Kickball—originally called “Kick Baseball”—is a game similar to baseball, invented in 1917, Nicholas C. Seuss, Supervisor of Cincinnati Park Playgrounds. The game is played like baseball/softball, with the exception that the ball is kicked rather than hit. The pitcher rolls the ball towards the catcher, the “batter” kicks it with his foot, then runs to first base, becoming a runner. There is no “official” set of Kickball Rules as all…
Ring toss is a fun summer recreational activity. It is simple to play and can provide a family with hours of fun. The Basics: Toss the ring onto the peg—sounds easy, but it is not. Each player is given 5 plastic rings to use during gameplay. The player may toss or flip the rings one at a time onto the pegs. A ring that lands completely around a peg, scores…
It is estimated games with Horseshoes started as early as the 2nd century. Modern Horseshoes is an outdoor game played between two people (or two teams of two people) using four horseshoes and two throwing targets (stakes). Players take turns tossing horseshoes at stakes in the ground, which are traditionally placed 40-feet apart. Modern games use a more stylized U-shaped bar, about twice the size of an actual horseshoe. In…
T-Ball, or Teeball, is a sport based on baseball and is intended as an introduction for children to develop baseball skills and have fun. The origins of T-ball are not certain, but it is believed to date back to the 1940s or 50s. In T-Ball, the pitcher is usually used for defensive purposes only. The ball is placed on an adjustable tee atop the home plate at a suitable height…
Lawn bowling involves rolling slightly asymmetric balls, called bowls, close to a smaller—normally white—bowl called the “jack” or “kitty.” Lawn bowling is usually played outdoors on grass or synthetic surfaces. Lawning bowling, related to Bocce Ball, has been traced back to 13th century England. Lawn bowl is usually played on a large, rectangular, precisely leveled and manicured grass or synthetic surface known as a bowling green which is divided into parallel…
Hooverball is a medicine ball game invented by President Herbert Hoover’s personal physician to help keep then-President Hoover fit. In general, the game is played on a volleyball-type court of grass or sand and involves throwing a heavily weighted medicine ball over the net. Officially, in Hooverball, the medicine ball weighs about 6 lb (2.7 kg) and is thrown over an 8 ft (2.4 m) volleyball-type net. The game is…
Disc golf is a game in which players throw a flying disc into a basket or at a target. The object is similar to regular golf, the player with the fewest number of throws wins. Modern disc golf started in the late 1960s. Disc golf is usually played in a public park, so players have to beware of bicyclists, hikers, children playing, and campers that may be on the course….
You don’t have to go any further than your backyard to enjoy the outdoors. Pitch a tent, unroll your sleeping bags (or use blankets, air mattresses and pillow), and enjoy barbecuing, roasting marshmallows, making s’mores, singing songs, and telling ghost stories. Don’t forget the insect repellent!