e or ring formation has a pronounced tendency toward a spirit
of unity among players. Each player may see and become somewhat
acquainted with all other players in a group, in a way not practicable
in any other formation. Any one who has met strangers at a dinner
party or committee meeting gathered at a round table will comprehend
the significance of this. In the kindergarten, this principle is used
largely, each day's exercises opening with the pupils in a circle. A
game in circle formation is therefore often one of the best means of
making acquainted players who are strangers to each other, and of
giving a sense of united interest to a heterogeneous group.

The sense of being united in a common interest, or _esprit de corps_,
may be gained to some extent in some general forms of playground
activities such as marching. As children grow into the tendency to
enjoy group or team play, the competitive spirit becomes very strong,
and games in which the players work in competitive teams, as in relay
races, or in opposing sides, as in Bombardment, may serve the purpose
of continuous mutual interest. As a rule the competitive spirit is
strong in games in the line and group formations, and, indeed, is
usually the basis of such formations.

For all formations pupils should be trained to move quickly.
Formations made from marching order may often be done on the
double-quick.

RING FORMATION.--For small numbers of players no formal procedure is
needed to get the players into a ring formation. For very little
children the teacher should simply stretch his or her own hands
sideways, taking a child by either hand to show what is wanted, and
telling the others to form a circle. All will naturally clasp hands in
the same way. Children should be urged to move quickly for such
formations. For some games the hands remain clasped. For others the
hands are dropped (unclasped) after the ring is formed. The distance
between players may be gauged by the stretch of the arms when the
hands are clasped, making the ring larger or smaller. With older
players the teacher's participation in the formation of the circle is
not necessary, the mere command to "Form circle!" being adequate.

For large numbers the ring formation is best achieved from a line
standing in single file. The players should march or run, the leader
of the file describing a circle and joining hands with the rear player
of the file, all of the others joining hands similarly with