I was a kid in the 60s
Those were cool times: lots of freedom and few dangers. You could play everywhere.
I particularly loved the oil crisis in the early 70s: no cars around and we could play Völkerball* or Ball über die Schnur** in the street =)
Alas, nowadays there are so few children that both games aren't played anymore.
* Völkerball (nations ball) is played on a rectangular field that is divided into two equal halves by a middle line (usually drawn on the street with a shard of roof tile). The field size depends on the available space and the number of players.
There are two teams and a spherical ball the size of a volleyball (any ball that size will do). You try to hit an opponent with the ball. The opponents will attempt to evade your throw and to catch the ball and throw it at a player of your team. A hit player has to leave the playing field. The team who has any player(s) left has won.
** Ball über die Schnur (ball above the string) is also played on a rectangular field but instead of a middle line there's a string at about an adult's head heigth. (traditionally, you use someone's clothes line and get into trouble for borrowing it
)
Again, you have two teams. You throw the ball at each other over the string in a way that makes it as difficult as possible for the opponents to catch it. If the opponents drop the ball or fail to catch it, your team gets a point. If you throw under the string or if the ball is out, your opponents get a point. The team wins that has the most points after a certain time or that reaches a previousely set number of points first.
The equipment was there. It's just that we weren't using it. Your friends would have made fun of you if you'd showed up wearing a helmet etc.
