Zoom Schwartz Profigliano
Encyclopedia
Zoom Schwartz Profigliano is a verbal "tag
" drinking game
with many variations. One player at a time is active ("it"). The active player states a command from a predefined set of words, which typically include "zoom," "schwartz," and "profigliano." The command shifts active status to another player, 'tagging' them. Play continues until a player fouls by giving a command when not active, by failing to give a command promptly when active, or in some cases by giving a command which is prohibited by the current state of the game. The game lends itself to bluffing where the active player uses nonverbal communication to suggest that someone else is active. In a high speed game a player might give a command passing active status to one player while looking at a different player, confusing the situation.
Figliano is often a drinking game where a player who fouls must take a drink. In non-drinking forms the fouling player is simply embarrassed. Either way the fouling player starts the next round. There is also a children's version where a break in the conversation eliminates the player. The games can have as few commands as the basic "Zoom", "Schwartz" and "Profigliano", but some variations have as many as fifteen commands.
Some variants also have motions which must be made along with the command. Other versions describe the game as players passing around an imaginary ball of energy, a version also used as an improvisation game, where the object is to get the 'ball of energy' moving around the circle as fast as possible.
Schwartz—This call is for passing back to the person currently being engaged with. It is a foul to look away when calling schwartz.
Figliano—A contracted version of Profigliano. It is a no-look or look pass back to the person you are currently engaged with.
Schwartz—Passes the 'zork' to the person opposite the one being pointed at. Only someone directly to the active player's right or left can be 'schwartzed'.
Mifigliano—Passes the 'zork' to the person the active player points to. Only someone not directly to your right or left can be called with 'mifigliano'.
No Dice- Sends the Pass back to the person "it." One may not say no dice if there have been two "no dices" in a row just previously and one can not "no dice" who has just been "no diced" twice in a row.
The game lends itself to coaxing a non-active player into speaking a command word by looking at them with expectation of a response when speaking a command word or visualizing an expectation of a response from a non-active player who was looked at in the last pass.
The player starting the round must start by stating the name of the game (Zoom-Schwartz-Profigliano in this case) and must start with the first command (Zoom in this case).
to Millman (unrelated) documented the game.
Others say Zoom was brought to Ventura College
in California in 1971 by Kelly Weaverling, a former Navy submarine sailor who claimed the game originated by the Navy submarine crew he worked with. Kelly taught the game to the technical students at Ventura College. One of them was Jerry Crow, who brought it with him to San Diego State University
and taught it to co-workers in the Program Department of the Student Union on that campus.
Zoom Schwartz Profigliano was actively played at the University of California at Davis starting in 1976 and included the commands "Beefeater," which passed the "it" to the active player's left, and "Beutermann," which passed the "it" to the active player's right. This was normally done with bluffing to further enhance the game.
A complex version of the game was present at Dartmouth College in the late 70s (when it was introduced is unknown), particularly at Tabbard and Alpha Theta fraternities. In addition to 'zoom' and 'schwartz', calls included 'boint' (zoom with a headfake), 'mafigliano' (schwartz with a headfake), mergatroid (1 left), [?? 1 right], 'shripe' (2 left), 'dort' (2 right), 'beaver' (3 left), 'zunt' (3 right), and mephistopheles (directly across).
Tag (game)
Tag is a playground game played worldwide that involves one or more players chasing other players in an attempt to tag or touch them, usually with their fingers. There are many variations...
" drinking game
Drinking game
Drinking games are games which involve the consumption of alcoholic beverages. These games vary widely in scope and complexity, although the purpose of most is to become intoxicated as quickly as possible...
with many variations. One player at a time is active ("it"). The active player states a command from a predefined set of words, which typically include "zoom," "schwartz," and "profigliano." The command shifts active status to another player, 'tagging' them. Play continues until a player fouls by giving a command when not active, by failing to give a command promptly when active, or in some cases by giving a command which is prohibited by the current state of the game. The game lends itself to bluffing where the active player uses nonverbal communication to suggest that someone else is active. In a high speed game a player might give a command passing active status to one player while looking at a different player, confusing the situation.
