the moccasin game

THE MOCCASIN GAME (HAMPA APENA)

CONTENTS
History and Origin of the Game                                                   1
Introduction                                                                                2
Chapter 1        Equipment Needed for the Moccasin Game           4
Chapter 2        Beginning the Moccasin Game                              5
Chapter 3        Learning How to Score                                         9
Chapter 4        Paguga                                                                12
Chapter 5        Wheya                                                                 14
Chapter 6        Yawapi                                                                19
Chapter 7        Sahdogan                                                            23
Chapter 8        Eyeya Obojun                                                      27
Chapter 9        It Stays                                                                29
Chapter 10      Sahdogan, Yawapi, and It Stays                           31
Chapter 11      Scoring a Typical Moccasin Game                        33
Chapter 12      Moccasin Game Tournament Rules                      48
Team A and Team B Images                                                           
The Hitter Image and Hider Image       




                                                   

THE HISTORY OR ORIGIN OF THE MOCCASIN GAME
The Dakota Indians name for the Moccasin Game is Hampa Apena. The actual origin of the Moccasin Game has been lost over time, but the following is generally accepted as the history or origin of the Moccasin Game.
Mr. Eli Ta Taylor an elder from Sioux Valley Canada provided this story in an interview that took place on July 3, 1979.
“The Moccasin Game originated out of a surprise meeting between a Dakota and Ojibway Indian who were both hunting in a specific area at the same time.  Although each recognized the other as enemy neither were prepared to kill each other or seek advantage following the surprise encounter.  They sat down and discussed a method of deciding honorably between them as to how and who would be considered the victor between them without having to kill each other.  Both decided on a game which they felt would be honorable.  The process of the game would render a warrior defenseless due to the loss of his arrows.
Both hunters took their moccasins off and laid them side by side on the ground.  This is the reason four pads are used in place of moccasins. A small stone or bead was used for hiding under one of the four moccasins.
Their arrows were used as points gained in the game.  The bow was used as the indicator to point or touch the opponent’s moccasins.  All arrows were placed in the center of the playing area.  The “house” owned all the arrows until a player gained points and was rewarded arrows for his points.  
After the “house” has given out all of the arrows to the competing players the game continues with the objective to gain all the arrows from the other.  One side must gain possession of all the arrows to be declared a winner.  The game scoring after all the arrows are gained is called “Obojun” or winner of the game.
The result of the game between the two hunters was that the Dakota had won the game.  However, the Dakota could not kill his Ojibway enemy after the game was over as they had become acquainted.  The Dakota not only had a better understanding of his enemy, but liked him.  
A result of the game, both hunters went their separate ways with a better understanding of each other.  

                                              INTRODUCTION
The Moccasin Game is a game of hide and seek and an early form of gambling for the tribes who played the Moccasin Game.  Although there are many variations of the game, the Moccasin Game presented in this booklet is the one most commonly played in Moccasin Game tournaments today.
After reservations were established the Moccasin Game was played openly, however, on the Sisseton Reservation, the game was eventually outlawed because the Indian Agent felt that some Indians were gambling away all of their possessions.  There is a story told on the Sisseton Reservation that a moccasin player even wagered his girlfriend.  The story goes he lost her in the game but later won her back.  Lucky for him!
After the Indian Agent outlawed the Moccasin Game the game went underground.  As older player’s died, the game nearly died with them.  The Dakota Indians who fled to Canada after the Dakota War of 1862 experienced less oppression from their government and were able to preserve much of their old cultural ways including the Moccasin Game.  During the past few years the Canadian influence has helped revive interest in the game on reservations throughout the Upper Midwest.  Today moccasin tournaments are held in conjunction with various annual wacipi’s (pow wows.) 
When I was first introduced to the game my friends and I would get together and play on my carpeted living room floor.  The timing was perfect.  Surprisingly, there were many other young and old Dakotas who desired to revive the game.  Since then I have played in hundreds of Moccasins Games and I have discovered that you don’t have to be a “Traditional Indian” to play the game.
I am indebted to my fellow moccasins players for teaching me the finer points of the Moccasin Game.  This attempt to preserve the game on paper would not have been possible without the help of Koda’s (friends) Stanley Lufkins, David Seaboy, Travis Max; and my Tahansi (cousin) Felix Renville, from the Sisseton Wahpeton Reservation located in Northeastern South Dakota.
I am confident that you will find the Moccasin Game to be a mentally challenging game for the young, old, traditional and non-traditional alike.  It is a great game to develop team work and sportsmanship skills.
What literature there is available on the subject reveals very little on how to play the Moccasin Game and this booklet contains never before presented scoring instructions.  Grady Renville gradymazaska@yahoo.com 

Chapter 1
EQUIPMENT NEEDED FOR THE MOCCASIN GAME

1.   Each team will have one or more striking sticks or “hitting sticks.”  A four or five foot tree branch (Some prefer a straight Choke Cherry branch) or a fiber glass pole are the hitting sticks of choice today.

2.   Each team will have a set of four “Moccasins.”  Moccasins are usually made of a piece of colorful cloth measuring at least ten inches wide and twelve inches long.  Most Players decorate their moccasins with fringe around the edges.

3.   Each team will have a set of 20 long sticks and nine short sticks.  The 20 long sticks are sometimes called Yawapi sticks or counting sticks.  Most players buy four foot wooden dowels from the hardware store and cut them down to 24 to 36 inches long. The 9 short sticks are called Obojun point sticks and usual measure 6 inches long.  Many players will paint the Yawapi and Obojun sticks their favor color(s). 

4.    All players have their lucky or favorite object to hide.  A lot of the players favor the tip of a bullet or a colored bead.  Any small object can serve as the “bead”.  The bead should be large enough to be visible by the opposing players seated across the board or playing area.

5.   Drum(s) bell(s) or rattle(s).  Usually one or more player from the hiding team will sing a Moccasin Game song while their team hides the bead.  The original idea was to make as much noise as possible to distract the hitter and so singing, drum beating, bells, and rattles are used for that purpose.  Today, as the Moccasin Game gains popularity the players are getting younger and many teams do not have a singer or singers.  This is okay.  No one should be discouraged from playing the Moccasin Game for lack of a singer.  Outside of tournament play you can play the Moccasin Game without the drumming, singing, bells, and rattles.

6.   The playing area.  The playing area is usually a 4’ x 8’ area with a carpet, blanket or cloth placed on the floor or ground.  If you are playing on the ground a 4’ x 8’ sheet of plywood underneath the cover is helpful but not necessary.

Chapter 2
BEGINNING THE MOCCASIN GAME

At the start of each Moccasin Game the 20 long sticks and the 9 shorter scoring sticks are unearned and placed in the middle-side of the playing area.  The two teams or player(s) sit opposite each other.  The Moccasin Game begins by a coin toss as one of the teams calls Head or Tail.  The winner of the coin toss receives 4 sticks from the middle sticks and earns the right to hide the bead first.  This will leave 16 unearned sticks in the middle.  The loser of the coin toss is the hitting team and will attempt to the find the bead.

Let the Game Begin!
The hider must place his hand under each moccasin and drop the bead under one of the four moccasins without revealing where he hid the bead.  Once you go under a moccasin you cannot go under that moccasin a second time.
The longer the hiding team can hide the bead successfully the more likely they are to win the game.  Successfully hiding and finding the bead is how the 20 longer sticks are exchanged between the two opposing teams.
The hitting team will closely watch the hider to see if they can pick up any clues as to where the hider dropped the bead.  It is not unusual for the hiding team to switch hiders, especially after the hitting team finds the current hiders bead consecutively.  However, the hiding team cannot change hiders until after the bead is found by the opposing team.  After a moccasin team has played together for awhile they discover that some players seem to have more success at hiding the bead than others.  The hider will continue to hide the bead until the opposing team begins to find the bead a consistent basis.  It is usually the hider himself who will decide if he wants to continue to hide the bead.
The longer the hiding team can hide the bead successfully the more likely they are to win the game.
If the hider does not put his hand under each moccasin or puts his hand under a moccasin more than once this is considered a foul and the hiding team forfeits its turn to hide and 4 long sticks are awarded to the hitting team.  The hiding team now becomes the hitting team and the hitting team now becomes the hider.
On the hitting side of the game there is no hard and fast rule who will do the hitting (or finding the bead) for the team.  Like hiding there are some players who are better at finding the bead than their teammates.  It is entirely permissible to consult with your team mates as to which moccasin they will chose to “hit” which they hope will reveal where the bead is hidden.  Usually the hitter will give the hitting stick to a team mate after several unsuccessful attempts to find the hidden bead.  The hitting team can switch hitter’s at any time or as often as they like.  Sometimes a hitter may take only one or two unsuccessful hits and then decides that he can’t find the bead so he will give up the hitting stick to another team mate.
Exercise caution when you are hitting.  If the hitters stick touch’s the hider’s moccasin ever so slightly or inadvertently it is considered a “hit.”

The Hitter Must Take Two Hits

When the hider hides the bead the hitter will take his first hit or guess to find the bead.  The primary object is for the hitting team to find the bead on their 1st hit or guess.  The hitter can hit the moccasin as hard as he wants where he thinks the bead is hidden or he can lightly tap the moccasin.
If the hitting team does not find the bead on their first hit the hiding team is awarded 2 long sticks from the middle.  If there are no unearned sticks remaining in the middle the 2 long sticks will come from the hitter’s total sticks.

