Piko

Players
• At least 2 players, but more can join for friendly competition.
• Players take turns hopping and tossing their pamato (marker).

Pamato (Marker)
• Usually a flat stone, shell, or piece of broken pot.
• Each player must have their own pamato.

Chalk, Charcoal, or Stick
• Used to draw the piko pattern on the ground.
• On concrete — use chalk or charcoal.
• On dirt — use a stick to mark the boxes.

Play Area
• A flat open space such as a schoolyard, sidewalk, or backyard.
• Make sure it’s clear of rocks or debris for safe hopping.

Draw the Piko Pattern
• Use chalk or a stick to draw a series of numbered boxes (usually 8–10) on the ground.
• Boxes are drawn in a straight or T-shaped layout, depending on local variations.

Assign Numbers
• Label the boxes from 1 to the last number in order.
• Each box represents a step or level of the game.

Decide Who Goes First
• Players toss their pamato toward the farthest line.
• The one whose pamato lands closest to the target line (without crossing it) starts the game.

1. Toss the Pamato
• The first player throws their pamato into Box #1 without touching the lines or bouncing out.
• If the pamato lands on a line, the turn is lost and passes to the next player.

2. Hop Through the Boxes
• The player hops on one foot through the boxes — skipping the one with the pamato.
• Double boxes may be jumped with both feet — one foot on each box.

3. Retrieve the Pamato
• When returning, the player bends down (still hopping) to pick up their pamato — without losing balance or stepping on any lines.
• Then, hop back to the start.

4. Continue to the Next Box
• After completing Box #1, the player now throws the pamato into Box #2, repeating the same steps.
• This continues until the player successfully completes all numbered boxes.

5. Marking a Home (Bahay)
• When a player finishes the final box, they throw the pamato backward over their shoulder.
• If it lands inside a box without touching a line, that box becomes their “home” or bahay.
• Other players cannot step on that box for the rest of the game.

Winning the Game
• The first player to complete all boxes and claim a home is the winner!
• If multiple players finish, the one with the most homes wins.

The word Piko (pee-KOH) means “hopscotch” in Tagalog.
It comes from the root “pikpik”, meaning “to tap lightly” — referring to the gentle hopping motion.