A very old skill game, whose origins are lost in the mists of antiquity, is quoits, the indoor form of which is called ring toss. In its simplest form it makes an absorbing game of muscular coordination for small children, whose enthusiasm will be stimulated when the target or "pin" represents some familiar animal, as in A, Figure 5.1. For these younger players, rubber rings from fruit jars are not only noiseless, but are also light enough so that the pin can be cut from thin plywood or cigar box wood, and be mounted in a slot cut in a thick base. It goes without saying that a colorful paint job is also a basic requirement.

Wooden embroidery rings, although noiseless only when the target pin is placed on a thick rug or on a blanket, have the twin virtues of being light enough for small tossers, and large enough to encircle a variety of targets. For example, a simple dowel pin target may have its f-in. circular base cut to a diameter only slightly smaller than that of the smallest hoop, so that a bonus may be scored when both base and pin are ringed. Or the pin may be protected by branching pegs as in B, with extra scores for ringing a designated branch or branches.

An hilarious variation, requiring sufficient skill to engross larger players and adults, results when the pin is replaced by three sausage shaped balloons, which are anchored to staples on a thick strip of wood. Because the balloons are extremely sensitive to air currents they will never remain stationary, hence they are spaced close enough together to require considerable skill to ring one, even when they are momentarily perpendicular. Ground rules may permit opponents to blow or fan the balloons from behind the pitching or tossing line, in which case they should be spaced somewhat farther apart. Amusing caricatures painted on the fronts of the balloons will add to the fun, particularly when a player believes himself more successful in ringing "Mr. Sourpuss," or "Willie Worry Wart," or "Smilin' Sam."

Fig. 5.1. Giraffe ring toss.

As previously discussed at the beginning of this chapter, and as will be further developed in the chapter which follows, targets for rubber rings are not confined to single pins set in horizontal bases. Targets hung on the wall may be studded with L-hooks, and those which lean against books or chair backs may have patterns of spools, pegs, nails, or hooks, which will provide a variety of scoring methods.