Section 7: Violations & Penalties
Resolve mistakes with a brief pause and a clear explanation. The procedures below are house rules for fair recreational play. They are not formal disciplinary rules from a governing organization.
- Peeking: A tag made while Marco is looking does not count. Reset with the same Marco. Opening eyes after a stop signal or to avoid danger is always allowed.
- Not answering: Pause and remind the player to respond. For a repeated deliberate refusal, have that player take the next Marco turn if willing; otherwise, they sit out. Difficulty hearing or speaking calls for an adjustment, not punishment.
- Leaving the boundary: Stop and bring everyone back into the agreed area. Repeated deliberate escape ends that player’s current participation until they agree to remain in bounds.
- Unsafe contact: Grabbing, dunking, pushing, tackling, and blocking someone’s breathing stop play immediately. Check the affected player before considering a restart.
- Misleading interference: Spectators must not imitate replies or direct Marco. Players must not answer on another player’s behalf or deliberately prevent others from hearing.
- Disputed tag: If no clear agreement is possible, cancel the tag and reset with the same Marco. Keep the decision brief and friendly.
Repeated rough behavior means leaving the game. Never use underwater tasks, forced exercise, holding someone in place, or unwanted physical contact as a penalty. A genuine request for help or rest carries no penalty.