Backyard sports connect people. It is an activity that is not as popular today, but once brought all of the neighborhood kids together. Depending on your age, you might recall a childhood of joining together with the other neighborhood kids and interacting in a variety of outdoor sports including hockey, soccer, basketball, tag, and even skating on backyard ice rinks. A lot of this sport enthusiasm is lost today as children prefer spending time indoors. You can encourage and promote the backyard sports idea with the following activities.
Home basketball court
Putting in a home basketball court is relatively cheap and simple to do. If you have a large driveway, you have the perfect basketball court. Simply clean up the cement and then find a central place for the basketball hoop. If you want, you can even draw boundary lines and point lines with chalk. Your children will enjoy the ability to learn the sport of basketball and neighborhood kids will enjoy the outdoor activity.
Backyard pool
A backyard pool is perfect for summer swims. Participating in sports improves cardiovascular endurance. Increased cardiovascular health decreases the risk for heart disease which is the number one killer disease claiming almost 800,000 lives in 2011, according to CDC. Swimming is a great low effort exercise activity because the buoyancy of the water makes it feel like you are not even working out. A pool is perfect for both children and adults and is a great way to cool off in parts of the country with high temperatures.
Soccer yard
Soccer is quickly growing in popularity. Although it is not yet as popular as some of the bigger sports including basketball, football, and baseball, there are still many soccer followers. Soccer is a commonly preferred sports choice for young children. It gives them the opportunity to run around, burning off excess energy. Soccer also does not have as many rules as other sports, making it easier for younger children to learn and participate in. The good thing about soccer is that you do not have to do much to create a soccer yard. Simply set up two nets in a backyard space and then drop a soccer ball into the middle.
Backyard ice skating
Ice skating is another sport that is not as common in terms of the big leagues, but is recognizing in many countries and is even a part of the national Olympics. You can encourage the sport of ice skating with a back yard ice rink. You might be wondering how to make a homemade ice rink, but it is not as difficult as you might think. If you are wondering how to make a homemade ice rink, simply gather the supplies ahead of time. You will need a yard tarp and a sectioned off area of the yard that will be designated as your backyard skating rink. Backyard rinks should also have safety ledges, as children learn how to ice skate.
You can also do a quick search on the internet for how to make a homemade ice rink for alternative ideas and suggestions. A homemade ice rink is perfect for teaching children to ice skate and to learn ice sports, like ice hockey. In 2014 alone, the number of participants (aged six years and older) in ice skating amounted to approximately 10.65 million. Additionally, the U.S. currently has 1,900 indoor ice hockey rinks and 500 outdoor ice hockey rinks. After you learn how to make a homemade ice rink, you and your children can participate in skating activities on your new homemade ice rink.
While many adults today have fond memories of playing sports outdoors with neighbors, children today are unlikely to create those same memories. That is unless you create a backyard entertainment space that is conducive to sporting activities. Turn your backyard into a basketball court, soccer yard, ice skating rink, or even a backyard pool area. Your children will appreciate the entertainment and will have the opportunity to build the same childhood memories that you have.