The Hitting Team will now carefully take their second hit or guess.

The Hitting Team Does Not Want to Find the Bead on Their Second Hit!

In the Moccasin Game the hitter wants to find the head on their 1st hit.  But, if the hitter does not find the bead on their 1st hit the hitter does not want to find the bead on their 2nd hit.

If the hitter finds the bead on their second hit or guess it is called Paguga. (Paguga is explained in Chapter 4) If this happens the hiding team is awarded 2 extra sticks.  Obviously the hiding team wants the hitting team to find the bead on their second hit so they can earn 4 longer sticks instead of 2 sticks which can bring about a scoring opportunity more quickly for the hiding team.
On the other hand, the hitting team wants to find the bead on their first hit or guess.  If they do not, they do not want to find the bead on their 2nd hit or guess, because this would give the hiding team 4 long sticks instead of 2 long sticks.  If the hitting team does not find the bead on their 1st hit that means there are three moccasins left where the bead is hidden.  In effect, this means that the hitter has a 1 in 3 chance of finding the bead on their 2nd hit (Paguga).  
Having to take a 2nd hit in the Moccasin Game provides an interesting challenge for both the hider and hitter and it keeps the 20 long sticks moving back and forth between the two teams.
Assuming the hitter does not find the bead on their first and second hit or guess the hiding team is awarded on only 2 long sticks.
After the first successful hide, the hiding team has now 6 sticks – 4 sticks from winning the coin toss and 2 sticks for successfully hiding the head on their first hid.  14 long sticks remain in the middle and the game continues with the hider making his second attempt to hide the bead successfully.
After you play the game for awhile you will notice several things about hiding the bead.  It will become evident that human beings are creatures of habit and after awhile you may be able to find the bead fairly consistent based on your observations of the hiders hiding habits.  Of course, the more successful hiders are the ones who are not predictable.
The amount of sticks the hiding team holds or earns will depend upon how successful they hide the bead and how many “mistakes” (Paguga’s) the hitter has made when he finds the bead on their second hit or guess.  
In a normal game the number of long sticks will go back and forth until the hiding team earns enough long sticks to get into scoring position.

A Moccasin Game may take less than thirty minutes or on rare occasions I have played in a Moccasin Game that took over four hours to complete.
You can play the Moccasin Game as a four man team or you can play one on one or doubles.  In our moccasin league and at all moccasin tournaments four players are required.  

Once you learn the rules of the game and learn how to keep score you can play anyway and anywhere you want, as long as you apply the fundamental rules of the game.

Playing one on one is an excellent way to improve your game because you alone are responsible for hiding, hitting, and keeping score. 
When you first learn and play the Moccasin Game please be patient.  You will find that you will lose more games than you win, especially when you play against more experienced moccasin players.  As you gain experience you will also discover that any team can beat any team on any given day.

There are two unwritten rules that moccasin players follow when playing the Moccasin Game.
The First Rule – No Alcohol or Drugs Allowed While You Play

We Moccasin players feel that if you want to drink - go bowling or go play softball!
The Second Rule – Good Sportsmanship

After the winner of a game is declared it is customary for all players shake hands with each other.  Moccasin Game Tournaments now award big prize money for placing in Moccasin Game tournaments so when playing for money tempers can flare up.
At those times it is good to remember the history of the Moccasin Game where former two enemies became friends.

Chapter 3
LEARNING HOW TO KEEP SCORE

Learning the fundamentals of playing the Moccasin Game is relatively simple.  However, to become an all-around player of the game you must master the art of keeping score.
An experienced moccasin player once stated:  “The sticks can beat you.”  What he meant was if a player or team does not know how to keep score they could lose a point or the game by not accurately counting the long sticks as they go back and forth during the course of the game.

At first the scoring method may seem complicated but once you experience exchanging the sticks you will find that in time you can master the skill of keeping score correctly.
In this booklet I have enclosed Team A and Team B images.  Also, included are the Hider and the Hitter images.  There may be 20 long sticks and 9 short sticks included in this booklet, or you can use plastic straws or matches if you do not have the enclosed sticks.

The Objective of the Moccasin Game is to Win 5 of the 9 short sticks called Obojun sticks or points.
With one exception explained later all the scoring in a Moccasin Game is done by successfully hiding the bead.  The first team to win 5 of the 9 Obojun sticks wins the game.

The 20 long sticks are earned by successfully hiding the bead.  When the hiding team has earned 14 or 16 long sticks the hiding team can move into scoring position and earn an Obojun stick or point. 

The hitting team can never have less than 4 long sticks.
There are two exceptions to this rule.

1.   The first exception is when the game first begins and the hitting team has not yet earned any sticks.  Obviously the hitting team will not have any sticks until they find the bead. 
To win an Obojun stick the hiding team must earn at least 14 or 16 long sticks in order to move into scoring position.  This means that there are 4 or 6 long sticks in the hitting team’s possession; or that 4 or 6 sticks remain unearned in the middle.  Anytime there are 4 or more sticks held by the hitting team or left in the middle the hiding team cannot score. 

2.    The other exception is during the course of the game it is possible that a hitting team may have only 2 sticks in their possession.
There is only one way that this can happen.

·       When the hiding teams scores an Obojun point on the hitters Paguga all 20 sticks are returned to the middle.
Place the Hitter image next to the Team A image.

Place the Hider image next to the Team B image.
Place the 20 long sticks in the middle-side of the playing area.

Team B hides the bead.
Team A does not find the bead on their 1st hit or guess.

Team A does not find the bead on their 2nd hit or guess.

Team B earns 2 sticks.  Give 2 long sticks to Team B.  Team A has 0 sticks.

18 long sticks remain in the middle
Team B hides the bead again.

Team A finds the bead on their 1st hit. Team A earns the right to hide.

Switch the Hider Image to Team A - the Hitter image to Team B.

Team A is awarded 4 sticks for finding the bead on their 1st hit.
Give team A 4 sticks.  Team now has 4 sticks.  Team B has 2 sticks.  14 long sticks remain in the middle.

The game continues with Team A now hiding the bead.
The above example is the only time when the hitting team can possess less than 4 long sticks.  

Team B earned only 2 sticks before the hitting team found the bead on their first hit or guess.  However, the remaining 14 middle sticks prevent Team B from having less than 4 sticks.
As previously mentioned the 14 unearned sticks in the middle are counted as the hitters sticks even though they are unearned and still belong to the middle.

If this is confusing the following information on scoring may clear up the confusion.
The following are five Dakota and one English term used to describe the scoring aspect of the Moccasin Game.  The author does not profess to be a Dakota language expert.  The phonetic pronunciation is a close representation of the five Dakota words used in the Moccasin Game

Chapter 4
PAGUGA

Sounds like pa-goo-ga.  The goo has a long guttural sound.  Paguga is the word used to describe “making the mistake” of finding the bead on the 2ndhit or guess.  As noted earlier in the Moccasin Game each time the hiding team hides the bead the hitting team is required to make two attempts to find the bead.  On their first attempt they want to find the bead but on their second attempt they do not want to find the bead.   
When the hitter Paguga’s it means that the hitting team has mistakenly found the bead on their 2nd hit or guess.  This is considered a mistake on the hitting team’s part and will cost the hitting team 4 sticks instead of 2 sticks.

The following is an example how this plays out in a Moccasin Game.
Place the Hitter image next to Team A.  Give 8 sticks to Team A.

Place the Hider image next to Team B.  Give 12 sticks to Team B.
There are 0 sticks in the middle.

Team B hides the bead.
Team A takes its 1st hit and does not find the bead.

Team A must now take their 2nd hit or guess and they find the bead.

Team A has Paguga’d because they found the bead on their 2nd hit which is considered a mistake.

Team A (the hitting team) has to give team B (the hiding team) 4 sticks.
Team B now has 16 sticks. Team A has 4 sticks in their possession.

Team B hides the bead again.

Team A does not find the bead on their 1st hit.

Team A finds the bead on the 2nd hit or guess. Team A has Paguga’d again.
In the Moccasin Game this is the worst possible time for Team A (the hitting team) to Paguga.  Since Team A had only 4 sticks in their possession and they cannot have less than 4 sticks Team B (the hiding team) scores an Obojun point.  

Give Team B (the hiding team) the last 4 sticks in Team A’s possession.
Also, give Team B (the hiding team) 1 Obojun (the small stick) stick.  They have scored a point.

Team B then returns all 20 stick’s to the middle-side of the playing area.
In a Moccasin Game tournament Team B would give all 20 sticks to the tournament judge.  In Moccasin Game Tournaments another player who is currently not playing in a game is appointed or volunteers to judge a Moccasin Game; and is usually given a small monetary honorarium for judging the game.

After the sticks are returned to the middle and 1 Obojun point is awarded the game continues with Team B still hiding.
If Team A (the hitting team) had not Paguga’d Team B (the hiding team) would not have scored.

Here is another example of how Paguga factors into the Moccasin Game.
Leave the Hider and Hitter images in place.

