Red Rover the game (also known as Bullrush, Forcing the City Gates and Octopus Tag) is an outdoor game played primarily by children on playgrounds. "Red Rover" was very popular into the 1970s. The game starts when the first team (usually called the "East" or "South" team, although this does not relate to the actual relative location of the teams) calls out, "Red rover, red rover, send [name of player on opposite team] right over." The immediate goal for the person called is to run to the other line and break the chain (formed by the linking of hands).

If the person called fails to break the chain, this player joins the team which called "Red rover." However, if the player successfully breaks the chain, this player may take his/her pick of either of the two "links" broken by his/her successful jaunt. This unfortunate broken link then joins the team that had been called out. The other team then enjoys the opportunity and challenge of calling out "Red rover" for a player on the first team, and so on.

The distance between the two lines is also subject to variation, but tends to fall within about 30 feet.

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