Cocky Olly

Cocky Olly is a children’s game similar in style to forty forty. Like forty forty, and unlike other tag games, players in cocky olly are caught when their name is said, rather than by physical contact.

The game begins by selecting a player to be “it” and choosing a landmark (such as car/tree/lamppost) or area to be the base. The player on “it” stays at base counting, whilst the non-“it” players run off and hide. The “it” player then seeks out the hidden players, and, upon finding them, shouts “cocky olly I see [name]” (or “cocky olly [name]” for short).

The player whose name is said is now caught and returns to base. When the “it” has caught all non-“it” players, the game is over. However, non-“it” players may rescue caught player from base. This is done by contact and caught players must remain in (or in contact with) the base, before they are saved. Caught players may guide their would-be rescuers to base by shouting out the position of the “it” player. When the “it” player is far from the base in one direction, it is safe for rescuers to approach from the other.