Chab Kon Kleng, an ancient traditional Cambodian children’s game, is deeply rooted in the cultural fabric of Cambodia. Believed to have originated as a means to mimic and reflect aspects of rural life, hunting, and the natural world, the game's name roughly translates to 'catching baby birds.' This alludes to one of the types of players. Its origins lie in the rural villages of Cambodia, where it was used as both a pastime and a means of teaching children about social roles, strategy, and the balance of nature. Over time, the game has evolved, yet it has remained a vital part of Cambodian culture, particularly in rural areas.

The game features three types of players: the hen, the chicks, and the raven (sometimes also referred to as a barn owl or a crow). The animals used in the game reflect familiar figures in Cambodian mythology and farming culture. The hen represents the maternal figure or protector tasked with guarding the chicks and preventing the raven from capturing them. In Cambodian culture, hens are vital to the survival of rural families, providing eggs and meat, and they are seen as essential figures in the agrarian way of life. The chicks represent the children or the vulnerable population in the game. The chicks’ role is to move around under the protection of the hen and avoid being caught by the raven. In Cambodian society, children are highly valued and are seen as the future of the community. The raven is the antagonist in the game. It represents the predator or the threat that seeks to capture the chicks. In Cambodian mythology, the raven (or crow) is sometimes depicted as a trickster or threatening creature, embodying danger or misfortune. The raven in the game serves to teach children the importance of vigilance and the need for a protective system in society.

The way the game is played is that the raven player tries to tag the chicks, but the hen player stands in the way as a form of defiance and defense for the chicks. Some descriptions of the game mention that the hen has a fire in front of it, which scares the raven and prevents it from simply going through the hen, so in the game, the raven is not supposed to touch the hen player in pursuit of the chick players. The raven continually circles around, alternating the direction frequently, trying to find an opening to get past the hen and tag one of the chick players. The chicks cannot simply just stand still and let the hen do all the work, however. The chick player must help the hen protect it by shifting in a circular pattern, mimicking the raven so that the hen remains in front of the raven. The chicks also want to stay in a straight line emanating from the hen as best as possible. Moving too fast or too slow allows the raven to pick off the chick that is not in line with the others. This dynamic of this children's game demonstrates the importance of social order and following directions. For young students, they need to work together as a team to avoid getting tagged. In real life, young students often need to stay with an adult in an unfamiliar place to ensure their safety.

Traditionally, Chab Kon Kleng is often played during festivals, especially those that celebrate the harvest, such as Bon Om Touk (Water Festival) or Khmer New Year. Although not directly connected to Theravada Buddhism, the game may have been played on Buddhist holidays. It's not a far stretch to see the connection between Buddhist concepts of interdependence and karma and the game's focus on community, protection, and the cyclical nature of life. If played during a holiday, participants in traditional games like Chab Kon Kleng might dress in traditional Khmer clothing. For men, this may include the krama (a traditional scarf) and sarong, while women may wear the sampot (a traditional Khmer garment). Traditional Khmer music and dance also play an integral role in celebrations that include games like Chab Kon Kleng. Gong orchestras, pinpeat music, and traditional dance are often performed during holidays. It’s also played during casual gatherings in rural areas, particularly by children who are learning social roles through play. The game is typically played outdoors in open spaces, such as fields or courtyards.

            I've also found that this game has great utility in teaching my youngest basketball players how to execute effective screens. How many times have you seen a young player screen the air, completely missing a defender? It's because they don't understand the purpose of what they are doing, which basically is blocking for another player. Basketball purists will initially think that playing this game will require players to constantly move their feet, which is illegal when setting a screen. This is true, but I am making this choice intentionally at the beginning because I want the screener to truly understand what they are doing and why. If they understand that concept, then we can slowly build on how to screen appropriately, such as jump-stopping to a location, being a wall, and setting a screen to allow the chick (player with the ball) to get around the raven safely.

Materials: 

·      A large playing space

o   If playing the traditional game, the playing surface does not matter

o   If you are playing the game to teach screens, then a hard court or pavement would be needed to bounce a basketball.

·      If playing the basketball version, at least one basketball per three players

·      Optional: Cones for the basketball option can be used to show boundaries, but you could also use different lines on a court to create boundaries.

Minimum Number of Students Needed: The traditional game is best with at least five players, but more is even more fun and extra tricky for the students to maintain the line behind the hen. If you are playing the basketball version, then three players are all you need.                 

Prior Knowledge: If you are studying Asia, especially Cambodia, then this game is perfect. If you are introducing screens to your basketball team for the first time, this game is effective at helping your younger players understand the purpose of screens.