General Overview
Figliano requires at least four players, with six to eight optimum. The first player holds an imaginary "zork". They pass it by looking at another player and stating one of the accepted calls. The zork is given to the person defined by the word chosen. The zork is passed either to the person looked at or to another player that was previously richocheed off of in the prior pass, depending upon the word used. During play, only passage words are allowed to be spoken.Figliano is often a drinking game where a player who fouls must take a drink. In non-drinking forms the fouling player is simply embarrassed. Either way the fouling player starts the next round. There is also a children's version where a break in the conversation eliminates the player. The games can have as few commands as the basic "Zoom", "Schwartz" and "Profigliano", but some variations have as many as fifteen commands.
Some variants also have motions which must be made along with the command. Other versions describe the game as players passing around an imaginary ball of energy, a version also used as an improvisation game, where the object is to get the 'ball of energy' moving around the circle as fast as possible.
Calls
Zoom—This call is for passing the 'zork' to the person the caller looks at. It is a foul to call zoom to a player already being engaged.Schwartz—This call is for passing back to the person currently being engaged with. It is a foul to look away when calling schwartz.
Figliano—A contracted version of Profigliano. It is a no-look or look pass back to the person you are currently engaged with.
Alternate calls and rules
Zoom—Passes the 'zork' to the person being pointed at. Only someone directly to the active player's right or left can be 'zoomed'.Schwartz—Passes the 'zork' to the person opposite the one being pointed at. Only someone directly to the active player's right or left can be 'schwartzed'.
Mifigliano—Passes the 'zork' to the person the active player points to. Only someone not directly to your right or left can be called with 'mifigliano'.
No Dice- Sends the Pass back to the person "it." One may not say no dice if there have been two "no dices" in a row just previously and one can not "no dice" who has just been "no diced" twice in a row.
Strategy
Techniques to stimulate a mistake by another include: using all six words instead of only a few, constantly changing who the 'it' player is looking at, and varying the speed.The game lends itself to coaxing a non-active player into speaking a command word by looking at them with expectation of a response when speaking a command word or visualizing an expectation of a response from a non-active player who was looked at in the last pass.
The player starting the round must start by stating the name of the game (Zoom-Schwartz-Profigliano in this case) and must start with the first command (Zoom in this case).
Variations
A vastly more complicated game called ′Remier League can include up to seven games in one, one of which is called "Zoom" and is similar to Figliano. Any combination of the seven games can be announced by the chairman. There are eleven universal rules, as well as a prohibition against explaining rules.Possible origins
The first play of the game may have been at Penn State University in 1914. Correspondence from a Mr. Millman at the then Beta Sigma Rho fraternityFraternity
A fraternity is a brotherhood, though the term usually connotes a distinct or formal organization. An organization referred to as a fraternity may be a:*Secret society*Chivalric order*Benefit society*Friendly society*Social club*Trade union...
to Millman (unrelated) documented the game.
Others say Zoom was brought to Ventura College
Ventura College
Ventura College is a California-state funded community college located in Ventura, California, USA. Established in 1925, the college has a campus with an enrollment of 14,456 students. The college is part of the Ventura County Community College District....
in California in 1971 by Kelly Weaverling, a former Navy submarine sailor who claimed the game originated by the Navy submarine crew he worked with. Kelly taught the game to the technical students at Ventura College. One of them was Jerry Crow, who brought it with him to San Diego State University
San Diego State University
San Diego State University , founded in 1897 as San Diego Normal School, is the largest and oldest higher education facility in the greater San Diego area , and is part of the California State University system...
and taught it to co-workers in the Program Department of the Student Union on that campus.
Zoom Schwartz Profigliano was actively played at the University of California at Davis starting in 1976 and included the commands "Beefeater," which passed the "it" to the active player's left, and "Beutermann," which passed the "it" to the active player's right. This was normally done with bluffing to further enhance the game.
A complex version of the game was present at Dartmouth College in the late 70s (when it was introduced is unknown), particularly at Tabbard and Alpha Theta fraternities. In addition to 'zoom' and 'schwartz', calls included 'boint' (zoom with a headfake), 'mafigliano' (schwartz with a headfake), mergatroid (1 left), [?? 1 right], 'shripe' (2 left), 'dort' (2 right), 'beaver' (3 left), 'zunt' (3 right), and mephistopheles (directly across).
See also
- Zip Zap Zop is a similar party game.
- Silent footballSilent FootballSilent Football is a group game composed of three major elements: Football, the Quiet Game, and Parliamentary procedure, consisting mainly of the passing of an imaginary football. Silent Football requires little set up: only a quiet space with room enough for three or more players to form a...
is a similar party game.