The official stick rules are probably not the easiest way to learn stick, so we’ve made this guide to help you get started with stick!
What you need
- A stick of approx. 30 cm (the stick/”pind”)
- A stick of approx. 150 cm (the stick-stick/”pind-pind”)
- Two logs or bricks (the wicket/”gærde”)
- Two teams of approx. 5–8 players
- A pitch of approx. 15 x 15 meters
Before you begin
Before you get started, you need to set up the pitch. You can mark it out on the grass exactly as shown in the diagram, or you can use some logs or cones to mark the lines. You can also just agree that, for example, a hedge counts as one sideline and some tall grass as the other.
Once the pitch is ready, you must agree on when the match ends. Here are some ideas:
- After a specific amount of time, e.g., 20 or 30 minutes.
- When one of the teams has scored a specific number of points, e.g., 20 points.
- When both teams have been the in-team an equal number of times, e.g., 10 times each.
You must also agree on which team starts as the lifting team. The lifting team stands behind the wicket line, while the fielding team distributes themselves across the pitch.
In stick, only the lifting team can score points, while the fielding team must attempt to give the lifting team outs so that they can become the lifting team themselves.
Course of the game
Tip: Download our app Pindligaen from Google Play or the App Store to be guided through the course of the match (currently in Danish only).
1. The lifting team lifts
The players on the lifting team line up in a queue and take turns lifting. To lift, you first place the stick (the small stick) across the two logs or bricks, so that the stick-stick (the large stick) can fit under the stick. Then, you lift the stick out into the pitch using the stick-stick.
It is forbidden to hit the stick with the stick-stick. This is called to “click“, because you can hear the two sticks hitting each other. If you do this, you receive a foul.
You also receive a foul if you lift the stick behind the wicket-line. If you commit three fouls while trying to lift, you get an out. It also results in an out if the stick is lifted over the sideline.
The first time the lifting team gets an out, the player who got the out goes to the back of the queue, and a new player from the lifting team steps up to the wicket to lift. If it is the lifting team’s second out, the teams switch places (changeover).
2. The fielding team catches the stick – maybe!
Once the stick has been lifted out into the outfield by the lifting team, the players on the fielding team must attempt to catch it. If they succeed, it results in an out for the lifting team.
3. The fielding team throws towards the wicket
If the fielding team doesn’t catch the stick (which doesn’t happen very often!), one of the players in the outfield must pick up the stick from where it landed and throw it towards the wicket. If he/she hits the wicket, it also results in an out.
4. The lifting team defends the wicket
When the fielding team’s player throws towards the wicket, the player from the lifting team who has just lifted steps up next to the wicket. He/she may defend the wicket with the stick-stick. For example, you can attempt to block the stick or hit it away. However, you must not use your body to protect the wicket.
If you succeed in hitting the stick out into the outfield again, the fielding team’s players may attempt to catch the stick. If they succeed, it results in an out.
5. The lifting team counts points
If the fielding team does not hit the wicket, the lifting team must count points. This is done by counting how many times the stick-stick can fit between the stick and the nearest corner of the wicket. Of course, you must not move the stick, but instead measure the shortest distance between where the stick landed and the wicket.
Once the lifting team has counted points, it is the next player from the lifting team’s turn to lift. The game continues like this until the match is over, and the team with the most points wins.
Have fun with stick!