Give Team B (the hiding team) 16 sticks.
Give Team A (the hitting team) 4 sticks.

Team B hides the bead.
Team A does not find the bead on their 1st hit or guess.

Team A does not find the bead on their 2nd hit or guess.

Team B (the hiding team) has earned 2 sticks.
Since Team has only 4 sticks in their possession they cannot give 2 sticks to Team B (Remember the hitting team can never have less than 4 sticks).

This event triggers what is called Sahdogan.  The Sahdogan scoring situation is explained in Chapter 7.
There is another situation in the Moccasin Game where Paguga plays an important role in the scoring of a Moccasin Game.

Give Team B (the hiding team) 14 sticks.
Give Team A (the hitting term) 6 sticks.  

Team B hides the bead. 
Team A does not find the bead on their 1st hit.

Team A finds the bead on their 2nd hit.  Team A has Paguga’d.
Team A would normally give 4 sticks to Team B but this would leave Team A with only 2 sticks and as mentioned earlier the hitting team cannot have less than 4 sticks.  So instead of giving Team B the 4 sticks this triggers the Yawapi scoring situation.  The Yawapi scoring situation is explained in Chapter 6.

If Team A had not Paguga’d Team B would have earned only 2 sticks instead of 4 sticks and Team A (the hitting team) would still have 4 sticks left and this would trigger the Wheya scoring situation because only 4 sticks remain unearned.
Team B (the hiding team) would now have 16 sticks and they would hide again.

When only 4 or 6 sticks remain in the middle or held by the hitting it is important that the hitting team does not Paguga.  When the hitting team has only 4 sticks in their possession and the hitting team Paguga’s the hiding team can score a point. 
When this happens the hiding team is awarded 1 Obojun stick or point and all 20 sticks are returned to the middle-side of the playing area.  

It should be noted that there are only two times in the Moccasin Game when all 20 sticks are returned to the middle-side of the playing area.
·       When the hiding team scores off the Paguga of the hitting team, as pointed out above, and

·       When the Eyeya Obojun scoring situation arises.  (Explained in Chapter 8).  

                                                     Chapter 5

WHEYA

The word sounds like way-yaa.  The word literally means “going after” or in other words going after a point - a scoring opportunity is possible.
When the Wheya situation occurs this means that the hiding team has earned 16 sticks and only 4 sticks remain unearned in the middle; or the hitter has only 4 sticks in their possession.  

Usually the hiding team or the hitting team will observe that there are only 4 sticks remaining unearned and will yell: “Wheya or Wheya Do (Wheya doe)!  This alerts their team mates that a scoring opportunity is now possible.
The Wheya situation merely means that the hiding team has earned 16 sticks and only 4 sticks remain unearned and it is now possible to score depending on the hitters next several hits.

When the Wheya situation arises there are four possible outcomes depending on what the hitting team does on its next several hits.
The First Possibility. Leave the hider image with Team B.  Give Team B 16 sticks.

Give the Hitter image to Team B.  Give 4 sticks to Team B.
Team B hides the bead
Team A finds the bead on their 1st hit and prevents Team B (the hiding team) from moving into scoring position.

Team A receives 4 sticks from Team B total sticks.  If this happens:

Team B now has 12 sticks. Team A now has 8 sticks.

Team A now becomes the hiding team.  Team B now is the hitting team.
The Wheya scoring situation no longer applies because the hitting team now has 8 sticks in their possession.

The Wheya situation also arises if 4 remaining sticks were unearned in the middle. In that case it would look like this.
Leave the Hitter image with Team A.  Team A has no sticks.

Leave the Hider image with Team B. Give Team B (the hiding team) 16 sticks.
Leave 4 sticks in the middle.

The 4 unearned sticks in the middle trigger’s the Wheya situation.  
Team B hides the bead.
Team A finds the bead on their 1st hit.  Team A found the bead on their 1st hit and 

prevented Team B from scoring.

Team A receives the last 4 sticks from the middle.  Give team A 4 sticks.

Switch the Hider image to Team A.  Place the hitter image next to Team B
Team B now become the hitting team and has 16 sticks.

Team A now becomes the hiding team and has 4 sticks.
The game continues.  However, the Wheya scoring situation still applies because the new hitting team has only 4 sticks in their possession.

The 2nd Possibility.  With only 4 sticks remaining unearned and the hitter finds the bead on their 2nd hit (Paguga’s) the hiding team scores an Obojun stick or point as shown below.

Place the Hider image next to Team B.  Give 16 sticks to Team B.
Place the Hitter image next to Team A.  Give 4 sticks to Team A.

Team B hides the bead.
Team A take’s their 1st hit or guess and does not find the bead.

Team A takes their 2nd hit and finds the bead.  Team A has Paguga’d.

In the Moccasin Game this is the worst possible time to find the bead or to Paguga.
Since Team A has only 4 sticks in their possession and there are no middle sticks Team A cannot give Team B any sticks.  If Team A could give Team B 4 sticks Team A would be left with 0 sticks. Since the hitting team can never have less than 4 long sticks Team B scores an Obojun stick or point.

Team B scores a point because Team A Paguga’d.
All 20 sticks are returned to the middle.

Team B continues to hide. Team B has 0 sticks.

Team A is the hitting team.  Team A has 0 sticks.

The 3rd Possibility.  With only 4 sticks remaining unearned and the hitter does not find the bead on their 1st and 2nd hit this triggers either theSahdogan or Yawapi scoring situation.  (The Yawapi scoring situation will be explained in Chapter 6 and Sahdogan scoring situation will be explained in chapter 7).  

Place the Hider image next to Team B.  Give Team B 16 sticks.
Place the hitter image next to Team A. Give 4 sticks to Team A.

Team B hides the bead.
Team A does not find the bead on their 1st hit.
Team A does not find the bead on their 2nd hit.

Team B will earn 2 sticks for hiding successfully. There are no middle sticks and Team A has only 4 sticks and cannot give Team 2 sticks because this would leave them with less than 4 sticks. As noted above the hiding team can never have less than 4 sticks.  

This predicament triggers the Sahdogan scoring situation.  The Sahdogan scoring situation is a very unique aspect of the Moccasin Game. 
So what happens next?

In the Sahdogan scoring situation Team B (the hiding team) will retain 12 of the 16 sticks in their possession and then give 4 sticks to Team A (the hitting team).  Team B will now have 12 sticks and Team A will now have 8 sticks.
This is the Sahdogan scoring situation.

Team B will then hides the bead.  If Team B successfully hides the bead they will score an Obojun point.
However, if Team A finds the bead on their 1st hit they get to keep the 8 sticks in their possession and Team B (the hiding team) will not score an Obojun point.  By finding the bead on their 1st hit Team A has prevented Team B from scoring.  

As a “reward,” so to speak, Team A will get to keep the 8 sticks in their possession and Team B will keep the 12 sticks in their possession.
Team A will now become the hiding team and Team B will become the hitting team.  

However, if Team A does not find the bead on their 1st hit Team B will score an Obojun point.   

Confused?  I know exactly what you’re thinking.  All of this will be explained in greater detail in the Sahdogan chapter.
When the Wheya scoring situation arises’ this can also lead to another scoring opportunity called the Yawapi scoring situation.

Place the Hider image next to Team B.  Give Team B 16 sticks.
Place the hitter image next to Team A. Give 4 sticks to Team A.

Team B hides the bead.
Team A does not find the bead on their 1st hit.

Team A does not find the bead on their 2nd hit.
Team B will earn 2 sticks for hiding successfully. There are no middle sticks and Team A has only 4 sticks and cannot give Team 2 sticks because this would leave them with less than 4 sticks. As noted above the hiding team can never have less than 4 sticks.  

This predicament triggers the Yawapi scoring situation.  The Yawapi scoring situation like Sahdogan is a very unique aspect of the Moccasin Game. 
So what happens next?

In the Yawapi scoring situation Team B (the hiding team) will retain 6 of the 16 sticks in their possession and then give 10 sticks to Team A (the hitting team).  Team B will now have 6 sticks and Team A will now have 14 sticks.
This is the Yawapi scoring situation.

Team B will then hides the bead.  If Team B successfully hides the bead they will score an Obojun point.
However, if Team A finds the bead on their 1st hit they get to keep the 14 sticks in their possession and Team B (the hiding team) will not score an Obojun point.  By finding the bead on their 1st hit Team A has prevented Team B from scoring.  

As a “reward,” so to speak, Team A will get to keep the 12 sticks in their possession and Team B will keep the 6 sticks in their possession.
Team A will now become the hiding team and Team B will become the hitting team.  

However, if Team A does not find the bead on their 1st hit Team B will score an Obojun point.   

The 4th Possibility.

To thoroughly confuse you there is a 4th possibility that can occur when the Wheya situation arises that applies to both the Yawapi and Sahdogan scoring situation.

Team B is hiding and Team A is hitting.
If Team A does not find the bead on their 1st hit Team B will score and be awarded an Obojun point.
Team A did not find the bead on their 1st hit.  Team A must now take their 2nd hit, even though Team B has scored a point. 

The Moccasin Game requires that a hitting team must always take two hits.
If Team A Paguga’s on their 2nd hit Team B will earn 2 stick more sticks.

