The change of pace from full-time student to a person with one or two jobs during the summer can be rough. Yard games are a cheap and fun way to pass the time throughout the summer.
Ladderball
Ladderball is a yard game that consists of wrapping a bola (a set of golf balls attached by a string) around a horizontal pipe. Each player starts out with three bola golf balls. The object of the game is to throw the bolas around the steps of the ladders. Each ladder has three horizontal steps. A plastic set can be purchased for roughly $25, or you can make your own.
Horseshoes
Horseshoes, another classic yard game, is also a fun way to pass the time.The object is to toss a horseshoe toward a metal stake and get as close as possible. A set of horseshoes can be purchased for about $15. The kit includes two stakes and four iron rings.
Badminton
Badminton can be played with two or more people. The object is to hit a birdie back and forth with rackets within your bounds around the net. The birdie is not supposed to touch the ground. A cheap set of badminton will cost about $15.
Beanbag Toss
Beanbag Toss, or Cornhole, is a game we all played when we were kids. It’s the perfect game for a lazy summer afternoon. A set of 24-inch boards will cost around $25. Making a set of your own would be just as easy as taking the time to buy one, and cheaper of course.
Bocce Ball
Bocce Ball is a classic European lawn bowling game. It’s generally played in the sand or on the pavement, but can be modified to play in the yard. A plastic set can be found for about $15. Higher-end sets cost about $100.
Disc Golf
In order to play disc golf in a small yard area, you would want to purchase a smaller flag version which can be found for about $15. If you have a large yard, a nine-hole set of disc golf can be purchased for about $100. The point of this game is to traverse around a course, hitting the target in as few throws as possible. If you lack a yard, the University of Idaho frisbee-golf course is free and easily accessible at the west end of campus.
Volleyball
To play a basic game of volleyball, each team has three chances to pass the ball over the net without hitting the ground. An individual player is not permitted to hit the volleyball twice in a row. A cheap, portable volleyball kit will cost you around $25 and the net can double as a badminton net if necessary.
Croquet
A wooden six-player set of croquet can cost as little as $25. The object of the game is to use a mallet to pass balls through small arches called wickets. Each time a player passes through a wicket correctly, they earn a point. The player or team with the most points at the end of the game wins.
Tether ball
Tether ball is a game that can be played on the playground or off of it. The object of the game is to wrap the string attached to the ball completely around the pole, the last wrap around it must rise above the center line. The player who reaches this point first wins. A set with a basic, plastic pole that can be stabbed in the ground anywhere will cost about $30.
Frisbee
With the help of a Frisbee, cost being about $5, you have a plethora of yard games to choose from. Such as: basic pass back and forth, ultimate Frisbee or even disc golf.
Water ballons
Water balloons are also a choice when it comes to playing summer games in the yard. Some games you can play with water balloons are water balloon dodge ball, football, or volleyball, hot balloon (much like hot potato,) or you can have an original water balloon fight. A 300-pack of water balloons will cost less than $10.
Molly Spencer can be reached at [email protected]