The coronavirus pandemic has made millions of people around the world stay at home. This means sitting more than usual and spending less time walking. Following the safety precautions (many of which are mandatory) makes it challenging to work out as much as we usually do, and naturally, this has an impact on our overall health and mood.
Things are much easier if you have a backyard. Your backyard is a place where you can organize some fun and useful physical activities. Here are a few quarantine-approved outdoor games you can try in your backyard.
Basketball
Shooting hoops in your backyard just seems like an idyllic dream. If you have a family member who can join in, even better.
Depending on the size of your backyard, you can opt for a half-court or a full-court. For a full-court, you will need a 100 feet long and a 60 feet wide space. A length of 60 feet and the same width is sufficient for a half-court. Even if the size of your backyard allows you to go for the full-court, you might still want to go for the second option, so you can use the remaining space for something else.
Baseball
America’s greatest sport requires a great amount of space. If you are planning on taking this thing seriously, you will need a leveled field that is 400 feet long and 330 feet wide.
Marking the bases is also a must. The bases need to be 90 feet apart. You’ll also need to cut the infield and build the mound.
If all of this sounds too complicated and you don’t have that much space in your backyard (or a team to play with), you can practice your hitting skills and use a pitching machine to help you.
Badminton
There are some sports you can play in smaller backyards and badminton is one of them. A standard badminton court is just 44 feet long and 20 feet wide. The sport also works well on artificial turf, which makes it a solid fit for multipurpose backyards.
In short, a badminton court won’t take a lot away from your landscaping. There are even portable badminton courts that can be set up and apart quickly without affecting your lawn.
Bocce Ball
Setting up a bocce ball court in your backyard will not take up a lot of your time, and it will also have a minimal impact on the landscaping. The court can be made of manufactured grass or clay. Since it is narrow and long, it can be installed in an underused part of the backyard, making it another standout element.
The bocce ball court requires little maintenance. The very game is simple and low-impact, so you can enjoy it as a casual pastime with all the family members.
Table tennis/Ping pong
Ping pong or table tennis is a fantastic backyard game for a friendly competition with your family members. You can set up an outdoor concrete table on a patio surface or a flat grassy area. The standard designs are available in stores, but many of them can be customized to fit your backyard landscaping and style. Some of the available customizing options are marble inlays, low-reflectivity surface, integral coloring, and fiber optic lighting for nighttime games.
Trampoline
Did you know that trampolining is an official Olympic sport since 2000? Everyone loves jumping and casually flipping in the air, but you can take the game to a whole other level if you train as the Olympic athletes do. Keep in mind, however, that this will require some safety measures and a soft turf to land on.
Tennis court
The basic principles of making a tennis court are similar to those of a basketball field, with the addition of a large net. Tennis can be a fun game for two or four. It keeps you in shape, and let’s lose your endorphins. Of course, as with basketball, you will need to take up a lot of backyard space, so make sure you’ve considered all of your options before you start setting it up.
The pandemic has locked us all in our homes, which is why now, more than ever, we need to be physically active. Exercise and some fresh air will help boost your immunity and take care of your mental health. Hopefully, these suggestions have sparked your imagination – and now it’s time to get to work creating your backyard playground, after which you can enjoy playing tag with Gel Blaster.