In both the Sahdogan and Yawapi scoring situation if Team A Paguga’s Team B (the hiding team) will earn 2 additional stick will now have 6 (if it’sSahdogan) or 8 sticks (if it’s Yawapi) in their possession.
After Team B (the hiding team) is awarded 1 Obojun point Team A (the hitting team) will return either the 8 or 14 sticks to the middle–side of the playing area or to the judge.

Team B will continue hiding. Team B will have either 6 sticks or 8 sticks.
Team A will have 0 sticks.

There will be 12 or 14 sticks in the middle.            

The above are the four possibilities that could occur when the Wheya scoring situation arises.
                                                    Chapter 6
YAWAPI

Sounds like yaa-wop-pee.  Yawapi is the name given when a scoring opportunity arises.  Yawapi occurs when the hiding team has earned 14 or 16 sticks by successfully hiding the bead. 

Let us first examine what can happen when the hiding team has earned 14 sticks.
For example, Team B is the hiding team and they have earned 14 sticks.  The hitting team has 6 sticks in their possession.  There are 0 sticks in the middle.

Team B hides the bead.
Team A (the hitting team) does not find the bead on their 1st hit.

Team A takes their 2nd hit.  Team A finds the bead on their 2nd hit.  Team A has Pagaga’d.

Team B has earned 4 sticks, however, Team A cannot give them 4 sticks since that would leave them with only 2 sticks in the middle and a hitting team can never have less than 4 sticks.
This triggers the Yawapi scoring situation.

Instead of Team B (the hiding team) receiving 2 sticks from the middle sticks Team B will give Team A 10 sticks and retain 6 sticks.

Team A now has 14 sticks.  Team B (the hiding team) has 6 sticks.
You ask: How come after I just earned 16 sticks I now have to give the hitting team 10 of my hard earned sticks?

The hitting team had only 0 sticks and now they have 14 sticks and I only have 6 sticks, I don’t get it!
Honestly, I don’t know the answer to that question.  Who ever invented the Moccasin Game will have to explain that.

All I know is that the Yawapi scoring situation is indeed an interesting part of scoring in the Moccasin Game.
Once the sticks are exchanged the hiding team will now attempt to successfully hide the bead and score an Obojun point.

If the hitting team does not find the bead on their 1st hit the hiding team will score an Obojun point.
However, if the hitter finds the bead on their 1st hit It Stays.  (It Stays will be explained in greater detail in Chapter 9.

It Stays means that the hitter has found the bead on their 1st hit and has prevented the hider from scoring.  The hitter earns the right to keep the 14 sticks in their possession and now becomes the hider.

The hiding team has lost an opportunity to score.  They keep the 6 sticks in their possession and they are now the hitting team. 
This is sometimes referred to as a “short cut” to scoring because the hiding team was on the verge of scoring a point; and the hitting team found the bead on their 1st hit and is “rewarded” the 14 stick in their possession; and they are now the hiding team; and they can move into scoring position with only a couple of successful hides.

Below is another example how the Yawapi scoring situation arises.
Place the Hider image next to the Team B image.  Give 16 sticks to Team B.

Place the Hitter image next to the Team A image.  Give 4 sticks to Team A.
Team B has been successfully hiding the bead and has earned 16 sticks.  With 4 sticks remaining this scenario also triggers the Wheya situation as explained above.

Team B hides the bead.
Team A does not find the bead on their 1st hit.

Team A does not find the bead on their 2nd hit.

Team B (the hiding team) would normally earn 2 sticks from the hitting team’s total, but with only 4 sticks remaining Team A cannot give 2 sticks to Team B because this would leave them with less than 4 sticks and as explained above the hitting team can never have less than 4 sticks.
When Team A does not find the bead on their 1st and 2nd hit this triggers the Yawapi scoring situation.

Team B (the hiding team) must now give Team A (the hitting team) 10 sticks of their 16 sticks.  This will leave Team B (the hiding team) with 6 sticks.
Team A will keep the 4 sticks in their possession and receive 10 sticks from Team B.  Team A will now have 14 sticks.

At first most people who play the Moccasin Game will have difficulty understanding the Yawapi scoring situation.  Especially after the hiding team has earned 16 sticks, it doesn’t seem logical to give the hitting team 10 of their sticks.
Many have commented, “One hide ago the opposing (hitting) team had only 4 sticks and now they have 14 sticks.”

Finding the bead on their next or 1st hit is a great morale booster for the hitting team and it can deflate the confidence of the hiding team, who just lost an opportunity to score.
The Yawapi scoring situation is what makes the Moccasin Game an interesting and challenging game!

When the 14 sticks are given to Team A (the hitting team) Team B now hides the bead.
If Team A (the hitting team) does not find the bead on their 1st hit Team B will score an Obojun point.

However, if Team A finds the bead on their 1st hit It Stays. 

If this occurs the hiding team will keep the 6 sticks in their possession and the hitting will keep the 14 sticks in their possession.
However, if the hitting team does not find the bead on the 1st hit the hiding team will score an Obojun point and keep the 6 sticks in their possession and the hitting team will return the 14 sticks in their possession to the middle.

Of course, the hitting team is now to take their required 2nd hit.  Depending on whether the hitting team Paguga’s or not, the hiding team can earn 2 additional sticks.

The hiding team will then have either 6 or 8 sticks and continue to hide.
The hitting team will have 0 sticks.

The middle or the tournament judge will hold either 12 or 14 unearned sticks.
The following is another way the Yawapi scoring situation can arise.

Leave the Hider image with Team B.  Give Team B 14 sticks.

Leave the hitter image with Team A.  Give Team A 6 sticks. 
Team B hides the bead.
Team A does not find the bead on their 1st hit.
Team A finds the bead on their 2nd hit.  (Team A has Paguga’d).

Team B earns 4 sticks instead of 2 sticks.

Team A (the hitting team) cannot give 4 sticks to Team B (the hiding team) because this would leave them with only 2 sticks and a hitting team can never  have less than 4 sticks.  

This triggers the Yawapi scoring situation.
Team B (the hiding team must give10 sticks to Team A (the hitting team).  Team B will keep 6 sticks.

Team A keeps the 6 sticks in its possession and receives 8 sticks from Team B.  Team A now has 14 sticks.
Team B now hides the bead.  If they successfully hid the bead they score an Obojun point.
Team A takes their 2nd hit and if Team A does not Paguga Team B keeps the 6 sticks in their possession and they are still the hiding team.  

If Team A finds the bead on their 1st hit It Stays.  Team A has prevented team B from scoring.  Team A is “rewarded” the 14 sticks in their possession and now becomes the hiding team.
The Yawapi scoring situation presents the best and worst outcomes.
If the hitting team finds the bead on their 1st hit (It Stays).  This is a very good thing because you have earned the right to keep the 14 sticks in your possession; you stopped the hiding team from scoring; and you now become the hiding team with 14 sticks in your possession!

If you are the hiding team you do not want the hitting team to find the bead on their 1st hit.  Obviously, you the hider, will want to continue to hide the bead for as long as you can so you can win the game!     
                                                       Chapter 7
SAHDOGAN

Sounds like shaw-ha-doe-gaa, the n is silent.  The word means Eight in the Dakota language.  The Sahdogan situation arises only when:
·       The hiding team wins the coin toss and they successfully hide the bead until only 4 sticks remain in the middle. Obviously, the hitting team is having difficulty finding the bead.
·       The hiding team has been successful hiding the bead and has earned 16 sticks and scores an Obojun point when the hitting team Paguga’s.

As mentioned above when this occurs all 20 sticks are returned to the middle or to the tournament judge.
The hiding team will continue to hide until they have again earned at least 14 or 16 sticks.  In other words, the hiding team is on a successful “run” of hiding the bead, and the hitting team cannot find the hider’s bead.  (The longest “run” I have witnessed is 22 successful hides in a row!)

The main difference between Yawapi and Sahdogan is that the hitting team hasn’t earned any sticks.
Shown below is how the Sahdogan scoring situation arises.

Place the Hider image next to Team B (the hiding team).  Give Team B 16 sticks.
Place the Hitter image next to Team A (the hitting team). Team A has 0 sticks.

4 sticks remain unearned in the middle.
The Wheya situation is also triggered since there are only 4 sticks in the middle.

Team B hides the bead.
Team A does not find the bead on their 1st hit.

Team A does not find the bead on their 2nd hit.

Team B (the hiding team) has earned 2 sticks.

This triggers the Sahdogan scoring situation because Team A has 0 sticks and there are only 4 stick’s remaining in the middle and the hider can never have less than 4 sticks. (The 4 sticks in the middle are counted as the hitters until they are earned by the hiding team).
In the Sahdogan scoring situation Team B gives Team A (the hitting team) 4 sticks and Team A 9the hitting) are also given the 4 sticks in the middle.  

Team A now has 8 sticks.
Team B has 12 sticks.

0 sticks remain in the middle.
Team B will now hide the bead.

If their hide is successful they will score an Obojun point.
Team A (the hitting team) will now take their 2nd hit.

If they do not the bead on their 2nd hit Team B (the hiding team) will return 8 of the 12 sticks to the middle or the tournament judge.

