Outdoor playtime is not just reserved for kids. The fact is you’re never too old for a little fun and frolicking outdoors. Whether it’s at a campsite or a tailgate, the beach or the backyard, kids, teens and adults can all take advantage of the great outdoors, too. To ramp up the fun factor, try one of these top ten outdoor yard games. All games are great for small groups and social distancing.
1. Spikeball
This game made its claim to fame on Shark Tank, and for a very good reason. Spikeball is played with teams of two serving and hitting the ball similar to volleyball, except with a much easier set up. The game consist of a flexible, hula-hoop-sized net with foldable legs, that make it the perfect, portable game to take to the park, or the beach. The players bounce the ball off the net and towards the opposing team who then have three passes to get the ball back. When they miss, you score, and first team to get to 21 wins. Spikeball is available here.
2. Ladder Golf
Some folks call it Ladder Toss, but the official set is labeled Ladder Golf. It’s fun and easy entertainment for a backyard party. Each player gets three “bolas” to toss onto the ladder rungs. A bola is two golf balls tied together with rope – how can swinging that not be fun? The object of the game is to wrap your bolas around the ladder steps and possibly knock your opponents off to steal their score. It’s fun, it’s frustrating – everything you want in an outdoor game.
For official rules and to purchase, click here.
3. Badminton
Although this game officially became an Olympic sport in 1992, badminton really is the great classic equalizer of skill and age – anyone with any skill level of any age can play. The great thing about badminton is that once you have a net, a few racquets and a shuttlecock, it can be as fun and flexible as you want.You can play with any number of people as long as you have enough racquets, and you can be as competitive as you want. Each side takes turns serving and points are scored when the opposing side missing the shuttlecock and it falls to the ground. If you want to take your badminton to the Olympic level, see the official rules here.
4. Lawn Twister
Create a giant twister board on your lawn with ground marking spray paint in different colors. Cut a 10-12 inch circle on a piece of cardboard and use that as a stencil to spray paint your circles. You can make as many rows of each color that you want depending on how many people will be playing. Then, you can either make a spinner like the game, or make cards with the different options – for example: Right Hand Red or Left Foot Blue. If you have teens and adults playing, make the circles bigger and further apart. For smaller kids, make smaller circles that are a little closer together. Whatever the age, Lawn Twister will bring the laughter outside!
5. Corn Hole / Washer Toss
For some strange reason, get outside and no one can resist throwing things into holes. For the best of all hole-throwing worlds, entertain your teens and adult friends outside with a combo “Corn Hole and Washer Toss set” (available for purchase on amazon.com). This set includes both classic outdoor lawn games: 3 -hole bean bag toss and 3-hole washer toss with two 26″ L x 10″ W game platforms, six 4″ square toss bags (3 red, 3 blue) and six washers (3 red, 3 blue). Just flip the platforms for your choice of bean bag toss or washer toss.
6. Capture the Flag REDUX
It’s the classic Capture the Flag game revolutionized with futuristic glow-in-the-dark lights! Break friends out of jail, sneak into enemy territory, protect your base and steal the glowing flag to win. Each game box includes two glowing orbs to use as the “flags,” color-coded LED bracelets to differentiate team members, glowing jail markers, and a rule-book. As an extra bonus, each kit includes 12 game variation cards that provide you with new ways to play Capture the Flag, as well as other games. It’s a great way to bring people of all ages together – kids, teens, even normally boring adults. Click here to purchase Capture the Flag REDUX.
7. Lawn Bowling
For the ultimate backyard hangout session, The Hey! Play! Lawn Bowling Game comes with everything you need to have a ball. The set includes ten 8” solid pine wood pins, two 2.5″ wood bowling balls, and a nylon carrying case so you can take the game anywhere – backyard, beach, or park. Simply unpack the game, set up the colorful pins, and you are ready to roll.
8. Wizards & Werewolves
This epic, team-based game that pits two mythical forces against each other in an exciting backyard battle of speed, skill and wits. Play as a Wizard and search for glowing magic crystals. Or bare your teeth as a Werewolf and hunt down the Wizards. For 4-15 players, ages 8+. Get yours here.
9. Giant Outdoor Games
When you want an eye-catching game for your next outdoor event, visit this website to choose from bigger-than-life size versions of Snakes & Ladders, Checkers, or Pick Up Sticks. This site has all sorts of games that have been super-sized so you can physically get in the fun, including jumbo wooden dice, giant chess games, supersized croquet, and huge volleyball. The motto here for outdoor fun is go big or go home.