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Trefoil (aka sticky triangle)

This is a beautiful pattern for four jugglers which I learned at the EJC in Millstreet in 2006. It's best to learn it on a six count, but it can be juggled on a four count or even a three count. At the start two jugglers each stand at a corner of a triangle and the other two each stand at the midpoint of a side of the triangle. Whenever you are at a corner, you pass with the other juggler at a corner and whenever you are at a midpoint, you pass with the other juggler at a midpoint. After a pass you move to another position unless you have just arrived at a corner. It might help to put 3 beanbags on the floor to mark the corners of the triangle.

The initial positions are shown below. A passes with B and C passes with D.

A stands still while B, C and D move in the direction of the red arrows.

Now A passes with D and B passes with C.

D has just arrived at a corner so this time D stands still while A, B and C move in the direction of the red arrows.

Now A passes with B and C passes with D.

C has just arrived at a corner so this time C stands still while A, B and D move in the direction of the red arrows.

Now A passes with D and B passes with C.

This diagram is just like the first one, except all the jugglers have moved around.

Below are a couple of variations of this pattern, both crossing it with the trapeze:

On each pass, instead of making parallel passes, make crossing passes. So on the first and third passes A passes with D and B passes with C, whereas on the second and fourth passes A passes with B and C passes with D..

If you alternate crossing passes and parallel passes you end up passing to the same juggler every time. However you could make two crossing passes followed by two parallel passes. Then you end up making two passes with one juggler followed by two passes with another.