If Team A Paguga’s on their 2nd hit Team B will earn an additional 2 sticks and return the other 6 sticks to the middle or to the tournament judge.
Team A (the hitting team) does not Paguga they will return the 8 sticks in their possession to the middle or the tournament Judge.

However, if Team A (the hitting team) finds the bead on their 1st hit It Stays.
Team A has prevented Team B from scoring, and as a “reward” they get to keep the 8 sticks in their possession, and they become the hider.

If Team A finds the bead on their 1st hit they how become the hiding team and they will keep the 8 sticks in their possession.

Team B is now the hitting team and will keep the 12 sticks in their possession.
The Sahdogan scoring situation also arises when 6 sticks remain the middle and the hitter has 0 sticks.

Team B is the hiding team.  Give them 14 sticks.

Team A is the hitting team.  They have 0 sticks.

6 unearned sticks remain in the middle.
Team B hides the bead.

Team A takes their 1st and does not find the bead.

Team A takes their 2nd hit and finds the bead – Team A has Paguga’d.
Again this is the worst possible time to Paguga by the hitting team.

Since there are only 6 sticks in the middle this triggers the Sahadogan scoring situation because Team A cannot give 4 sticks from the middle because this would leave on 2 sticks.  Remember the 6 middle sticks are counted as if they belong to the hitter even though they are not in their possession.
Since Team A (the hitting team) has Paguga’d on their 2nd hit Team B (the hiding team) will keep 12 of the 14 sticks in their possession and give 2 sticks to Team A (the hitting team) and Team A is also given the 6 remaining sticks in the middle.

Team B (the hiding team) has 12 sticks.
Team A (the hitting team) has 8 sticks.

There are 0 sticks in the middle.

Team B now hides the bead.  If Team B successful hides the bead they score an Obojun point.
If Team B scores Team A (the hitting team) will take their 2nd hit.  If they do not find the bead on their 2nd hit Team B keeps 4 sticks and returns the other 8 to the middle.

If Team A Paguga’s on their 2nd hit Team B (the hiding team) will earn 2 more sticks.
Team B will keep 6 sticks and return 6 sticks to the middle.

Team A will return all 8 sticks in their possession to the middle or to the tournament judge.
Team B will continue to hide.  Team B will have either 4 or 6 sticks in their possession.

Team B will continue to hit. They will have 0 sticks.
There will either be 14 or 16 sticks in the middle or held by the tournament judge.

The Sahdogan scoring situation like the Yawapi scoring situation maybe be difficult for beginning moccasin players to understand.  Both the Yawapiand Sahdogan scoring situation requires the hider to give some of their hard earned sticks to the hitter. 
Like the Yawapi scoring situation the hitting team can stop the hiding team from scoring and as a “reward” keep the sticks in their possession.

Although in the Sahdogan scoring situation it does not “hurt” as much as it does in the Yawapi it can turn the game around and is a great morale booster for the hitting team.
Shown next is the Eyeya Obojun scoring situation, the one instance in the Moccasin Game where the hitter can score an Obojun point.  Otherwise, all scoring in a Moccasin Game is done by successfully hiding the bead.

                                                    Chapter 8
EYEYA OBOJUN

Sounds like a long E. E-ye-ya-O-bow-jun.  This team is used to describe the only instance in the Moccasin Game when the hitting team can score an Obojun point.
The Eyeya Obojun scoring situation can only arises when there are only 4 sticks in the middle.  The hiding team has been successfully hiding and has earned 16 stick.  With only 4 middle sticks remaining the hitting team finds the hiders bead on their 1st hit.  So they earn the 4 sticks in the middle and become the hider.

Place the Hitter image next to Team A.  Team A has 0 sticks.
Place the hider image next to Team B.  Team B has 16 sticks.

4 unearned sticks remain in the middle or with the tournament judge.

The game situation is that Team B has been hiding the bead and has earned 16 sticks.
Team B hides the bead.
Team A finds the bead on their 1st hit. Team A earns the last 4 middle sticks.

Team A becomes the hiding team. Switch the Hiding image to Team A. Team A has 4 sticks.
Team B becomes the hitting team. Switch the Hitting image to team B. Team B has 16 sticks.

The game continues and Team A (the hiding team) hides the bead.
Team B (the hitting team) finds the bead on their 1st hit.

Team B (the hitting team) scores an Eyeya Obojun point because they found the bead on their 1st hit and earned 4 sticks from Team A.
This is the only time in the Moccasin Game when the Hitting Team can score an Eyeya Obojun point.

Give Team B (the hitting team) 1 Eyeya Obojun point.
Team B returns all 20 sticks to the middle or to the tournament judge.

Eyeya Obojun Team B now becomes the hider (again).  Switch the Hider image to Team B. Team B has 0 sticks.
Team A now becomes the hitter (again).  Switch the Hitter image to Team A. Team B has 0 sticks.

The middle or tournament judge has 20 sticks.
The game continues with Team B the hiding team.  Team A the hiding team.

The scoring situation only came about because the hiding team had only 4 sticks and the hitting team found the bead on their 1st hit and earned the hiding team 4 sticks.
 If Team B (the hitting team) had not found the bead on their 1st hit the Eyeya Obojun scoring situation would be null and void.

If Team B (the hitting team) did not find the bead on their 1st hit Team B would take their 2nd hit and if they do not Paguga they would give Team A (the hitting team) 2 sticks. 
Team B (the hiding team) would now have 6 sticks.

If A (the hitting team) Paguga’d Team B would have 8 sticks.
Team B (the hiding team) would continue to hide.

The opportunity for the hitting team to score an Eyeya Obojun point does not occur in every Moccasin Game but it does occasionally and is a great morale booster.
Next we will examine It Stays. 

Chapter 9
IT STAYS

This English language phrase is used to describe the situation where the hiding team has successfully hid the bead and has earned 14 or 16 sticks triggering either the Wheya, Yawapi, or Sahdogan scoring situations. The hiding team is in scoring position and the hitting team finds the bead on their 1st hit preventing the hiding team from scoring.

This is a very good thing in the Moccasin Game.
You stop the hiding team from scoring; your team is now the hider; and you are “rewarded” the 8 sticks in your possession if the Sahdogan scoring situation; or the 14 sticks in your possession if you are in the Yawapi scoring situation.

Of course, if you are the hiding team this is not a good thing.  Your team was in scoring position and the hiding team found the bead on their 1st hide and prevented you from scoring; they now become the hider; and they get to keep the sticks in their possession.
The hitting team, in a close game can be “turned around” the game by finding the bead on their 1st hit in the Sahdogan and Yawapi scoring situation.

This is why this feat is referred as a “shortcut” to scoring an Obojun point.
In the Sahdogan scoring situation:

Place the Hitter image next to Team A.  Give Team A 8 sticks.
Place the Hider image next to Team B.  Give Team B 12 sticks.

Team B hides the bead.
Team A hides the bead on their 1st hit.  It Stays.   

Team A had prevented Team B from scoring; they become the new hider; and they get to keep the 8 sticks in their possession.
In the Yawapi scoring situation:

Place the Hitter image next to Team A.  Give Team A 14 sticks.
Place the Hider image next to Team B.  Give Team B 6 sticks.

Team B hides the bead.
Team A finds the bead on their 1st hit.  It Stays.

It Stays refers to the number of sticks that stay with the hitter and hider after the bead is found on the hitters 1st hit.
It is a very good thing to find the bead on the 1st hit when the hiding team is in scoring position.

                                                  Chapter 10

SAHDOGAN, YAWAPI, AND IT STAYS

One time I was playing in a Moccasin Game tournament and we were down 4-2.  The opposing team was hiding and in the Yawapi scoring situation.  They were on the verge of scoring their 5th Obojun stick.  If we did not find the bead on our 1st hit they would win the game.  We found the bead on our 1st hit (It Stays) and all of a sudden we now had 14 sticks in our possession and we became the new hider.  Two successful hides later we scored off the Yawapi scoring situation and just like that the score was now 4-3.  Eventually we went on to win the game 5 to 4 and won the Moccasin Game tournament.
A few additional comments on the Sahdogan and Yawapi scoring situation may be order.

The easiest way to tell the difference between Sahdogan and Yawapi is by looking at the hitters sticks.  If the hitting team does not have any sticks than the Sahdogan scoring situation is likely.
If the hitting team has earned some sticks than the Yawapi scoring situation will arise instead of the Sahdogan scoring situation.

The Sahdogan scoring situation can occur back to back in a Moccasin Game.  This is possible when the hitter cannot find the hiders bead.  Of course, this would require a lengthy run of successful hides by the hider.
The longest run I have seen was twenty-two successful hides which resulted in the hiding team scoring 3 consecutive Obojun points.  

The Sahdogan and Yawapi scoring situation is the most difficult and confusing part of scoring a Moccasin Game.  This can be attributed to the fact that the hiding team has worked hard to earn at least 14 or 16 sticks and then the hiding team will now be required to give the hitting team 2 or 4 of their sticks if it is in the Shadogan scoring situation.
When I was learning the game I asked, “Why do I have to give the hitting team 2, 4, 8, or 10 of my hard earned sticks?”  It didn’t seem to make any sense until I played the game for awhile and then it made logical sense and I was amazed that the Dakota Indian of old came up with this unique scoring system.

