they like in their half of the pitch. Team A stands the thrown blocks upright where they landed.

When this is done it is Team B's turn to throw, but before they can knock down the blocks on Team A's baseline they must knock down the blocks that they threw back across the centre line.

The game continues with each team throwing the sticks alternately. If one of the team fails to knock down the blocks that have been stood up in the pitch the other team gets the opportunity to throw their sticks from an imaginary line that is drawn across the pitch in line with the first standing block on the pitch.

As the game proceeds and one of the teams thinks they can win they have to save one stick for the king. If they have one block left to knock down and only one stick left they cannot use their last throwing stick but must wait for the next round.

Only underarm throwing of batons and kubbs is allowed. Intentional helicopter throwing of batons leads to exclusion. While throwing, both feet have to be inside the sideline. For wheelchair players, the centre of the wheels counts as feet.

Made of pinewood, measures 28cm high, the packaging is in bulk.