Conker season!

Late this afternoon, I received an email from my daughter's school and felt compelled to share this with you, as it harks back to times gone by.

Dear Parents,

I was concerned when approached by a child recently who asked if the game of conkers was illegal.  As a result the Head and I brought this to the school leadership team and whilst the game is far from illegal it has certainly been a neglected playground activity for many, many years.  After a unanimous discussion I am delighted to announce that the game of conkers will be returning to our Primary School as of Monday. 

Given that this is a ‘new’ school activity it is worth clarifying what can and cannot be brought into school. Firstly, all conkers must be pre-drilled before school (certainly no drilling tools can be brought to school), games must be played in the Peace Garden for Key Stage 2 or by the raised flower beds for Key Stage 1 where the conker shells can biodegrade safely and games must be played fairly.  Below are the official rules from the World Conker Championships which we will all play by:

1. A distance of no less than 8" or 20cm of lace must be between knuckle and nut.
2. Each player then takes three alternate strikes at the opponent’s conker.
3. Each attempted strike must be clearly aimed at the nut, no deliberate mis-hits.
4. The game will be decided once one of the conkers is smashed.
5. A small piece of nut or skin remaining shall be judged out, it must be enough to mount an attack.
6. If both nuts smash at the same time then the match shall be replayed.
7. Any nut being knocked from the lace but not smashing may be re threaded and the game continued.
8. A player causing a knotting of the laces (a snag) will be noted, three snags will lead to disqualification.
9. If a game lasts for more than five minutes then play will halt and the 5 minute rule" will come into effect. Each player will be allowed up to nine further strikes at their opponent’s nut, again alternating three strikes each. If neither conker has been smashed at the end of the nine strikes then the player who strikes the nut the most times during this period will be judged the winner.

Conkers is a fun, seasonal game that many of us in our thirties or beyong remember with great fondness.  As with any game it works well when players trust each other. Fair play and trust will be the watch words for all our games.

Yours truly,

Deputy Head (baked in oven) 

Head Master (soaked in vinegar)