If your team is the hider and in the Sahdogan or Yawapi scoring position your team has to be very careful and cunning to make sure that you’re next hid is successful because if you don’t the hitting team may find your bead and they can turn the game around.
I have played in a lot of Moccasin Games where my team found the bead on our 1st hit and prevented the hiding team from scoring.  My team has also been in scoring position and the hitting team found our bead on their 1st hit so it works both ways.

On finally point on keeping score - After the hiding team has scored a point always return the long sticks to the middle of the playing area or to the tournament judge.  I have seen players hold on to the sticks in their possession when they should have returned the sticks to the middle or to the tournament judge.  This bad habit can result in confusion so always return the sticks to their proper place, especially when there is no tournament judge.
                                                                     Chapter 11

THE SCORING OF A TYPICAL MOCCASIN GAME

Team A win the coin toss. Place the Hider image next to Team A. Give Team A 4 sticks for winning coin toss.  Place the Hitter image next to Team B. They have 0 sticks.
16 sticks remain in the middle or with the judge.

Let the Game Begin!
Team A hides the bead.

Team B does not find the bead on their 1st hit.

Team B does not find the bead on their 2nd hit.
Team A is awarded 2 sticks.  Team A now has 6 sticks.  14 sticks remain in the middle.

Team A hides the bead.
Team B does not find the bead on their 1st hit.

Team B does not find the bead on their 2nd hit.

Team A is awarded 2 sticks.  Team A now has 8 sticks.  12 sticks remain in the middle.
Team A hides the bead.

Team B does not find the bead on their 1st hit.
Team B does not find the bead on their 2nd hit.

Team A is awarded 2 sticks.  Team A now has 10 sticks.  10 sticks remain the middle.
Team A hides the bead.
Team B does not find the bead on their 1st hit.
Team B finds the bead on their 2nd hit.  Team B has Paguga’d.

Team A is awarded 4 sticks.  Team A now has 14 sticks.  6 sticks remain in the middle. 

Team A hides the bead.

Team B does not find the bead on their 1st hit.

Team B does not find the bead on their 2nd hit.

Team A is awarded 2 sticks.  Team A now has 16 sticks. 4 sticks remain in the middle.

With 4 sticks remaining in the middle this creates the Wheya scoring situation.  Usually someone from either team will holler “Wheya!”  This will alert that a scoring opportunity is possible.

Team A hides the bead.

Team B does not find the bead on their 1st hit.

Team B does not find the bead on their 2nd hit.

Team A earns 2 sticks.

Since Team B (the hitter) cannot give 2 sticks this brings about the Sahdogan scoring situation because the hitter cannot have less than 4 sticks.  Remember the middle sticks are counted as the hitters sticks until they are earned by the hider.  The hitter cannot give 2 sticks to the hider because this would live only 2 middle sticks. 

The hider keeps 12 of the 16 sticks in their possession and gives the hitting team 4 of their sticks.  The 4 sticks in the middle are also given to the hitting team.  The hitting team now has 8 sticks (Sahdogan) and the hiding team has 12 sticks.  There are 0 middle sticks.

The next hide will determine if Team A (the hiding team) will score an Obojun point.

Team A hides the bead. 

Team B does not find the bead on their 1st hit.

Team A scores an Obojun point.  Team A leads the game 1-0.  Give Team A 1 short stick.

After Team A is given 1 Obojun stick Team A keeps 4 sticks and returns 8 sticks to the middle or tournament judge.

Team B (the hitting team) returns the 8 sticks in their possession to the middle or to the judge.  There are 16 sticks in the middle.

Team B now takes it 2nd hit.  Team B does not find the bead on their 2nd hit.

Team A has 4 sticks in their possession.  Team B has 0 sticks.  16 sticks remain the middle or held by the tournament judge.

The above example shows how the Sahdogan scoring situation came about.  Next I will show how the Yawapi scoring situation can come about.

Back to the Game!

The Hider image will still be with Team A.  The hitter image will be with Team B.

Team A hides the bead.

Team B does not find the bead on their 1st hit.

Team B does not find the bead on their 2nd hit.

Team A is awarded 2 sticks.  Team A now has 6 sticks.  Team B has 0 sticks.  14 sticks remain in the middle.

Team A hides the bead.

Team a finds the bead on their 1st hit.

Team B is awarded 4 sticks and becomes the new hider. 

Switch the Hider image to Team B.  The Hitter image to Team A.

Team B, the new hider, has 4 sticks.

Team A, the new hitter, has 6 sticks.

10 sticks remain in the middle.

Team B hides the bead.

Team A does not find the bead on their 1st hit.

Team A does not find the bead on their 2nd hit.

Team B is awarded 2 sticks.  Team B has 6 sticks. Team A has 6 sticks. 8 middle sticks remain. 

Team B hides the head.

Team A does not find the bead on their 1st hit.

Team A finds the bead on their 2nd hit.  Team B has Paguga’d.

Team B is awarded 4 sticks.  Team B 10 sticks.  Team A has 6 sticks.  4 sticks remain in the middle.

Team B hides the bead.

Team A does not find the bead on their 1st hit.

Team A does not find the bead on their 2nd hit.

Team B is awarded 2 sticks.  Team B now has 12 sticks.  Team A has 6 sticks.  2 sticks remain in the middle.

Team B hides the bead.

Team B does not find the bead on their 1st hit.

Team B does not find the bead on their 2nd hit.

Team B is awarded 2 sticks.  Team B has 14 sticks.  Team A has 6 sticks. 0 sticks remain in the middle.

Team A hides the bead.

Team B does not find the bead on their 1st hit.

Team B does not find the bead on their 2nd hit.

Team B is awarded 2 sticks.  Team A gives 2 sticks to Team B.  Team B now has 16 sticks.  Team A has 4 sticks.  0 sticks remain in the middle.

With only 4 sticks (held by Team A the hitting team) someone from either team will yell out “Wheya!”  When a hitting team has only 4 sticks in their possession; or when only 4 sticks remain in the middle; or when a hitting team has only 2 sticks in their possession and 2 sticks remain in the middle this brings about the Wheya scoring situation.  This alerts the both teams that a scoring opportunity is possible.  In this case Team B (the hiding team) has a chance to score. 

The hitting team does not want to Paguga on their next hit!

Team B hides the bead.

Team A does not find the bead on their 1st hit.

Team A does not find the bead on their 2nd hit.

Team B is awarded 2 sticks.

Team A (the hitting team) cannot give Team B (the hider) 2 sticks. If they did this would leave Team A with less than 4 sticks.

This brings about the Yawapi scoring situation.

Team B (the hiding team) will keep 10 of their 16 sticks to Team A (the hitting team).
Team A will now have 14 sticks, the 4 sticks in their possession and 10 sticks from Team B.

Team B will now hide for an Obojun point.

Team B hides the bead.

Team A does not find the bead on their 1st hit.

Team B scores an Obojun point.  Give Team B 1 Obojun stick.
Team B will keep the 6 sticks in their possession.  Team B will return the 14 sticks in their possession to the middle or the judge.  

Team A now has 0 sticks.  Team B has 6 sticks.  14 stick remain in the middle.
Team B has 1 point.  Team A has 1 point.

Back to the game!

Team A is the hitting team.  Team B is the hiding team.

Team B hides the bead.

Team A does not find the bead on their 1st hit.

Team A finds the bead on their 2nd hit.  Team has Paguga’d.

Team B is awarded 4 sticks.  Team B now has 10 sticks.  Team A has 0 sticks. 10 sticks remain in the middle.

Team B hides the bead

Team A does not find the bead on their 1st hit.

Team A does not find the bead on their 2nd hit.

Team B is awarded 2 sticks.  Team B now has 12 sticks.  Team A has 0 sticks.  8 sticks remain in the middle.   

Team B hides the bead.

Team A does not find the bead on their 1st hit.

Team A finds the bead on their 2nd hit.  Team A has Paguga’d.

Team B is awarded 4 sticks.  Team B has 16 sticks.  Team A has 0 sticks.  4 Sticks remain in the middle.

With 4 sticks remaining in the middle this brings about the Wheya scoring situation.  Team B has a chance to score if Team A Paguga’s again.

Team B hides the head.

Team A find the bead on their 1st hit.

Team A has prevented Team B from moving into the Yawapi scoring situation. 

Team A is awarded the last 4 middle sticks.  Team has 16 sticks.  0 sticks remain in the middle.

Switch the Hiding image to Team A.  Place the hitting image next to Team B the new hitter.  The game continues.

Team A hides the bead.

Team B does not find the bead on their 1st hit.

Team B finds the bead on their 2nd hit.  Team B has Paguga’d.

Team A is awarded 4 sticks.  Team A now has 8 sticks.  Team B gives Team A 4 sticks.  Team B now has 12 sticks.  0 sticks remain in the middle.
Team A hides the bead.
Team B does not find the bead on their 1st hit.
Team B finds the bead on the 2nd hit.  Team B has Paguga’d again.

Team A is awarded 4 sticks.  Team A now has 12 sticks.  Team B gives Team A 4 sticks.  Team B now has 8 sticks. 0 sticks remain in the middle.  

Team A hides the bead.
Team B does not find the bead on their 1st hit.

Team B does not find the bead on their 2nd hit.

