Top 5 creative ideas to incorporate sports in your garden

The garden is probably your favorite place in the whole house where you can relax and unwind. Its purpose is exactly that: to facilitate your leisure time. However, some people fancy being proactive during their breaks. This means taking up a sport and hitting the ball until all the stress accumulated during the past workweek is gone. Sports are also social, so the next time you throw a barbecue party, you and your mates could have a game of football. Is the backyard really suitable for a small sports pitch or is it mission impossible? Then again, which sport to pick, as possibilities are endless and football seems far too obvious? If these questions are bothering you too, relax, because we have the answers to them. Here are 5 creative ideas which sports to introduce to your garden and how exactly to incorporate them.

Frisbee

Yes, throw and catch also counts as a sport and it can be ideal for your garden. It doesn’t require a formal pitch, nor a ball, just an ordinary Frisbee made out of plastic. It can be purchased at any local supermarket for next to nothing. The thing is, you will need someone or something to play catch with. If none of your friends or family members are up for some recreation, you can play with your dog. Or any dog for that matter, no canine will complain if you throw a Frisbee in their direction. This is what makes the game fun, it is simple and without rules, which means that you can run around the garden until sundown. Another great thing about it is that even small children can play, developing their eye-hand coordination in the process.

Basketball

Basketball is a professional sport with many pro leagues with players who earn millions. However, your backyard basketball can be quite the opposite. Put a board and a hoop above the entrance to your garage, nail it to a tree or build your own pole to support it. Use some leftover white paint to draw the borders of the court as seen on TV. All you need now is that trademark orange-hued ball and you are ready to play. You can shoot some hoops alone after work or you can play with others, one-on-one, two-on-two etc. Also, there are numerous other games you can play, such as a three-point shooting challenge, much like an NBA all-star weekend. A dunking challenge is also something that will get the crowd (consisting of your neighbors and friends) interested. Anyway, you simply can’t go wrong with installing a basketball backboard.

Rugby

Rugby is a sport that has many similar “cousins” across the world. In the United States, they have the NFL, and in Australia it is the AFL, but the essence of all these sports is to run, kick, and throw around an egg-shaped ball. This sport may seem rather too violent for backyard entertainment, but that is exactly what makes it attractive. Of course, you are not going to play as rough as a professional athlete, but you are going to have fun nevertheless. It will give you a good run-off and it is ideal for children. The field can be decreased in size and the goal posts are easy to mount. If you opt for AFL, then best buy Australian made goal posts to match the ball you probably already have. This way, the sport will be 100% authentic.

Tennis

Ever since its tournaments became professional at the beginning of the 20th century, tennis has been picking up in popularity. Every country has had their tennis aces and the children love to imitate them, making their own street courts. It is an ideal sport for the garden because it can be played on a grassy surface. Once you put up a net, you will have your very own backyard Wimbledon. Two racquets and a set of tennis balls is all you need, because you probably already know the rules. Are you going to play singles or doubles depends on how many people you can persuade to join you. Tennis is also a family sport, as you can make two teams: mother and son vs. father and daughter.

Volleyball

Another sport that requires a net to play. This time it will have to be put a bit higher, as you will need two poles or two trees with enough distance between them. And that is all you need for a game of volleyball, apart from the ball, obviously. The rules are quite simple, and the court can be as bumpy as your garden. An uneven surface means that the ball will jump in all directions and cause a lot of laughs. If someone insists, you can use string and pickets to mark the court.

As you have seen, football is not the only sport suitable for the garden. Many other sports, from volleyball to a simple game of Frisbee can be played here. So, what are you waiting for, grab a ball and head outside!