Team A is awarded 2 sticks.  Team B gives Team A 2 sticks.  Team A now has 14 sticks.  Team B has 6 sticks.  0 sticks remain in the middle.
Team A hides the bead.

Team B does not find the bead on their 1st hit.
Team B finds the bead on their 2nd hit.  Team B has Paguga’d.

This creates the Yawapi scoring situation because Team B has only 6 sticks and Team B cannot give 4 sticks because that would leave them with only 2 sticks and a hitting team can never have less than 4 sticks.
Remember in the Yawapi scoring situation the hiding team (Team A) keeps 6 of their and give 8 sticks to Team B (the hitting team).  Team A has 6 sticks.  Team B has 14 sticks.  They keep the 6 sticks they had in their possession.  Team can now score an Obojun point on their next successful hide.

Team A hides the bead.
Team B does not find the bead on their 1st hit.

Team A scores an Obojun point.  Give Team A 1 Obojun point.
                                   Team A leads the game 2-1

Team B returns the 14 sticks in their possession to the middle.  Team A keeps the 6 sticks in their possession.

Team B must now take their 2nd hit.  Team B does not find the bead on their 2nd hit.
The game continues with Team A hiding.

Team A hides the bead.
Team B does not find the bead on their 1st hit.

Team B does not the bead on their 2nd hit.

Team A is awarded 2 sticks from the middle sticks.  Team A has 8 sticks.  Team B has 0 sticks.  12 sticks remain in the middle.
Team A hides the head.

Team B does not find the bead on their 1st hit.
Team B finds the bead on the 2nd hit.  Team B has Paguga’d.

Team A is awarded 4 sticks from the middle sticks.  Team A has 12 sticks.  Team B has 0 sticks. 8 sticks remain in the middle.
Team A hides the bead.

Team B does not find the bead on their 1st hit.
Team B does not find the bead on their 2nd hit.

Team A is awarded 2 sticks from the middle.  Team a now has 14 sticks.  Team B has 0 sticks. 6 sticks remain in the middle.
Team A hides the bead.

Team B does not find the bead on their 1st hit.

Team B does not find the bead on their 2nd hit. 

Team A is awarded 2 sticks from the middle.  Team A has 16 sticks.  Team B has 0 sticks. 4 sticks remain in the middle.

With 4 stick remaining in the middle this brings about the Wheya scoring situation.  Team A has a chance to score. 

Team A hides the bead.

Team B does not find the bead on their 1st hit.

Team B finds the bead on their 2nd hit.  Team B has Paguga’d.

Then the hitter Paguga’s on their 2nd hit with only 4 sticks remaining in the middle this is a hitting mistake and the hiding team scores an Obojun point.


Team A leads the game 3-1

Team A returns all of the sticks in their possession to the middle or the tournament judge. 

The game continues with Team A still hiding.

Team A hides the bead.

Team B does not find the bead on their 1st hit.

Team B does not find the bead on their 2nd hit.

Team A is awarded 2 of the middle sticks.  Team A has 2 sticks.  Team B has 0 sticks.  18 sticks remain in the middle. 

Team A hides the bead.

Team B find the bead on their 1st hit.

Team B is awarded 4 sticks from the middle.  Team B has 4 sticks.  Team A has 2 sticks.  14 sticks remain in the middle.

Switch the Hider and Hitter Images.  Team A is the hitter.  Team B is hiding

Team B hides the head.

Team A does on find the bead on their 1st hit.

Team A find the bead on the 2nd hit.  Team A has Paguga’d.

Team B is awarded 4 sticks from the middle.  Team B now has 8 sticks.  Team A has 2 sticks.  10 sticks remain in the middle.

Team B hides the bead.

Team A does not find the bead on their 1st hit.

Team B does not find the bead on their 2nd hit.

Team A is awarded 2 sticks from the middle.  Team A has 10 sticks.  Team B has 2 sticks.  8 Sticks remain in the middle.

Team B hides the bead.

Team A does not find the bead on their 1st hit.

Team A does not find the bead on the 2nd hit.

Team B is awarded 2 sticks from the middle. Team B has 12 sticks.  Team A has 2 sticks.  6 sticks remain in the middle.

Team B hides the bead.

Team A does not find the bead on their 1st hit.

Team A does not find the bead on their 2nd hit.

Team B is awarded 2 middle sticks.  Team B has 14 sticks.  Team A has 2 sticks.  4 sticks remain in the middle.

Team B hides the bead.

Team A does not find the bead on their 1st hit.

Team A does not find the bead on their 2nd hit.

Team B is awarded 2 middle sticks.  Team B now has 16 sticks.  Team A has 2 sticks.  2 sticks remain in the middle.

This brings about the Wheya scoring situation because only 4 sticks remain.  Team A has 2 sticks and 2 sticks remain in the middle.

Team B can score an Obojun point if Team A Paguga’s.

Team B hides the bead.

Team A does not find the bead on their 1st hit.

Team A does not find the bead on their 2nd hit.

This brings about the Yawapi scoring situation.  Remember the hitter can never have less than 4 sticks.  However, in this case, the 2 unearned sticks remaining in the middle and Team A 2 sticks in their possession.  Although Team A does not technically own the 2 middle sticks, in the Moccasin Game, the 2 middle sticks are counted as if they belonged to Team A. In the Yawapi Team B (the hiding team) retain 6 sticks and give 10 sticks to Team A (the hitting team).  Team A takes the last 2 middle sticks and plus the 2 sticks they hold.  Team A now has 14 sticks  Team B now hides the bead for a Obojun point.

Team B hides the head.

Team a does not find the bead on their 1st hit.

If Team A had found the bead on their 1st hit It Stays, however, in this instance that did not happen and Team B scored a point.  Give Team B an Obojun stick.

The score is 3-2 in favor of Team A

After Team B scores they keep the 6 stick’s in their possession.  Team A returns the 14 sticks in their possession to the middle or judge. 

Team A must now take its 2nd hit.

Team A does not find the bead on their 2nd hit.

The game continues with Team B continuing to hid the bead.

Team B hides the bead.

Team A does not find the bead on their 1st hit.

Team A find the bead on their 2nd hit.  Team A has Paguga’d.

Team B is awarded 4 sticks from the middle sticks.  Team B has 10 stick.  Team A has 0 sticks.  10 sticks remain in the middle.

Team B hides the bead.

Team A does not find the bead on their 1st hit.

Team A find the bead on their 2nd hit.  Team A has Paguga’d.

Team B is awarded 4 sticks from the middle sticks.  Team B has 14 sticks.  Team A has 0 sticks.  6 sticks remain in the middle.

Team B hides the bead.

Team A does not find the bead on their 1st hit.

Team A does not find the bead on their 2nd hit.

Team B is awarded 2 sticks from the middle.  Team B has 16 sticks.  Team A has 0 sticks.  4 middle sticks remain.

With 4 sticks remaining in the middle this brings about the Wheya scoring situation.  Team B can score if Team A does not find the bead on their 1st hit and on their 2nd hit they Paguga’s.

Team B hides the bead.

Team A does not find the bead on their 1st hit.

Team A does not find the bead on their 2nd hit.

Team B is awarded 2 sticks from the middle.  However, with only 4 sticks remaining in the middle Team B cannot take 2 of the 4 sticks.  This brings about the Shadogan scoring situation.  Remember in the Moccasin Game the hitting team can never have less than 4 sticks.

Team B (the hiding team) keeps 12 of the 16 sticks in their possession and give Team A (the hitting team) 4 sticks.

Team A takes the last 4 middle sticks and the 4 sticks from Team B.  They now have 8 sticks in their possession.

Team B hides the bead for an Obojun point.

(If Team A finds the bead on their 1st hit It Stays.) 

Team B hides the bead.

Team A does not find the bead on their 1st hit.

Team B scores an Obojun point.  Give Team B 1 Obojun stick.

The score is now tied.  Team B has 3 points Team A has 3 points

Team A must now take its 2nd hit and does not find the bead.

(If Team had Paguga’d on their 2nd hit Team B would keep 6 sticks instead of 4 sticks.)

Team B then keeps 4 sticks and returns 8 sticks to the middle or judge.

Team A returns the 8 sticks in their possession to the middle.  The middle now has 16 sticks.

The game continues with Team B hiding.

Team A does not find the bead on their 1st hit.

Team B does not find the bead on their 2nd hit.

Team B is awarded 2 sticks.  Team B has 6 sticks.  Team A has 0 sticks.  14 sticks remain in the middle.

Team B hides the bead.

Team A does not find the bead on their 1st hit.

Team A finds the bead on their 2nd hit.  Team A has Paguga’d.

Team B is awarded 4 sticks from the middle.  Team B now has 10 sticks.  Team A has 0 sticks.  10 sticks remain in the middle.

Team B hides the bead.

Team A does not find the bead on their 1st hit.

Team A does not find the bead on their 2nd hit.

Team B is awarded 2 sticks from the middle.  Team B now has 12 sticks.  Team A has 0 sticks.  8 middle sticks remain.

Team B hides the bead.

Team A does not find the bead on their 1st hit.

Team B does not find the bead on their 2nd hit.

Team B is awarded 2 sticks from the middle.  Team B now has 14 sticks.  Team A has 0 sticks.  6 sticks remain in the middle.

Team B hides the bead.

Team A does not find the bead on their 1st hit.

Team A find the bead on their 2nd hit.  Team A has Paguga’d.

Team B is awarded 4 sticks from the middle.

This brings about the Shadogan scoring situation again because only 2 sticks would remain in the middle and Team A (the hitting team) has 0 sticks.

Team B keeps 12 sticks in their possession and give 2 sticks to Team A.  Team A is given the 6 remaining middle sticks and the 2 sticks from Team B.  Team A (the hitting team) now has 8 sticks.

Team B hides the bead.

Team A does not find the bead on their 1st hit.

Team B scores an Obojun point.  Give Team B 1 Obojun stick.

Team B lead the game 4-3.

Team A (the hitting team) returns 8 sticks in their possession to the middle or the judge.

Team B keeps 4 sticks and returns 8 sticks to the middle.

There are now 16 middle sticks.

Team A must now take its 2nd hit.

Team A find the bead on their 2nd hit.  Team A has Paguga’d.

Team B (the hiding team) is awarded 2 extra middle sticks.  Team B now has 6 sticks.  Team A has 0 sticks.  14 middle sticks remain.  The game continues with Team B still hiding.

Team B hides the bead.

Team A does not find the bead on their 1st hit.

Team A finds the bead on their 2nd hit.  Team A has Paguga’d.

Team B is awarded 4 middle sticks.  Team B has 10 sticks. Team has 0 sticks.  10 middle sticks remain.

Team B hides the bead

Team A does not find the bead on their 1st hit.

Team A does not find the bead on their 2nd hit.

Team B is awarded 2 middle sticks.  Team B now has 12 sticks.  Team A has 0 sticks.  8 middle sticks remain.

Team B hides the bead.

Team A does not find the bead on their 1st hit.

Team A does not find the bead on their 2nd Hit.

Team B is awarded 2 sticks.  Team B now has 14 sticks.  Team A has 0 sticks.  6 middle sticks remain.

Team B hides the bead.

Team A does not find the bead on their 1st hit.

Team A does not find the bead on their 2nd hit.

Team B is awarded 2 middle sticks.  Team B now has 16 sticks.  Team A has 0 sticks.  4 middle sticks remain.

Team B hides the bead.

Team A find the bead on their 1st hit.

Team is awarded the last 4 middle sticks.  Team A has 4 sticks.  Team B has 16 sticks.  0 sticks remain in the middle.

Switch the Hider image to Team A.  Switch the hitter image to B

This particular scoring situation happens when the hitting team finds the bead on their 1st hit and when there are only 4 middle sticks.  This event is called the Eyeya Obojun scoring situation.  The Eyeya Obojun scoring situation does not happen in every game Moccasin Game.  This unique situation allows the HITTING TEAM to score an Obojun point.  If the new hitting team can find the hiding team’s bead on their 1st hit they will earn the hiding teams 4 sticks.  The game continues.      

Team A hides the bead.

Team B finds the bead on their 1st hit!

Team B (the hitting team) is awarded an Obojun point.

Team B scores the 5th Obojun point and wins the game 5 to 3.

If Team B had not found the bead on their 1st hit and 2nd hit Team B would have been awarded 2 or 4 sticks and Team A would continue to hide. 

The above examples were designed to include all of the different ways to get into scoring position.  As you have learned there are only three ways to score in a Moccasin Game – The Sahdogan, Yawapi, and Eyeya scoring situations. 

Whenever the hitting team attempts to find the bead the hitter has a 25% (1 in 4) chance of finding the bead.  There is another thing about the Moccasin Game that you will find.

It has been said that it is better to be lucky than good.”  This is especially true when hitting.  You may find yourself muttering, “Geez, you lucky!  This is especially true when the hitter finds your bead in the Sahdogan or Yawapi scoring situation.  A “bad hide” or a “lucky hit” can turn the game around.  But that is exactly what makes the Moccasin Game an interesting and entertaining game.

I hope you found the use of the Hider and Hitter images and the exchanging the sticks to be helpful.  I know the Moccasin Game can seem confusing at first but after awhile you can see the absolute logic of the game.  I am impressed that the Indian of old had a sound, mathematical, logical, and reasoning mind as evident in the Moccasin Game scoring.

If you have any questions or need clarification on anything presented in this booklet you can write me at Box 25, Sisseton, SD 57262.  Although my phone number changes from time to time you can check the white pages of the Sisseton telephone book and I can be found.  At this (January 2011) my cell phone number is:  612 840-5025.

The last section of this booklet is a list of generally accepted rules used in a Moccasin Game tournament.

Chapter 12

MOCCASIN GAME TOURNAMENT RULES

ABSOLUTELY NO USE OF ALCOHOL OR DRUGS DURING THE TOURNAMENT!  IF YOU ARE USING ALCOHOL OR DRUGS YOU WILL BE DISQUALIFIED FROM THE TOURNAMENT.

 EACH TEAM CAN REGISTER UP TO FIVE PLAYERS TO START THE TOURNAMENT.  ONCE THE TOURNAMENT STARTS THE FIFTH PLAYER CAN ONLY BE USED TO SING AND WILL NOT PARTICIPATE AT ALL IN THE PLAY OF THE GAME. NO TEAM HOPPING.  NO REPLACEMENTS AFTER THE FIRST GAME.  TEAM WILL PLAY WITH REMAINING PLAYERS IF ANY MEMBER MUST LEAVE, BE ABSENT OR DISQUALIFIED.

A TEAM (WILL OR WILL) NOT BE DISQUALIFIED IF THEY DO NOT HAVE A SINGER.

TEAMS ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE THEIR OWN EQUIPMENT AND ARE RESPONSIBLE TO BE PREPARED TO PLAY WHEN CALLED UPON IN THE TOURNAQMENT DRAWING.

ONLY ONE BEAD MAY BE HIDDEN UNDER THE MOCCASIN IN EACH TURN OF HIDING.

THE HIDER MUST GO UNDER ALL FOUR MOCCASINS AND ONLY ONCE.  VIOLATION WILL RESULT IN FORFEITURE OF FOUR STICKS AND FORFEIT TURN OF HIDING.

IF ONE THAN ONE BEAD IS HIDDEN THE HIDING TEAM FORFEITS FOUR STICKS AND FORFEITS TURN OF HIDING.  (SHAKE YOUR MOCCASINS OUT AFTER EACH NEW HIDER).

IF THE HIDER DOES NOT LEAVE THE BEAD UNDER THE MOCCASINS IN THE TURN OF HIDING THE HIDING TEAM FORFEITS FOUR STICKS AND LOSES TURN IN HIDING.

IF THE BEAD IS SHOWING AFTER IT WAS HIDDEN, HIDING TEAM WILL FORFEIT FOUR STICKS AND LOSES TURN IN HIDING.

THE HIDER MUST CONFIRM BY SHOWING BEAD TO OPPOSING TEAM AFTER EACH TURN IF HITTER DOES NOT FIND THE BEAD.

BEAD MUST BE UNDER THE MOCCASIN AND NOT BETWEEN MOCCASINS OR IN THE FRINGE (IF MOCCASINS HAVE FRINGE).  OR IF BEAD FALLS OFF THE PLAYING AREA THE HIDING TEAM FORFEITS FOUR STICKS AND LOSES TURN IN HIDING.   

THE HITTING TEAM WILL HAVE_______MINUTES TO HIT A MOCCASIN.

HIDERS MUST STAY IN POSITION BEHIND THE MOCCASINS UNTIL HITTER HAS COMPLETED PLAY BY TURNING MOCCASIN OVER.  NO LYING DOWN OR PULLING BACK TO SIT ON CHAIR OR LEAVING THE HIDER POSITION AREA.

NO TOUCHING MOCCASINS WITH HITTING STICK EXCEPT TO STRIKE.  IF MOCCASIN IS TOUCHED, NO MATTER HOW LIGHTLY, OR BY ACCIDENT, IT WILL COUNT AS A HIT.

HITTER WILL HIT ONE MOCCASIN ONLY.  HITTING TWO OR MORE MOCCASINS SIMULTANEOULY WHEN HITTING DIAGONALLY, THE FIRST MOCCASIN NEAREST HITTER WILL COUNT.

NO ASSISTANCE FROM NON-TEAM MEMBERS STANDING AROUND THE TEAMS IN PLAY.  TEAM MAY BE DISQUALIFIED OR FORFIETURE OF FOUR STICKS AND LOSS OF TURN HIDING.  PERSON SIGNALING WILL BE ASKED LEAVE PLAYING AREA.

JUDGES AT ALL GAMES.  DECISION OF JUDGE(S) TO BE FINAL.

ANY ILLEGAL OR UNFAIR PLAY WILL BE REPORTED TO THE JUDGES IMMEDIATELY AND DEALT WITH ACCORDING TO RULES.

PRTOEST TO ANY GAME MUST BE REPORTED IMMEDIATELY AND DEALT WITH BY TOURNAMENT COMMITTEE BEFORE FURTHER PLAY CAN RESUME.

DOUBLE EMIMINATION AND BRACKETING WILL BE USED.

AFTER COMPLETION OF EACH GAME PLAYERS WILL SHAKE HANDS.